Anyone else loathe going to Costco now?
Discussion
I had to nip into the Leeds one on Sunday, as I pulled into the car park there were two people out of their cars screaming at each other and the usual snake of traffic around the badly designed side of the car park.
The trolley bays were all full but instead of thinking "if I put my trolley here the road will get blocked" people just continued to make it worse instead of using the empty bit in front if the store.
As mentioned by the pister above the place was full of large groups and families intent on blocking aisles and just generally plodding around the place as mobile chicanes.
The usual bottlenecks were in place as people rushed to try samples of "bread" or "water" (or some other item of limited significance) at the corner of busy sections.
Refreshingly the usual queue for the tills wasn't so bad and I got out fairly quickly, the food bit was absolute carnage though, just a mass of bodies around the new ordering screens with no way of knowing who was waiting to order or to collect. I skipped the mango smoothie I was fancying.
Getting out was difficult as a fair number of customers were in a queue through the car park to get to the petrol station. I was going to fill up while I was there but it wasn't worth it.
From their point of view I presume profits are climbing but I wonder how long the recent influx of customers will keep renewing and how many long term customers stop going because the experience isn't what it used to be?
The trolley bays were all full but instead of thinking "if I put my trolley here the road will get blocked" people just continued to make it worse instead of using the empty bit in front if the store.
As mentioned by the pister above the place was full of large groups and families intent on blocking aisles and just generally plodding around the place as mobile chicanes.
The usual bottlenecks were in place as people rushed to try samples of "bread" or "water" (or some other item of limited significance) at the corner of busy sections.
Refreshingly the usual queue for the tills wasn't so bad and I got out fairly quickly, the food bit was absolute carnage though, just a mass of bodies around the new ordering screens with no way of knowing who was waiting to order or to collect. I skipped the mango smoothie I was fancying.
Getting out was difficult as a fair number of customers were in a queue through the car park to get to the petrol station. I was going to fill up while I was there but it wasn't worth it.
From their point of view I presume profits are climbing but I wonder how long the recent influx of customers will keep renewing and how many long term customers stop going because the experience isn't what it used to be?
Digger said:
RammyMP said:
borcy said:
Digger said:
Sporky said:
These are the 65-inch LGs they have.
Great - Many thanks Sporky - looks like John Lewis or Richer Sounds it is then.
ker in my car to get it home, it only just went in!
(see above image)Probably a C2 65" ?
RammyMP said:
Digger said:
RammyMP said:
borcy said:
Digger said:
Sporky said:
These are the 65-inch LGs they have.
Great - Many thanks Sporky - looks like John Lewis or Richer Sounds it is then.ker in my car to get it home, it only just went in! (see above image)Probably a C2 65" ?
In late summer 22 I got a Sony XR42A90K, it had just come out and I particularly wanted the Acoustic Surface as it was being tucked out of the way up the wall in a corner of the kitchen refurb we were just finishing and I wanted decent sound but didn’t to use a soundbar with it.
That TV was £1799 everywhere else as it was just out, but Sony quickly realised the price was bonkers and had a £200 cashback. It was £1462 at Costco, and, unusually, there were no restrictions for the cashback on where the TV was bought. So I got that. Then Costco knocked £180 off the price and if that happens within 30 days (and you go often enough that you notice) they’ll refund you the difference, so I got that too. So overall it cost me £1082.
Today the same TV is £1449 in John Lewis, £1299 in Costco (online).
thetapeworm said:
From their point of view I presume profits are climbing but I wonder how long the recent influx of customers will keep renewing and how many long term customers stop going because the experience isn't what it used to be?
In 2022, Costco's revenue from membership fees alone increased 9% to $4.2 billion. https://s201.q4cdn.com/287523651/files/doc_financi...
CardinalBlue said:
In 2022, Costco's revenue from membership fees alone increased 9% to $4.2 billion.
https://s201.q4cdn.com/287523651/files/doc_financi...
The membership fee is probably their main earner. I doubt they really care whether you are eligible or not. When I joined as a trade member they barely glanced at my 'proof' - a print out of my public liability insurance. https://s201.q4cdn.com/287523651/files/doc_financi...
Derby is just full of chavs, window lickers, and knuckle draggers. For me it’s first or last thing in the week. Avoid the weekend at all costs. I do think however the new cafe ordering system has improved things. As you interact with the staff less. Petrol never an issue in the week.
Sheffield however. The cafe and petrol waiting times are a joke. And it is full of the great unwashed.
Sheffield however. The cafe and petrol waiting times are a joke. And it is full of the great unwashed.
PT1984 said:
Derby is just full of chavs, window lickers, and knuckle draggers. For me it’s first or last thing in the week. Avoid the weekend at all costs. I do think however the new cafe ordering system has improved things. As you interact with the staff less. Petrol never an issue in the week.
Sheffield however. The café and petrol waiting times are a joke. And it is full of the great unwashed.
This...↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑Sheffield however. The café and petrol waiting times are a joke. And it is full of the great unwashed.
Pretty much sums up the Bristol Costco
It's located just yards from the M5 junction 18 and I'm guessing it has quite a large catchment area, including a decent portion of South Wales.
One thing I often wonder is where do the afore mentioned knuckle draggers and window lickers find to store the 2 million toilet rolls or 27 tons of cheap washing powder they've just purchased in their council funded accommodation, or even manage to cram it in their Vauxhall Zafiras for the journey home?*
(*other council house cars are available, see also Ford S-Max, Mondeo Estate etc.)
Puggit said:
Very similar experience in the Reading branch.
They opened the fuel station recently (last year I think). The queues on a work day lunch start at around midday. At the weekends queues for fuel reach the A33 (700m, I just measured it!). They had to close off some of the links in the carpark due to poor planning and not anticipating how much chaos it would cause.
I agree it is bad planning, the far end of the car park was/is normally very quiet. If the petrol station had been built there the queues would not be on the road and it would be easier for those trying to park to get in. I imagine that, whilst the petrol is obviously a big draw, the queues it has created put a lot of people off going into the shop. They opened the fuel station recently (last year I think). The queues on a work day lunch start at around midday. At the weekends queues for fuel reach the A33 (700m, I just measured it!). They had to close off some of the links in the carpark due to poor planning and not anticipating how much chaos it would cause.
I suppose they wanted the petrol station at the front so people could see it, maybe that’s been too successful.
borcy said:
colin79666 said:
Thought I’d try Costco petrol at lunchtime today as I was passing not far from the Sheffield store. Big mistake! 20 mins trapped in the queue for the pumps. Seems not having a job qualifies for membership these days
Do you go regularly, is it like that all the time? Like a lot of things, just try to think when 'most' people are doing something, and then do the opposite. So no going at the weekend, or Friday afternoon as people are 'getting ready' for the weekend... etc.
Helps to be self-employed I guess. But I never work on Monday, I keep it as my getting stuff done day. No waiting in line for a haircut or fuel or apocalyptic crowds out shopping. No busy roads/lack of parking out in the countryside.
If you think (like I do) that Costco is now very council, you should try a branch of Company Shop!!
To be a member you must be either on benefits or ex military.
A visit is like going to the hospital in One Flew Over the Cickoo Nest.
Proper next level knuckle draggers.
ETA I go for the cheap meat only. You can get about £50 worth of meat for about 15-20 quid. It can be entertaining people watching...
To be a member you must be either on benefits or ex military.
A visit is like going to the hospital in One Flew Over the Cickoo Nest.
Proper next level knuckle draggers.
ETA I go for the cheap meat only. You can get about £50 worth of meat for about 15-20 quid. It can be entertaining people watching...
Filton-flyer said:
PT1984 said:
Derby is just full of chavs, window lickers, and knuckle draggers. For me it’s first or last thing in the week. Avoid the weekend at all costs. I do think however the new cafe ordering system has improved things. As you interact with the staff less. Petrol never an issue in the week.
Sheffield however. The café and petrol waiting times are a joke. And it is full of the great unwashed.
This...????????????????????????????????Sheffield however. The café and petrol waiting times are a joke. And it is full of the great unwashed.
Pretty much sums up the Bristol Costco
It's located just yards from the M5 junction 18 and I'm guessing it has quite a large catchment area, including a decent portion of South Wales.
One thing I often wonder is where do the afore mentioned knuckle draggers and window lickers find to store the 2 million toilet rolls or 27 tons of cheap washing powder they've just purchased in their council funded accommodation, or even manage to cram it in their Vauxhall Zafiras for the journey home?*
(*other council house cars are available, see also Ford S-Max, Mondeo Estate etc.)
I'd love to put my membership fee towards BOOKER but they are not interested in private individuals... and given what has happened to Costco I probably can't blame them lol.
I filled up at Costco Southampton's petrol station at the weekend - E10 unleaded was 138.9p per litre. Mrs. D.R expressed surprise as she had paid exactly that at a supermarket in Andover two days previously.
Looks like the days of absurdly cheap Costco petrol could be on the wane...
Even worse that that, they STILL have no stock of 70cl bottles of Chambord!
Looks like the days of absurdly cheap Costco petrol could be on the wane...
Even worse that that, they STILL have no stock of 70cl bottles of Chambord!
My employer recently had them come down to our site and offer memberships to anyone interested. I've been past my local one (Croydon. No petrol station) a thousand times and always been curious.
Memberships were same price as in store, but the convenience of walking to another room and signing up in under 10 mins made it easy. So I thought I'd give it a whirl for a year and if it wasn't worth it, not renew.
Went first time this evening.
Bit meh to be honest. Already think that I'm not the ideal customer as a single guy with no kids who is relatively limited on freezer space.
Random things I saw
henry hoover (roughly same price as Currys)
8 toothbrush heads (more expensive than 10 on Amazon)
Castrol Magnatec. 5w30 More expensive than Halfords
Toilet Roll was probably a bit cheaper than Tesco but I don't want 32 rolls stacked up in the toilet, lest I look like some covid moron or a "prepper"!
The dishwasher cleaner liquid was cheaper as it was 4 for about the price of 2 - Maybe for the future
Couldn't tell on the alcohol as I don't drink. My ex would have known.
There was a time a case of Red Bull would have been bought, but now I drink far less of it. So pointless.
The cake/Danish's multipacks I've had before when colleagues bring them in, and they are mega. But BBE dates are at most 3-4 days. So I'll never get through them before they go off.
Krispy Kremes were cheaper than the store in New Malden
Salmon looked amazing. Really big compared to the anaemic ones from Tesco. Maybe something to think about in future.
Saw a big tube of assorted cable ties for £15 (presumably plus vat) If it had been a tenner I'd probably have had them.
"Gu" deserts were cheaper and an alternative brand version also looked decent.
Didn't buy anything. Wasn't too busy in store to be fair. But strolled round in about 30mins. Kid playing basketball with the stock and his sister whipping about on a scooter I presume was also for sale. (Bit like the local Decathlon on a Sunday!)
I don't imagine I'll be renewing in 12months time
Memberships were same price as in store, but the convenience of walking to another room and signing up in under 10 mins made it easy. So I thought I'd give it a whirl for a year and if it wasn't worth it, not renew.
Went first time this evening.
Bit meh to be honest. Already think that I'm not the ideal customer as a single guy with no kids who is relatively limited on freezer space.
Random things I saw
henry hoover (roughly same price as Currys)
8 toothbrush heads (more expensive than 10 on Amazon)
Castrol Magnatec. 5w30 More expensive than Halfords
Toilet Roll was probably a bit cheaper than Tesco but I don't want 32 rolls stacked up in the toilet, lest I look like some covid moron or a "prepper"!
The dishwasher cleaner liquid was cheaper as it was 4 for about the price of 2 - Maybe for the future
Couldn't tell on the alcohol as I don't drink. My ex would have known.
There was a time a case of Red Bull would have been bought, but now I drink far less of it. So pointless.
The cake/Danish's multipacks I've had before when colleagues bring them in, and they are mega. But BBE dates are at most 3-4 days. So I'll never get through them before they go off.
Krispy Kremes were cheaper than the store in New Malden
Salmon looked amazing. Really big compared to the anaemic ones from Tesco. Maybe something to think about in future.
Saw a big tube of assorted cable ties for £15 (presumably plus vat) If it had been a tenner I'd probably have had them.
"Gu" deserts were cheaper and an alternative brand version also looked decent.
Didn't buy anything. Wasn't too busy in store to be fair. But strolled round in about 30mins. Kid playing basketball with the stock and his sister whipping about on a scooter I presume was also for sale. (Bit like the local Decathlon on a Sunday!)
I don't imagine I'll be renewing in 12months time
We go a couple of times a year and stock up on various consumables.
Toilet rolls, kitchen roll (their own brand is great) washing powder, bottled water all the big stuff that can either go in the attic or the spare room.
Some of their clothing is pretty good, sweat shirts and the like.
One thing that may have gone unnoticed but I recommend you buy is kitchen foil. A humongous big roll of really thick foil will last for literally years.
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