Anyone else loathe going to Costco now?
Discussion
Posting this really to see if my loathing is isolated to my particular store in Derby or a national trend.
I've been a member for 9 years and up until 2-3 years I loved going to buy my favourite consumables in bulk.
But in the last few years, the store always feels packed and manic. I never go in on weekends just weekday evenings, it used to be chill but now it seems busy than ever.
Today I decided to go in first thing (11:00am for individual members) in the hope that I could beat some chaos but nope, by the time I got there at 11:10am it was busy - I give up lol. I just find it can be hectic when you have a heavy trolley and your trying quickly manoeuver for kids running out of aisles, or "those" shoppers who are too busy looking at something to realise they are blocking others.
One theory I have is the new Costco petrol station built a few years ago might be responsible. It's always busy and it probably introduced many more members since membership is required to use the pump.
Another thing... the food court staff look more miserable than ever. I don't really care as I don't go but ever since the introduction of digital ordering terminals I get the feeling they are rushed off their feet vs a slower pace when people had to queue to order.
Anyways interested to hear your thoughts on your local Costco - I'll think of something else to moan about now
I've been a member for 9 years and up until 2-3 years I loved going to buy my favourite consumables in bulk.
But in the last few years, the store always feels packed and manic. I never go in on weekends just weekday evenings, it used to be chill but now it seems busy than ever.
Today I decided to go in first thing (11:00am for individual members) in the hope that I could beat some chaos but nope, by the time I got there at 11:10am it was busy - I give up lol. I just find it can be hectic when you have a heavy trolley and your trying quickly manoeuver for kids running out of aisles, or "those" shoppers who are too busy looking at something to realise they are blocking others.
One theory I have is the new Costco petrol station built a few years ago might be responsible. It's always busy and it probably introduced many more members since membership is required to use the pump.
Another thing... the food court staff look more miserable than ever. I don't really care as I don't go but ever since the introduction of digital ordering terminals I get the feeling they are rushed off their feet vs a slower pace when people had to queue to order.
Anyways interested to hear your thoughts on your local Costco - I'll think of something else to moan about now
Can’t stand the place. My blood pressure is off the scale by the time I get out of there , so my wife now goes by herself as it’s less hassle with me tagging along. ( she has the patience of a Saint ) .
My threshold of being able to suffer too many ignorant people stuffed into one small area is very limited.
My threshold of being able to suffer too many ignorant people stuffed into one small area is very limited.
We used to have a membership, but as a couple we just didn't see the value and would end up buying s
t we didn't need which defeated the object of saving money.
Plus our local one has a petrol station now, which is carnage on a weekend and the queues are horrendous. I dont really see the value going there anymore.
t we didn't need which defeated the object of saving money. Plus our local one has a petrol station now, which is carnage on a weekend and the queues are horrendous. I dont really see the value going there anymore.
We use Chester (well, it's near Chester) and it never seems particularly busy apart from the fuel queue, which drives me insane as the queue route allows hard-faced peole to cut in as they leave the carpark, and the fast-food outlet, which I ate at once for amusement (meal for two for £7!) as there happened to be no queue that day.
In fact my wife popped in there yesterday, I would guess mid-morning on her way to Cheshire Oaks. - the only specific thing she went for a big box of kiwi, and of course she also got a chicken. I don't know what else she bought, but nothing major. She did get fuel as there was no queue.
In fact my wife popped in there yesterday, I would guess mid-morning on her way to Cheshire Oaks. - the only specific thing she went for a big box of kiwi, and of course she also got a chicken. I don't know what else she bought, but nothing major. She did get fuel as there was no queue.
I rejoined 6 months ago.
Went into the store once, then realised we don’t need 500 loo rolls or anything in bulk!
Just 2 in the house.
But it’s a 5 minute detour from me twice monthly commute (Reading)
I’ve saved over £100 on fuel costs. Never seen a queue there as I pass by at 0730.
Maybe will venture into the store if we have a big bbq etc in the summer.
Went into the store once, then realised we don’t need 500 loo rolls or anything in bulk!
Just 2 in the house.
But it’s a 5 minute detour from me twice monthly commute (Reading)
I’ve saved over £100 on fuel costs. Never seen a queue there as I pass by at 0730.
Maybe will venture into the store if we have a big bbq etc in the summer.
) and it's not too bad.We go to the Derby one about once very 2-3 months. we only buy loo rolls and dishwasher tablets. Used to like browsing the tool/car aisle but that's it.
The fuel queues are horrendous, I go to Sainsburys down the road and pay a tiny bit more as no queues.
The clientele has "gone downhill a bit" Deserves a mention on the "council thread"...
The fuel queues are horrendous, I go to Sainsburys down the road and pay a tiny bit more as no queues.
The clientele has "gone downhill a bit" Deserves a mention on the "council thread"...
I had a year's trial membership when I worked in an office near the Reading branch. The office used to buy their Kirkland pizzas for events and I found them worse than awful. In fact I found nothing there that I wanted or needed and didn't much like having to show my receipt to a security bod when exiting right after having paid, so I didn't renew my membership. It MIGHT be worth it if you have a big family or run a school or a business, but as an individual it was completely pointless. I've just looked up where the nearest one is to me and it's Sunbury-on-Thames, 25 minutes away. No thank you!
The big thing motoring related was they used to be very good on Michelin tyres - they'd be as cheap as the cheapest places normally, then they'd have frequent 20% off deals.
They've obviously had some kind of parting of the ways with Michelin as they sell various other brands now, and the discount (when offered) is a fixed amount of £ so much less than it was in percentage terms, especially as tyres have got dearer.
They've obviously had some kind of parting of the ways with Michelin as they sell various other brands now, and the discount (when offered) is a fixed amount of £ so much less than it was in percentage terms, especially as tyres have got dearer.
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.
Great responses chaps, seems it's not just me then. I'll focus on 8PM weekdays, failing that I may cancel my membership.
I find it hilarious that the Sainburys petrol station is now quiet - for anyone who is interested, long before Costco Derby created its petrol station the Sainsburys petrol station was the only one nearby and everyone used to go to it, unbelievable queues etc. Also should any Costco member happen to pass through Derby and think of refuelling at Costco Derby take caution - the traffic management is such that you will have to go up and down the car park like a snake to get into it lol.
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/motoring/cos...
tozerman said:
We go to the Derby one about once very 2-3 months. we only buy loo rolls and dishwasher tablets. Used to like browsing the tool/car aisle but that's it.
The fuel queues are horrendous, I go to Sainsburys down the road and pay a tiny bit more as no queues.
The clientele has "gone downhill a bit" Deserves a mention on the "council thread"...
Yes tozerman... the clientele has also changed at the Derby store - I refrained from mentioning that as I didn't want to appear judgemental, and I find it hard to believe some of the new clientele are "willing" to pay for an annual membership. I dunno perhaps as someone in this thread suggested Costco did some major marketing at various companies to onboard new customers.The fuel queues are horrendous, I go to Sainsburys down the road and pay a tiny bit more as no queues.
The clientele has "gone downhill a bit" Deserves a mention on the "council thread"...
I find it hilarious that the Sainburys petrol station is now quiet - for anyone who is interested, long before Costco Derby created its petrol station the Sainsburys petrol station was the only one nearby and everyone used to go to it, unbelievable queues etc. Also should any Costco member happen to pass through Derby and think of refuelling at Costco Derby take caution - the traffic management is such that you will have to go up and down the car park like a snake to get into it lol.
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/motoring/cos...
LunarOne said:
I had a year's trial membership when I worked in an office near the Reading branch. The office used to buy their Kirkland pizzas for events and I found them worse than awful. In fact I found nothing there that I wanted or needed and didn't much like having to show my receipt to a security bod when exiting right after having paid, so I didn't renew my membership. It MIGHT be worth it if you have a big family or run a school or a business, but as an individual it was completely pointless. I've just looked up where the nearest one is to me and it's Sunbury-on-Thames, 25 minutes away. No thank you!
Easy to recoup the £30 though on fuel alone.Unless you have an EV!
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