One criticism of Costco that has nothing to do with the current crisis; I have heard the theory that the large size of food products at places like Costco encourage overconsumption. So if you’re someone who is prone to that sort of thing, you may wish to be careful what you buy there. (I think, though, that even if you limit Costco purchases to non-food items, you might still find it worthwhile.)
I’m not sure I’m following. They’re obviously not an attractive place to shop if you think (not you specifically) wearing masks is idiotic or hate the idea of paying the membership fee or just plain too far from your closest Costco. Diff’rent strokes and all.
But for me, they’re one of the most pleasant places to shop.
Although, King County, where I live, has started requiring masks for all indoor public activities, and compliance has been high in my experience. And Costco has ceased limited the number of customers / card. So the relative difference may revert back to status quo.
Those things don’t really apply in the comparison that faces us. Costco isn’t less crowded once you get in than our local supermarket, mainly just a longer line to get in because it seems to have gained more popularity*. And it is a great store generally so that’s partly understandable, but that’s made it less convenient relatively for us that it used to be. Masks in stores are required by state order where we are and aren’t much of a political flash point so that isn’t different either. And Costco seems to have less of very high demand items (toilet paper, water) or certainly not more, though I guess a reason they are more relatively more crowded now is people think they’d have it?
*the first time we went to Costco after consciousness of COVID really hit in our area it was a disaster, carts gridlock throughout the store. But I don’t blame them any more than various other institutions caught by surprise. What they are doing now is fine with me a far as anti-COVID, but around here it’s the same measures as the supermarkets but it takes much longer to get into Costco. Although another factor specific to us is that Costco is an 11 mile one way drive but the supermarket is walking distance, so we have to guess more when to go to Costco to get in quickly, whereas we can more easily observe the supermarket by walking by and learn when there’s typically no line.
But this is exactly why I’ve been able to weather the crisis without having to go shopping (except for rare items) - I have huge bags of dried pinto beans, rice, cat food, etc already on hand. While abundance could encourage overconsumption, so have shortages encouraged overconsumption due to hoarding.
We’ll ignore the fact that the nearest Costco is at least three hours away from me. I see the membership fee is $60. How in the world could Costco be useful to me, a retired single guy?
I don’t think it’s meant to be useful to you. It is a business wholesaler that has opened up its membership to consumers who want to buy in bulk at deep discounts. If that’s not you, then that’s not you.
The bulk saving on food probably doesn’t apply, but they do sell lots of consumer products that aren’t sold in bulk. TVs, electronics (with extended warranties), books, tools, clothing, kitchen ware, seasonal stuff. My local store sells crab baskets for Og’s sake, and good selection of beer, wine, and liquor, often local. In my experience they stick to good quality stuff, and returns are easy if it’s not. The cheap gas pays for our membership alone, plus access to inexpensive tire service, optical, pharmacy, photo printing, etc.
If none of that appeals to you, don’t bother.
Call me silly, but I think a store that sells good stuff for good prices maybe deserves the praise it gets?
They have good prices on meat and booze, if those are things you consume in any quantity. A lot of things are just cases so you can still get a case of soda or water, a box with four frozen pizzas, etc that’ll keep until you use them. They have some nice ready-to-heat meals (and the infamous $5 roasted chickens). I tend to get a decent part of my clothes there, at least stuff like jeans, polo shirts, fleeces and jackets. Good prices on some stuff like tires. Ultimately though, it’s probably not a great investment for a single guy who is buying for one unless you go out of your way to get your money’s worth.
As for crowded lines during Covid-shopping, my mother works at a grocery store and said they had lines to the back of the building the days before the state officially shut down (despite the grocers remaining open). Everywhere had lines then, just the way it was. When I go to Costco now, it’s not especially crowded provided I’m not trying to go during prime hours – it’s always a bit of a nuthouse on a Sunday afternoon.
Part of the reason you see a line outside - with - at my Costco - distance markers placed and people waiting patiently, is that Costco is enforcing a “only so many people in the store at a time” policy - at least at my Costco. So I know that people will be wearing a mask, and that the store will not be crowded, and that if I’m waiting outside for my turn to shop, social distancing will be enforced in line. Since the operating theory is that its harder to pass the virus along outside than in the store, that makes sense. So no.
There are things that are a really good deal at Costco, and it pays for its membership many times over the course of a year. We pay for our membership in organic half and half, organic spinach, eggs, etc. They did have toilet paper and paper towels when no one else did. I get a good deal on computers, paper, office products, etc. for my business through them. Lightbulbs and batteries are cheaper than anywhere else. Pet food is a bargain - their house brand is high quality and less expensive.
I also shop at Target, and my local grocers (several different ones). I had a Sam’s Club membership before Costco came to our area, but Costco is way better for a membership warehouse in the product lines matching my needs. Gas is about a dime a gallon cheaper - but if there is a line more than a car deep, I just go to the gas station (there seldom is).
To be fair, the smallest unit of toilet paper Costco sells is a cartful.
Tires- I have joined Sam’s Club for the tire prices a couple of times and one time I got a card from my sister in a family deal. They’re only an hour away and the one purchase of a set of tires saved me more than the membership fee. That was a while back, though- the membership fee was probably less than the $45 it is now. Nowadays I find Walmart has comparable tire prices and they’re everywhere in case I need to use the warranty.
Alot of restaurants buy from them and then try to pass it off as fresh/handmade/homemade or something. I was at one place and they didnt even bother to change the name or description. I immediately recognized it as being from Costco. Also on an episode of “Kitchen Nightmares” you could clearly see the Costco brand on many items.
And some items, are sized for restaurants. Why else would you need 50 pound bags of flower or rice or those giant containers of cinnamon or 50 hamburger patties in a bag. Also meat like whole sides of ribs. They even sell whole sheep (yes, butchered and frozen).
This is literally true.
[Why else would you need 50 pound bags of flower or rice or those giant containers of cinnamon or 50 hamburger patties in a bag.](Why else would you need 50 pound bags of flower or rice or those giant containers of cinnamon or 50 hamburger patties in a bag.)Buying for an agency that serves meals? Buying for a large family? I know lots of people, some Asian and some not, who buy 50# bags of rice. They have 3 or more adolescents.
I know that’s a joke, but what kind of a business model is it to reward your worst customers with expedited service?
“Excuse me, I hardly buy anything here, could I have a special register and dedicated cashier so I can get out more quickly?”
If it were my store it’d be, “Fuck you buddy, fill that cart and I’ll see what I can do, but the cheapskates can go to the back of the line.” I’d have the airline model, where people who fly 100,000 miles a year get better service than the folks who take a biennial flight to Aunt Martha’s place.
[ul]
[li]Your Costco membership fee pays the employee salaries. And they pay very well and have great benefits. This adds up to superior customer service.[/li][li]Costco works to charge customers only 15 percent above their actual cost. Wall Street says that’s poor, unprofitable business practices but Costco’s management and long successful history begs to differ.[/li][li]If Costco can’t sell a quality product at a decent price, they often will rebadge a brand name and sell it under their own Kirkland label. Cases in point: The original Kirkland jeans were allegedly Lee Jeans made in China in the Lee jeans factory. Now they are made in Madagascar. The quality is almost as good, but compared to the current Lees brand jeans, Kirkland remains superior. Allegedly, Kirkland clothes detergent is just rebadged Tide detergent (which they also sell at a higher price). The last allegation is Kirkland vodka is rebadged Grey Goose.[/li][li]Costco buys their Tier One gas in bulk from the same suppliers as the brand names, sometimes 10-25 cents a gallon cheaper at the pump.[/li][li]Costco is accused of selling their hot dogs and whole cooked chicken fryers at below cost to retain market share. This remain a hot topics, but Costco bulk buying and their own chicken processing plants cuts out the middleman costs.[/li][li]Costco’s return policy is considered practically the best in the business. Strongly customer-focused. They did modify it for selected items (like TVs) because a few dishonest customers took advantage.[/li][li]Costco does extensive research into their own toilet paper. Cut out the competitor brand hype and just sell a quality butt wipe. Americans by and large have no idea that toilet paper around the world is really pretty poor. Americans buy into the quilted, cushiony soft market hype and pay for it. Costco just delivers what you need.[/li][/ul]
BTW, I don’t work for Costco. I don’t know anyone who works for Costco. I just do my research.
We mooched off of a friend’s membership for about 3 months. When that expired, we debated if it was worth $60 to get our own membership. We came to the realization that while there are a few things that offer a big cost savings (OTC vitamins are one of those), what we were doing was buying big multi-serving packages of stuff, and then planning our eating habits around HAVING to use those up. A seven pound chocolate cake, or 2 gallons of milk at a time just don’t make sense for us. 5 pounds of frozen vegetables, all in one bag, left us eating the same mix for over a week, and taking up huge amounts of freezer space.
Even though I know all of this, there is still the urge to get our own membership, because “SAVINGS”. There is nothing at Costco that I can’t get fairly easily someplace else, in quantities that don’t hog up my shelved and freezer, but still there is a bit of me that yearns to get that membership.
We’re going tomorrow and I’m going to have to check this out. We won half a lamb at an auction once, and it was the best damn meat I’ve ever had.
But a lot of their paper products, at least are meant for businesses. But in general if you have enough freezer space you can do well.
It probably won’t be.
I also live alone - so I don’t need that much stuff in bulk. But I do live in Costco’s backyard, so it’s more convenient than the obvious competitors. I tend to let my membership lapse a lot and then rejoin when it’s convenient for me. When I used to commute a decent length to work (and drove by one of the costco gas stations), I saved enough on gas to pay for membership. Going into the store was a bonus, I didn’t do it that frequently.
I’ve re-upped in the past for their car pricing ($60 for a not having to negotiate with a car salesman and getting a price that was more $60 below the average price for that make/model? Yes please.) I just rejoined pre-Corona for travel medications (everyone else was booked out for months. Costco got me in and out in under two days. And the pharmacist who gave me my shots was delightful!) I also got my passport photos. And Costco Travel had very good deals. (These days who knows)
Before my membership expires again, I’ll likely get tires and pick up a few other larger items.
But it’s just a store. I can’t imagine driving three hours to go to any store. It’s a good option if it’s reasonably close.
We shop at Costco two or three times a month. The quality of the Kirkland brands has been satisfactory as well as the prices. The meat department is exceptionally good. USDA Prime Brisket for about $4.00 a pound makes me happy. The gas prices are ten to fifteen cents cheaper, and we get extra cash back by using our Costco Visa card. You do have to research what items you buy. Not everything is less expensive.