Kitchen

[kivah]

Yes - the Kirkland Marinara is great --- as well as the Kirkland Organic Lemonade (2 bottles in a pack) -- and Kirkland Solid Albacore Tuna.

[ID2]

On 10/11/2014 justshoppin said:

I've had three memberships at once (BJ's, Sam's and Costco). Of the three, Costco is my least favorite so I dropped the membership.

When I was considering dropping my Costco membership, I called the local store to see when it would expire. The young lady on the phone was most unpleasant and acted like I was bothering her by calling. I made one last trip to use my membership and the sales clerk was more concerned with discussing her upcoming break time with her manager than assisting me with my purchase.

The selection in Costco's stores is very limited with the fewest number of products of the three warehouse clubs. They will have one brand of an item, so there are fewer options.

In fact, Costco's stores are designed without aisle signs on purpose, which makes customers walk up and down each aisle looking for tomato sauce, for example, or coffee. That guarantees customers will purchase items they did not intend to. After viewing some of these "tricks" Costco uses on a recent consumer documentary, I am a strong proponent of shopping where I am appreciated, and Costco is not one of them.

Costco increased their membership fee from $50 to $55 in one year. I can imagine they will go up to $60 or higher next time.

We just got our renewal for our membership for Costco. We have the executive membership and received a check for nearly $200! We never have to pay for our membership anymore! Just use the check they send us yearly and still have plenty of money left over for groceries! LOVE Costco!

[HonnyBrown]

ID2, that is awesome!!!!!!

Did you do a regular membership first to see how often you would use it?

BJs offers something similar.

[Hoovermom]

On 10/13/2014 HonnyBrown said:

On 10/13/2014 KJPA said:

On 10/11/2014 HonnyBrown said:

KJPA, I bought the Costco Breakfast Blend K-Cups (box of 80 in the store) and it is soooo gooood! I can't say the same for the Keurig I bought from there.

I've seen the kale salad blend at Costco, but not bagged kale.

I browsed BJs online and there is one closer. I thought I was going to do the One Day Pass, but there is a 15% surcharge. I'll wait until next month when they come to my job.

Honny, you may be right about the Kale being a blend instead of straight Kale. I will look when I go tonight

You also asked about the BJ's generics. I remember when we were members (like 15 years ago) we liked theirs. I really missed them when we first moved to Costco. But once we found the ones to suit our family we also like Costco's

I wanted to mention that the Kirkland marinara is EXCELLENT. No sugar added. If I remember correctly it has only a few ingredients. It's hard to find a sauce without added sugar! We also like the Kirkland canned chicken.

Hubby likes straight kale, so I look for it every visit. They have the kale salad blend and tons of spinach, but no bagged kale.

That's good to know about the marinara sauce! I make my own because I know what's in it and I don't add sugar.

The only marinara that I found at Costco had 5g of sugar. Can you help?

[chickenbutt]

I wonder if there is just that little bit of sugar in it because tomatoes naturally have some sugar in them. But the 'no ADDED sugar' designation would mean that no refined sugar is added to the product.

[Hoovermom]

Wondering also Chickenbutt.

[HonnyBrown]

On 10/15/2014 chickenbutt said:

I wonder if there is just that little bit of sugar in it because tomatoes naturally have some sugar in them. But the 'no ADDED sugar' designation would mean that no refined sugar is added to the product.

I agree, chicken. Tomatoes and other fruits have natural sugars, so there will always be a sugar content. But for the manufacturer not to add additional sugar, refined or not, is important.

That's like a lot of vegetables naturally contain salt. You can buy a "No Salt Added" stock, but not a salt free one. Same for some canned vegetables. There will always be salt in it.

[chickenbutt]

Right. What I did a poor job of was that my original meaning was to clarify the difference between 'sugar-free' and 'no sugar added'.

Sugar-free needs to mean that there is no (or no discernable, beyond a point that is accepted by the designation) sugar in the product.

No sugar added means that there could be natural sugars in the ingredients of the product, but there is no refined sugar ADDED to the ingredients.

[Bhvbum]

Costco, none better. I gave up my membership to Sam's and drive 20 miles even though Sam is building right in town.

[violann]

Couldn't do without both. Has anyone mentioned the Costco pharmacy? Wonderful service! Our BJ's is owned by truly service minded people. Selection is different in each but both very good. We get large rebates a couple times a year too!