Just discovered Costco.....

Just discovered Costco.....

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Discussion

Bill

52,758 posts

255 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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doogz said:
Makro anyone?

Went and joined up at the weekend, since we moved house, we're much closer to Makro than Costco.

The food dept seems better in Makro, but that might wear off, it may just be that it's different.

Better selection of wine, proper fish counter, lots of fresh meat, well prepared. Veg maybe not as good though.

Bought approx. a metric tonne of scallops, prawns, and squid, along with some chicken and chorizo and had paella last night. And a big bag of duck feet for £2 that'll make some tasty soup.
I'm getting on better in Makro now, but plenty of the food isn't actually that cheap. The fish counter is great but the meat and veg are more limited IMO and the cheese and deli selection are pretty poor. The wine and beer selection is also not as good quality (wine particularly) or cheap. It's also much harder to spend too much as the tools aren't great and the toys are non-existent. biggrin

Bungleaio

6,331 posts

202 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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I've not been to Makro, I don't have my own company so I'm not allowed. I managed to get into Costco because I'm a chartered surveyor so they would let me join.

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

159 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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Me and MrsNW go to both Makro and Costco. Costco usually for meat, decent wine and "toys"; Makro for Soft drinks, dried herbs/spices, fresh fish and washing liquids. Makro meat can be excellent, they do superbly priced (and very meaty) pork belly, excellent South American steaks and yesterday we had a beef fore-rib for dinner, was absolutely delicious. As they are very close to each other where I am we tend to do a trip to both for "stock"

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

253 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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Makro chicken breasts, in the 10kg box, are just superb.

£21 I think, and you usually get about 24 very large chicken breasts for that.

DaveJns

523 posts

144 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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My costco (Liverpool) got a petrol station this week! 'premium' diesel for 129p, seems decent value! Especially if it is decent,must be better than the supermarket stuff for same price (not wanting to start a debate about this).

They're also selling brown leather ottomans for £20 on an offer biggrin

TinyCappo

2,106 posts

153 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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How did the fillup procedure work at the new site? Im mean whats to stop non members rocking up and filing up with fuel?

Do you have to scan your costco card to get access?

ViperDave

5,530 posts

253 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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TinyCappo said:
How did the fillup procedure work at the new site? Im mean whats to stop non members rocking up and filing up with fuel?

Do you have to scan your costco card to get access?
That is how it works in the US, although as they have mag stripes they swipe and we brits have to seek out an attendant, show them out card, have a discussion about the funny looking card with a bar code and then they swipe their card to unlock the pump.

Nickyboy

6,700 posts

234 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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I emailed them to ask if the company i work for is a Gold Card company and got told i was and they welcomed me into the membership club.

Cant wait to go now!

Bullett

10,886 posts

184 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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graphene said:
However, can somebody explain the furniture to me - why is it always hideously ugly?
Because American.

sparkypups

268 posts

205 months

Monday 30th June 2014
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Makro = Booker = Makro

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

159 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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sparkypups said:
Makro = Booker = Makro
This is correct - Booker bought Makro (from Metro) some 4-5 years ago (though haven't yet officially paid for it!).

Makro cards get you entrance to Metro in Europe - The Metro here in Munich is mahoosive and has some great stuff

RemaL

24,973 posts

234 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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sparkypups said:
Makro = Booker = Makro
I have a Booker card but binned the Makro card.

So can you now get into Bookers with a Makro card? if not it's not really Makro = booker = Makro really

TwigtheWonderkid

43,363 posts

150 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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What's happened to Makro in North Acton? It's like a ghost town, tumbleweed blowing down the isles.

silverthorn2151

6,298 posts

179 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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graphene said:
Costco's plastic storage boxes are great but I have not seen any in stock for a while. Their boxes make the overpriced brittle crap in places such as BnQ and Hombase look like larger versions of things that microwave meals arrive in.

However, can somebody explain the furniture to me - why is it always hideously ugly?
The Range is king of the plastic box emporium world in my experience.

Popped into Makro Enfield a couple of weeks ago and it's simply awful now. I am told they are undergoing some changes but looked more like closing down to be frank. Didn't see much that stood out as a bargain either.

Binned my Costco card last September when it was time to renew. Now I go with my Dad for specific things or to carry heavy stuff for him. Saved me a fortune and stopped me stockpiling packs of microfibre cloths against the inevitable world shortage.

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

253 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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TwigtheWonderkid said:
What's happened to Makro in North Acton? It's like a ghost town, tumbleweed blowing down the isles.
Our Makro in Stoke is dead quiet too.

That's because the stuff has got worse, and the prices have gone up. I only go for the chicken and bulk buying lemon squash now.

boxst

3,716 posts

145 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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TwigtheWonderkid said:
What's happened to Makro in North Acton? It's like a ghost town, tumbleweed blowing down the isles.
That appears to be just Makro. The one is Croydon is suitably grotty and hardly anyone there.

IN51GHT

8,779 posts

210 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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I buy the veg oil to run the Bongo in there.

DaveJns

523 posts

144 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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ViperDave said:
TinyCappo said:
How did the fillup procedure work at the new site? Im mean whats to stop non members rocking up and filing up with fuel?

Do you have to scan your costco card to get access?
That is how it works in the US, although as they have mag stripes they swipe and we brits have to seek out an attendant, show them out card, have a discussion about the funny looking card with a bar code and then they swipe their card to unlock the pump.
Just scan the bar code on your costco card on the machine, then it's just pay at pump as normal smile

DaveJns

523 posts

144 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
quotequote all
graphene said:
Costco's plastic storage boxes are great but I have not seen any in stock for a while. Their boxes make the overpriced brittle crap in places such as BnQ and Hombase look like larger versions of things that microwave meals arrive in.

However, can somebody explain the furniture to me - why is it always hideously ugly?
There were loads in Liverpool yesterday, they seem to be having a push on furniture and storage at the moment, never seen them there before. Might be worth having a look in yours