Costco, worth it?
Discussion
sday12 said:
Yes, if you want you house to be full to the rafters and resemble a warehouse, so you can tell everyone your dishwasher tablets were 50% cheaper.
If you want to buy things that you will never use because they were a bargain.
If you want to drop £200 every time you drive past one.
If you want to shop with people you won't like.
If you enjoy paying to get in a shop.
If you want to buy tyres that even at the sale price, are more than you can bargain your local Indy to.
If you want to buy stuff, use it, and return it for a full refund 11 months later. (WTF?)
If you want to pretend you are a member of a special club, open only to traders.
Fill yer boots.
Yep spot on 100% -Costco if so good why no prices on their website? all bullsIf you want to buy things that you will never use because they were a bargain.
If you want to drop £200 every time you drive past one.
If you want to shop with people you won't like.
If you enjoy paying to get in a shop.
If you want to buy tyres that even at the sale price, are more than you can bargain your local Indy to.
If you want to buy stuff, use it, and return it for a full refund 11 months later. (WTF?)
If you want to pretend you are a member of a special club, open only to traders.
Fill yer boots.
Edited by sday12 on Tuesday 7th August 13:09
t false exclusivity "In order to qualify for membership you must be either self employed, an owner/director of a business or belong to specific employment groups"..Oversized industrial bulk goods designed for the biggest fattest Yanks.Goods maybe cheaper - but not by huge margins -and you have to factor in membership fee.
Seems to have been removed but website had FAQ "Why do we charge membership fee" - and answer was just rambling bulls
t that didn't even attempt to answer questionI'm a tight wad budgety type of guy who squeezes so much out of pound notes that the Queen's eyes water.I'll stick with....EDIT - GASP SHOCK HORROR CALL THE FECKIN COPS..
AsdaEdited by tali1 on Tuesday 7th August 23:58
doogz said:
Membership is what, £30/year? I probably saved that on bog roll and steak alone, last time I was in.
It's easier to join than Makro, who were complete arses last time I tried to go in and join.
It's easy to blag your way in. No idea how I managed to get a membership, I was a merchant navy cadet on <£700 a month It's easier to join than Makro, who were complete arses last time I tried to go in and join.
richardxjr said:
Is that plus Vat?
I think that is the inc VAT price.But I don't think the inc VAT price for membership is displayed in the stores
Shock horror!
+1 that you can save your membership fee lots of times over if you shop sensibly. Particularly on the fresh food, meat particularly.
Stu R said:
Makro? Just register online, forget to turn up, and they'll post you the card after a couple of weeks. Why you'd want to I've no idea, it's horrid.
Never been to costco but have been to makro.Its good for bulk buying penny sweets that you like and the odd case of beer but the prices are pretty much the same as asda
Kirkland Maintenance Cat is my moggies preferred food of choice (with wet food pouches intermittently). Pouches in Costco (Felix/Whiskas) cost around the same as when the supermarkets have them on 'special' offer.
Jelly Belly Beans - about £15 for 1.8k -
Never heard a bad word said about the trolley jack they sell. Oil is discounted every 3 or 6 months and makes it very cheap in comparison.
Also great for bog roll, excellent quality Ziplok freezer bags, huge tubs of fresh cut fruit which the kids demolish in about 5 seconds, CP Brand Flamin Chicken Tenders (currently with 20% extra free) & also frozen chicken nuggets - both made with just chicken breast meat, not minced or shaped. Also the CP Brand wonton soup is delicious, as are their Bangkok Firecracker Prawns.
Fresh meat is good - sides of fresh salmon also very good.
You do have to keep an eye on prices, but then I've found that even when they're at their most expensive they are comparable with supermarket special offers. I know that I've saved my membership multiple times over (I 'recovered' the cost on my first visit when I bought a set of Microplane graters which I had been intending to buy elsewhere but Costco's price was the same as retail for just the one, rather than in the Costco pack it had two, plus a finger guard).
That said, I did carry around one of these:
for half an hour around the shop because I thought it was cool, and that my 6 year old would like it. It was too big, and it would only lead to being joined by Gonzo, Kermit, Fozzy & Miss Piggy, although it was only £12 I reasoned with myself, before coming to my senses & putting it back.
Lastly, I think the chicken bakes from the cafe are average (sacrilege!) but oh my, the 100% beef hot dog, with onion, Heinz ketchup & French's mustard with a refillable coke for £1.50?! So very good indeed and the only hot dog I'll eat.
Jelly Belly Beans - about £15 for 1.8k -
Never heard a bad word said about the trolley jack they sell. Oil is discounted every 3 or 6 months and makes it very cheap in comparison.
Also great for bog roll, excellent quality Ziplok freezer bags, huge tubs of fresh cut fruit which the kids demolish in about 5 seconds, CP Brand Flamin Chicken Tenders (currently with 20% extra free) & also frozen chicken nuggets - both made with just chicken breast meat, not minced or shaped. Also the CP Brand wonton soup is delicious, as are their Bangkok Firecracker Prawns.
Fresh meat is good - sides of fresh salmon also very good.
You do have to keep an eye on prices, but then I've found that even when they're at their most expensive they are comparable with supermarket special offers. I know that I've saved my membership multiple times over (I 'recovered' the cost on my first visit when I bought a set of Microplane graters which I had been intending to buy elsewhere but Costco's price was the same as retail for just the one, rather than in the Costco pack it had two, plus a finger guard).
That said, I did carry around one of these:
for half an hour around the shop because I thought it was cool, and that my 6 year old would like it. It was too big, and it would only lead to being joined by Gonzo, Kermit, Fozzy & Miss Piggy, although it was only £12 I reasoned with myself, before coming to my senses & putting it back.
Lastly, I think the chicken bakes from the cafe are average (sacrilege!) but oh my, the 100% beef hot dog, with onion, Heinz ketchup & French's mustard with a refillable coke for £1.50?! So very good indeed and the only hot dog I'll eat.
moanthebairns said:
...but the prices are pretty much the same as asda
And yet the quality is waaaaaay higher.Rarely do I buy branded stuff at Costco unless they've either got an offer on, or I need it in bulk (when it usually is cheaper).
As has been said before though, the meat is typically of higher quality than most butchers, and worth the joining fee alone. Other random things worth getting there are frozen tail-on prawns, more meat, toilet rolls, kitchen towels and meat.
Did I mention meat?
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