Re: Wholesale Clubs

Cats3000 · ‎10-07-2013

You pay a fee (annual?) to join. So you have to find out how much your "savings" will be and then match that amount to the fee you paid, to find out when (if ever during the membership period) your "savings" have paid for your membership. That's called the "break point". Only AFTER that point are you getting net savings.

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

When my husband was alive and my girls lived at home, I shopped there all of the time (Costco).

My late husband loved Costco, and so did I. However, since it's just me I seldom go there.

I did go there recently. I had a lot of VHS tapes converted to DVD's. They were tapes made over a 40 year period of my girls and our entire family. It was expensive to have them converted ($800) but worth it.

Although, unfortunately, they ended up messing some of them up by adding some weird video onto a few of them. They gave me back some of my money. Now I have to look at the VHS tapes and see what they did to them.

Anyway, I was craving a hot dog for months. That was one of the first things I did when I got to COSTCO. It was worth it, although I did have indigestion for the entire day! Ha!

Here's one thing I've noticed about people. It is unbelievable how many people buy bottled water. I see people buying cases and cases of it. They buy the cheapest brand they can (I find that interesting too). Some of these people look like they'd be the last to ever buy bottled water, but there they are buying cases and cases.

I'm not judging, I always only drink bottled water. I can't stand the taste of othe water. I only like Dasani. I know it's made by the Coke people but I like the taste. I used to buy the huge bottles but now I just buy the cases. I go through probably a case in less than 2 weeks.

Back to wholesale clubs. With some families getting smaller, I do wonder if their time is getting limited.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

We belong to both Sam's and Costco. There are 3 Sam's close to us and 1 Costco.

We keep talking about letting the Costco membership lapse. The other day I was shopping at Sam's and I forgot to buy fresh baby organic carrots. They were $3.98 at Sam's. So the next day I was in Costco and went to buy them. The same exact carrots were $6.99. I could not believe the difference in price.

Also, Skippy when it goes on sale at Costco it is the same as the regular price at Sam's. And Welch's jelly is $3.78 at Sam's and $4.98 at Costco.

The selection at Costco seems to be smaller than Sam's. And our Costco was built about 4 years ago. So it is not like they had to work with a preexisting building.

And checking out is a nightmare at Costco. They never have more than 4 lanes open to check out. So people are down through the isles as other people are trying to shop.

At Sam's they have every lanes open plus self check out. So I never have waiting in a line in over a year.

Mj12 · ‎03-09-2010

Only the 2 of us too and we love Costco. We don’t shop there regularly, maybe once every 4-6 weeks. My husband buys the Kirkland’s huge box of coffee pods for work. I like to look at their clothes, jewelry, electronics, and yard items. Everything in the meat and seafood departments is fantastic quality (ditto the Foodsaver comment). Costco sometimes has really good brand name items too. I saw men’s Cole Haan dress shoes last week.

riley1 · ‎03-10-2010

I shop at Costco. However, I always go with a list of specific items. As there are only two of us now, we go about once a month. Coffee, paper goods, coffee pods.

I don't purchase things that we won't be able to finish or large quantities of things. I went just before Christmas and stocked up on snacks for my grandkids and took them when we went to visit.

Gosh, when my kids still lived at home it was a huge savings to go there and purchase snack items. Even when they went to college we used to load the car with food stuff for them.

Ms tyrion2 · ‎05-08-2017

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
When my husband was alive and my girls lived at home, I shopped there all of the time (Costco).

My late husband loved Costco, and so did I. However, since it's just me I seldom go there.

I did go there recently. I had a lot of VHS tapes converted to DVD's. They were tapes made over a 40 year period of my girls and our entire family. It was expensive to have them converted ($800) but worth it.

Although, unfortunately, they ended up messing some of them up by adding some weird video onto a few of them. They gave me back some of my money. Now I have to look at the VHS tapes and see what they did to them.

Anyway, I was craving a hot dog for months. That was one of the first things I did when I got to COSTCO. It was worth it, although I did have indigestion for the entire day! Ha!

Here's one thing I've noticed about people. It is unbelievable how many people buy bottled water. I see people buying cases and cases of it. They buy the cheapest brand they can (I find that interesting too). Some of these people look like they'd be the last to ever buy bottled water, but there they are buying cases and cases.

I'm not judging, I always only drink bottled water. I can't stand the taste of othe water. I only like Dasani. I know it's made by the Coke people but I like the taste. I used to buy the huge bottles but now I just buy the cases. I go through probably a case in less than 2 weeks.

Back to wholesale clubs. With some families getting smaller, I do wonder if their time is getting limited.

I don't understand.

You are amazed that people buy cases of water, but you buy cases of water too.

Many people go to Costco to stock offices and other businesses with bottled water, so that could be why they are buying a lot. Or they have a family. Or they are having a party.

What "type" of people do you think buy water?

patbz · ‎03-10-2010

Another Costco post from me. Had to add that I've lived in small towns for 35 years (and never had a Costco closer than 2.5 hrs from us). When I or a workmate went to a Costco, I'd put out the word and frequently bought bulk items for friends (or workplace). The Bennie for me was that I kept the points towards end of year rewards.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

We only have Sams and I don't think it is worth it any more. They don't have gas; most of the seafood I've seen is from Asia; and buying in bulk is less attractive for me. I am not a fan of their meat either.

I buy from a small natural foods store, make a trip to Whole Foods for meat (ON SALE) about every three weeks, and pick up most paper products and toilitries at CVS. I have found that using the CVS coupons and specials on the card from them I can save a ton of money and not have to store the stuff or struggle through Sams store, the parking lot and the line to prove I've not stolen all the stuff in my basket, which I find very offensive too.

DiAnne · ‎09-22-2010

I have belonged to Price Club/Costco for years. Now that my children are out on their own I no longer purchase produce there except for lemons. I go there a couple times a month. I get prescriptions, water, tol. paper, paper towels, Kleenex, laundry detergent, bleach, dishwasher pods, Kerrygold butter, coffee, rotisserie chicken, unsliced bread, supplements, fresh flowers and so much more. If I use the Costco Visa I get a much bigger rebate the the cost of membership.

fancy pantsy · ‎06-25-2014

i live alone and this is the second year for my costco membership. between the coffee, the vitamins and suppliments and the gas, the membership pays for itself.

i have a new perscription for eyeglasses and i seem to remember folks saying that costco was a good place for that, so i will price shop that there too.