Anyone else loathe going to Costco now?
Discussion
AB said:
I enjoy going to Costco, but always try to go when I'm not hungry!
It's impossible to go there and not come out having spent at least £200, no matter what you go in there for.
I'm a 'trade' member so do try and go inside of these times. The sandwich platters are excellent, the fiery chicken tenders are excellent - always have a bag of them in the freezer to chuck in the air fryer when I'm hungry.
Kids love walking round sampling everything. Fuel as mentioned is worth it.
£200, eh?It's impossible to go there and not come out having spent at least £200, no matter what you go in there for.
I'm a 'trade' member so do try and go inside of these times. The sandwich platters are excellent, the fiery chicken tenders are excellent - always have a bag of them in the freezer to chuck in the air fryer when I'm hungry.
Kids love walking round sampling everything. Fuel as mentioned is worth it.
I always say we never spend less than £80: we must be cheapskates….although our offspring are away from home now.
Sure enough, last time was for ‘a couple of items’ & we spend £110
We ration our visits
Paneer always fair value, allows us to make industrial quantities of various curries etc, handy to freeze a bunch for fast dinners
I cancelled mine after noticing the same issues that's mirrored above, it's now packed with loads of slow walking families with feral kids.
Imo they should make the store over 18 and go back to debit cards or cash only like it was back in the early 00's.
The savings aren't actually that great on food now either and there's a lot of tat in the aisle, likely to cater to their new clientele.
Imo they should make the store over 18 and go back to debit cards or cash only like it was back in the early 00's.
The savings aren't actually that great on food now either and there's a lot of tat in the aisle, likely to cater to their new clientele.
Last time i went was day before canadian thanksgiving in Toronto last year. Big mistake as it was rammed, but weirdly got through the checkouts really quickly.
We did buy too much though, although a 3" deep apple pie that was about 18 inches across and a similar size pumpkin pie were essentials
We did buy too much though, although a 3" deep apple pie that was about 18 inches across and a similar size pumpkin pie were essentials
I think the big issue for me is that I have to go round with my phone and check whether I'm actually saving any money buying in bulk compared to shopping online - and trying to maintain a phone signal!
My nearest one is now a 60mile round trip - so I only go when getting tyres of some other big ticket item.
My nearest one is now a 60mile round trip - so I only go when getting tyres of some other big ticket item.
TEKNOPUG said:
I think the big issue for me is that I have to go round with my phone and check whether I'm actually saving any money buying in bulk compared to shopping online - and trying to maintain a phone signal!
My nearest one is now a 60mile round trip - so I only go when getting tyres of some other big ticket item.
That is a common misconception with Costco. The stuff is good quality/premium so you can compare their frozen chicken strips with a £1 pack from Iceland.My nearest one is now a 60mile round trip - so I only go when getting tyres of some other big ticket item.
juice said:
QJumper said:
I must be the odd one out as I like Costco, although admittedly it's for a few specific things.
That said, I have business membership, so go at 10am and am out before 11.00 when it starts to get busy.
Yep same here. We buy coffee/tea bags, sugar, coffeemate and paper towels for the office there. 10am on the dot and out by 10:30 latest before it gets rammed. Then a quick stop at the fuel station to fill up the car with cheaper fuel.That said, I have business membership, so go at 10am and am out before 11.00 when it starts to get busy.
t in aisle 6. I rarely shop in Costco despite having a membership..mainly because my closest one is in MK about 15 miles away. I do use the Watford one for the petrol station as it's 2 minutes from work so I fill up at lunch. When I had my 118d, diesel was a lot cheaper. And now that I have a thirsty petrol mustang, the cheaper petrol also helps. But having been to the MK one once, and the Watford one for the food court, yes there's a lot of council wandering about.
vikingaero said:
TEKNOPUG said:
I think the big issue for me is that I have to go round with my phone and check whether I'm actually saving any money buying in bulk compared to shopping online - and trying to maintain a phone signal!
My nearest one is now a 60mile round trip - so I only go when getting tyres of some other big ticket item.
That is a common misconception with Costco. The stuff is good quality/premium so you can compare their frozen chicken strips with a £1 pack from Iceland.My nearest one is now a 60mile round trip - so I only go when getting tyres of some other big ticket item.
Their chilli pork belly slices are always a winner though.
Byker28i said:
We did buy too much though, although a 3" deep apple pie that was about 18 inches across ...
They've stopped doing the big apple pies here.Actually - that's an annoying thing about Costco; stuff comes and goes all the time, so you can't rely on being able to get a certain item. You pretty well have to go and see what there is.
I try to fill up at Costco as it’s been about 10p cheaper per litre but recently this has dropped to about 5p a litre cheaper.
I shop there a couple of times a month, just to have a mooch round, some of their stuff is good but it’s nowhere near as good as what it was 10 years ago.
In the good old days you used to get free cakes and coffee when it opened at 10:00, anyone remember that? They don’t even do the free samples of whatever they’re peddling these days either.
I shop there a couple of times a month, just to have a mooch round, some of their stuff is good but it’s nowhere near as good as what it was 10 years ago.
In the good old days you used to get free cakes and coffee when it opened at 10:00, anyone remember that? They don’t even do the free samples of whatever they’re peddling these days either.
RammyMP said:
I try to fill up at Costco as it’s been about 10p cheaper per litre but recently this has dropped to about 5p a litre cheaper.
I shop there a couple of times a month, just to have a mooch round, some of their stuff is good but it’s nowhere near as good as what it was 10 years ago.
In the good old days you used to get free cakes and coffee when it opened at 10:00, anyone remember that? They don’t even do the free samples of whatever they’re peddling these days either.
Which one do you use?I shop there a couple of times a month, just to have a mooch round, some of their stuff is good but it’s nowhere near as good as what it was 10 years ago.
In the good old days you used to get free cakes and coffee when it opened at 10:00, anyone remember that? They don’t even do the free samples of whatever they’re peddling these days either.
The Leicester one certainly often has food samples now.
mikeiow said:
RammyMP said:
I try to fill up at Costco as it’s been about 10p cheaper per litre but recently this has dropped to about 5p a litre cheaper.
I shop there a couple of times a month, just to have a mooch round, some of their stuff is good but it’s nowhere near as good as what it was 10 years ago.
In the good old days you used to get free cakes and coffee when it opened at 10:00, anyone remember that? They don’t even do the free samples of whatever they’re peddling these days either.
Which one do you use?I shop there a couple of times a month, just to have a mooch round, some of their stuff is good but it’s nowhere near as good as what it was 10 years ago.
In the good old days you used to get free cakes and coffee when it opened at 10:00, anyone remember that? They don’t even do the free samples of whatever they’re peddling these days either.
The Leicester one certainly often has food samples now.
Mainly use for fuel - I am closest to the Manchester / Trafford Centre one.
As per a previous post, I go for fuel in the morning around 7ish AM on the way to work - an additional 15 minutes (because no Q) onto my journey time to save around (currently) £5 a fill up pays for the membership alone.
Go into the actual store around once every 6 weeks for: Butter, Chicken strips, Eggs.
Laundry powder & other associated items are around 3 months.
I have trained myself to not be drawn into buying bulk items or things I know I will not fully use and I usually just stay away from those aisles.
But yes, I go on a weekend, and it is quite busy and manic.
Occasionally can get quite good deals:
- RainX, 500ml twin pack for around £8. (Halfords charge about £10 for one)
- Wonder Wheels colour active wheel cleaner - twin pack for around £5 (Halfords £8 for one)
Keep an eye out for the warehouse deal booklet, and things can be had much cheaper (or similar to prices elsewhere) for much better quality.
As per a previous post, I go for fuel in the morning around 7ish AM on the way to work - an additional 15 minutes (because no Q) onto my journey time to save around (currently) £5 a fill up pays for the membership alone.
Go into the actual store around once every 6 weeks for: Butter, Chicken strips, Eggs.
Laundry powder & other associated items are around 3 months.
I have trained myself to not be drawn into buying bulk items or things I know I will not fully use and I usually just stay away from those aisles.
But yes, I go on a weekend, and it is quite busy and manic.
Occasionally can get quite good deals:
- RainX, 500ml twin pack for around £8. (Halfords charge about £10 for one)
- Wonder Wheels colour active wheel cleaner - twin pack for around £5 (Halfords £8 for one)
Keep an eye out for the warehouse deal booklet, and things can be had much cheaper (or similar to prices elsewhere) for much better quality.
JQ said:
MDMA . said:
JQ said:
borcy said:
Is it that much cheaper than the other filling stations?
Yes. Anyone doing decent miles per year will save hundreds of pounds.
The savings for someone doing 15,000 mile per year at 40mpg are :
Unleaded £205
SuperUnleaded £426
Premium Diesel £392
Costco don't do standard diesel, so I imagine you're not comparing the same prices. But even paying the 158.9p for standard diesel at Shell you'd save £240 a year going to Costco.
As above, for me, there is no saving as my local Shell is the same price. Shell Haydock on the East Lancs is a bad comparison. You might as well give the motorway service station price!
So to fill up at my local Shell garage compared to my nearest Costco would equal £0.00 saving per year. It would cost me to get there!
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