Costco, worth it?

[Exige77]

Is Tyrewrecker an official spokesperson for Costco ?

Ex77

[GuyWMD]

A bit late to the party but yes it is worth it.

Like others I originally went there for the trolley jack, and have picked up quite a few things since. Paid the membership off in savings quite a while ago.
My local (Reading) isn't far away either.

[pidsy]

I love following the smug looking people who have the 60" led TV on their trolley up to the till then watching the smug look fall off their faces when they try to pay for ut with a credit card only to be told they cant. They usually do one of two things:

Quietly walk out of the store red faced

Or

Kick off about how the rules on payment by credit card have changed and they always use a credit card. Then leave red faced when told that the rules have never changed.

Seen it many times - priceless.

Just done my monthly shop -

1 x fudge cake
20kg cat food
Half a kilo of cheese
A gaziliion dishwasher tabs (on offer)
Bagels
Pizza.

Tempted by the 56" bear for my godson, have a strange need for a chaise lounge and a £4.5k light up hot tub.

[Soir]

If you can stay away from impulse purchases (very difficult! my first 'look' around rsulted in £300 bill for toaster and other bits I didnt need)

as stated before, the Steak is excellent

but you'll have to ask someone about the VAT situation

[Dan_1981]

Anyone a member at Sheffield and fancy making me an associate member?

I can't find any other way to join as neither mine / t'other half have occupations that qualify.

[sday12]

pidsy said:

I love following the smug looking people who have the 60" led TV on their trolley up to the till then watching the smug look fall off their faces when they try to pay for ut with a credit card only to be told they cant. They usually do one of two things:

Quietly walk out of the store red faced

Or

Kick off about how the rules on payment by credit card have changed and they always use a credit card. Then leave red faced when told that the rules have never changed.

Seen it many times - priceless.

See reason 4 above.

[sday12]

sc0tt said:

How do you go about getting a guest pass?

Ask your carer.

[pidsy]

Reason 4?

[Tyrewrecker]

Exige77 said:

Is Tyrewrecker an official spokesperson for Costco ?

Ex77

No he is not

Are you the official critic for costco threads?

[sday12]

Tyrewrecker said:

Exige77 said:

Is Tyrewrecker an official spokesperson for Costco ?

Ex77

No he is not

Are you the official critic for costco threads?

No, that's me.

[TinyCappo]

Tyrewrecker said:

Exige77 said:

Is Tyrewrecker an official spokesperson for Costco ?

Ex77

No he is not

Are you the official critic for costco threads?

Official Costco food critic

[tangerine_sedge]

I've never quite understood Costcos business model. If they are in the business of selling stuff, why do they put restrictions on who can and can't join? I understand the psychological impact of restricting membership and making customers feel special (a little like joining the Mickey Mouse club as a 7 year old), but surely they would shift more if they just let any Tom, Dick or Harry buy stuff.

Are there Tax benefits to operating as a 'club' rather than as a normal shop?

Incidentally, I am not a Costco customer even though I'm eligible (some of my colleagues are). I have visited several times and I just can't see what the fuss is about, I've never actually found anything there which I am willing to buy. Yes, there are savings, but I have no intention of using my garage as a toilet paper warehouse to save myself £20 a year.

[EJH]

pidsy said:

I love following the smug looking people who have the 60" led TV on their trolley up to the till then watching the smug look fall off their faces when they try to pay for ut with a credit card only to be told they cant. They usually do one of two things:

Quietly walk out of the store red faced

Or

Kick off about how the rules on payment by credit card have changed and they always use a credit card. Then leave red faced when told that the rules have never changed.

Seen it many times - priceless.

Just done my monthly shop -

1 x fudge cake
20kg cat food
Half a kilo of cheese
A gaziliion dishwasher tabs (on offer)
Bagels
Pizza.

Tempted by the 56" bear for my godson, have a strange need for a chaise lounge and a £4.5k light up hot tub.

They do take AmEx now; think they started a year or so ago.

I go once a year for my contact lenses and solutions. Same chaps I have been seeing there for 14 years, standard of care (and technology) is very good and the lenses / solutions as cheap as one will find.

I do have a life-size (well, maybe life-size+) cuddly-toy Old English Sheepdog who was bought from Costco in 1999. I was a student (with a hangover) and I seem to remember that the thought process was that I couldn't have a Volvo 240 Estate without a dog (of sorts) in the boot. It made perfect sense at the time...

[VII]

Do their prices include VAT?

[pidsy]

They only take amex as there is a costco amex card which you can apply for in store.

Shame they dont have petrol stations at their stores over here like they do in the US.

[Jobbo]

tangerine_sedge said:

I've never quite understood Costcos business model. If they are in the business of selling stuff, why do they put restrictions on who can and can't join? I understand the psychological impact of restricting membership and making customers feel special (a little like joining the Mickey Mouse club as a 7 year old), but surely they would shift more if they just let any Tom, Dick or Harry buy stuff.

Are there Tax benefits to operating as a 'club' rather than as a normal shop?

I believe it is for planning reasons - they can build on land which isn't strictly zoned for retail which makes it cheaper. I'm told planning isn't an issue in the US so they don't have the same restriction.

[NiceCupOfTea]

moanthebairns said:

Now if they were 53ft that would be worth going for.

[DoctorX]

tangerine_sedge said:

Yes, there are savings, but I have no intention of using my garage as a toilet paper warehouse to save myself £20 a year.

My exact argument with the missus. Still love Costco though.

Frozen berry smoothies from the cafe are awesome.

[mattdaniels]

doogz said:

I really want the patio furniture they seem to have in the Glasgow store all the time, the large mosaic table and chairs. Need to sort out my driveway/patio area first.

Why can't you pay with credit cards? I never would, but didn't know you couldn't?

You can pay by credit card if it's Amex. Don't know if I've already mentioned that. Or if anyone else has.

[Sexual Chocolate]

The wife loves it. Though she does tend to carried away. We passed one while out in the Exige. The asked to go so we stopped. After about 10 mins the trolley is full of crap; 100000000 litre jars of BBQ sauce, 500 million rolls of toilet paper, 5 tons of beef, 2.5 ton bag of oven chips and a bag of crisps that a 20yeard old man could happily live in. Oh how I laughed as all this was inside/outside/stuck to and glued to my nice shiney new exige. If you ever go, take a car with a huge boot.

Edited by Sexual Chocolate on Wednesday 8th August 14:11