Costco: what is it good for?
Discussion
Had a card a few years back but hardly went.
Loads of people buying shedloads of toilet-paper was my biggest memory of my few visits.
Could get those big old chip-shop jars of gherkins though, pretty cheap too, so well worth stocking up on those.
Also picked up a bottle of Lagavulin which from memory was a bit cheaper than the supermarket.
Loads of people buying shedloads of toilet-paper was my biggest memory of my few visits.
Could get those big old chip-shop jars of gherkins though, pretty cheap too, so well worth stocking up on those.
Also picked up a bottle of Lagavulin which from memory was a bit cheaper than the supermarket.
Testing your self control 
They have familiar brands in formats you won't be familiar with. These can be great but it's not always cheaper than your local supermarkets to buy these large formats.
Dull things like kitchen foil, freezer bags etc. are good quality and value.
Wine and spirits can be good value but need to be aware of subtle differences in format/branding which might mean things aren't the bargain they appear to be.
When I've researched large electrical purchases, it appears that Costco stock things that are not latest model or soon not to be latest model. I think they rely on a lot of impulse purchases for homeware type stuff.
They have familiar brands in formats you won't be familiar with. These can be great but it's not always cheaper than your local supermarkets to buy these large formats.
Dull things like kitchen foil, freezer bags etc. are good quality and value.
Wine and spirits can be good value but need to be aware of subtle differences in format/branding which might mean things aren't the bargain they appear to be.
When I've researched large electrical purchases, it appears that Costco stock things that are not latest model or soon not to be latest model. I think they rely on a lot of impulse purchases for homeware type stuff.
Mr Pointy said:
....but as a single person you just can't make use of the bulk buys.....
This is the situation I'm in. When I buy meat, I have to portion it up and freeze it, adding a cost of ziplock bags and/or tin foil. If you buy anything 'fresh' you have to have it every meal until it is gone as otherwise it'll go off before you've finished the pack.
I don't think you save any money, you just get decent quality, some unusual items, and bulk buys of dull things like washing capsules, tin foil or Marmite, so you don't have to think about getting any more for several months.
I made the mistake of going yesterday (Sunday) when I normally go weekdays after work. V busy and loads of chavs queuing for free samples.
Christmas items were in stock I noticed.
Single bloke no kids is probably as far from the target market as you can get.
Stuff we bought yesterday:
Pepsi Max
Fizzy water
Sushi
Wild salmon
Shicken tikka kebabs
Frozen prawns
Bao buns
Tinned tomatoes
AAA batteries
Tortillas
Chapattis
Orange juice
Crosta & Mollica pizzas
Sheepskin slippers (?!?, no me neither)
Stuff we bought yesterday:
Pepsi Max
Fizzy water
Sushi
Wild salmon
Shicken tikka kebabs
Frozen prawns
Bao buns
Tinned tomatoes
AAA batteries
Tortillas
Chapattis
Orange juice
Crosta & Mollica pizzas
Sheepskin slippers (?!?, no me neither)
Bulk buying as others have said. Things like soft drinks can be quite cheap, but often the savings arent huge so unless you are getting through it you wont notice loads of savings. They often have big ticket items that can be got fairly cheap. I got one of those massive American style BBQs and it was about 100 quid cheaper than it was elsewhere.
Tyres can be pretty well priced there.
The food aint bad, they usually have a cafe where you can get a hot dog and a drink for a couple of quid, and they do prepared food like lasagna, cottage pies, mexican stuff. Thats quite large but you can freeze the portions
Tyres can be pretty well priced there.
The food aint bad, they usually have a cafe where you can get a hot dog and a drink for a couple of quid, and they do prepared food like lasagna, cottage pies, mexican stuff. Thats quite large but you can freeze the portions
Years back it was great as it catered to mainly the trade business and so you'd get men going about their weekly stock buying in silence and paying via debit card or cash, the whole process was very efficient.
Around a decade ago they massively expanded the range of professions that were eligible for a card and it became a bit more of a chore to shop and the deals started to wane then a couple of years back they let anyone sign up (even those without a job) and gave them a free roast chicken so these days it's full of families dawdling with screaming kids in tow.
Only decent thing they sell at the moment that supermarkets don't is the descent cling film, I gave up renewing at my local as it doesn't have a petrol station and the bulk deals aren't that great anymore when you work out the cost per item.
Around a decade ago they massively expanded the range of professions that were eligible for a card and it became a bit more of a chore to shop and the deals started to wane then a couple of years back they let anyone sign up (even those without a job) and gave them a free roast chicken so these days it's full of families dawdling with screaming kids in tow.
Only decent thing they sell at the moment that supermarkets don't is the descent cling film, I gave up renewing at my local as it doesn't have a petrol station and the bulk deals aren't that great anymore when you work out the cost per item.
We have a membership and go 3 or 4 times a year. Usually before we're hosting a party/bbq/Christmas etc.
Drinks - definitely cheaper (including alcohol).
Electronics and household electricals - can be cheaper if you buy carefully.
Food - generally sold in ridiculous quantities so we only buy stuff for hosting events or things like meat/cereal etc that keep or freeze well.
Tyres - can be pretty competitive but I think they only stock Michelin
Household items - things like bin liners, kitchen foil, cling film, kitchen roll, toilet roll, washing up liquid are generally excellent quality and in quantities that last forever.
Tools - often worth a look although compare carefully as I think they get specific products that aren't sold elsewhere.
Warranty/returns - this is where they really do excel. They refund or exchange without quibble if you have an issue. My parents bought a washing machine years back and it stopped working a few months before the long warranty expired - full refund. Think it was 7+ years old!
Drinks - definitely cheaper (including alcohol).
Electronics and household electricals - can be cheaper if you buy carefully.
Food - generally sold in ridiculous quantities so we only buy stuff for hosting events or things like meat/cereal etc that keep or freeze well.
Tyres - can be pretty competitive but I think they only stock Michelin
Household items - things like bin liners, kitchen foil, cling film, kitchen roll, toilet roll, washing up liquid are generally excellent quality and in quantities that last forever.
Tools - often worth a look although compare carefully as I think they get specific products that aren't sold elsewhere.
Warranty/returns - this is where they really do excel. They refund or exchange without quibble if you have an issue. My parents bought a washing machine years back and it stopped working a few months before the long warranty expired - full refund. Think it was 7+ years old!
Seventy said:
Fuel.
I have a card purely for this.
I reckon I save £400+ a year.
Yes it’s always busy (except early mornings) but the queue moves pretty quickly.
Definitely this, we save the cost of the card per month at very least. But I'm lucky because our local one is 10 mins from my house and right next to the motorway I have a card purely for this.
I reckon I save £400+ a year.
Yes it’s always busy (except early mornings) but the queue moves pretty quickly.
Decent warranties and after care on electricals, meat is great quality, and can be cheap for tyres and oil. But overall unless you are buying in bulk it's just not worth it.
I can't get a mobile signal in my local one (possibly intentionally) so you really need to be informed on the latest supermarket offers before you go in there because supermarket prices can be cheaper.
I can't get a mobile signal in my local one (possibly intentionally) so you really need to be informed on the latest supermarket offers before you go in there because supermarket prices can be cheaper.
vixen1700 said:
Had a card a few years back but hardly went.
Loads of people buying shedloads of toilet-paper was my biggest memory of my few visits.
Could get those big old chip-shop jars of gherkins though, pretty cheap too, so well worth stocking up on those.
Also picked up a bottle of Lagavulin which from memory was a bit cheaper than the supermarket.
The toilet rolls are sold in bulk (something like 5x9 packs). You pay about the same money as 3 packs in the supermarkets.Loads of people buying shedloads of toilet-paper was my biggest memory of my few visits.
Could get those big old chip-shop jars of gherkins though, pretty cheap too, so well worth stocking up on those.
Also picked up a bottle of Lagavulin which from memory was a bit cheaper than the supermarket.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff