Is Costco Really Worth It?

[anon_ddojbbh8q7xrt]

Bought my tires from Costco.
Warranty mandates you rotate tires every so many miles. Free rotation
Rotation takes an hour
There is literally nothing by Costo to do while you wait, nowhere to go.....

So what do I do every time.....

Buy crap I don’t need and slices of pizza

 

[anon_ddojbbh8q7xrt]

I met my drug


i like the cereal bars, granola bags, roller skates and potato wedges myself.

my sister. she likes the canned beans, the shaving soap and the shampoo napkins.

my other sister, who is korean -- adopted -- likes the scalloped granola, the shampoo bags, the pizza fingers, and the cigarettes.

my other sister is dead unfortunately, but we all agreed she would have enjoyed the scalloped shampoo, the pizza bags, the canned cigarettes and the potato skates.

god bless america

Whats the point in pointing out that shes Korean?

 

[Douglas C. Neidermeyer]

The beef is fantastic! Refilling ink cartridges 6 or so times per year on a couple different printers pays for the membership many times over by itself.

Ink refills…That will end in February. As well as photo processing.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Whats the point in pointing out that shes Korean?

So everyone is aware she has a sideways vagina.

 

[ping72]

Rotisserie chicken, whipped cream, booze, ranch dressing when it’s on sale, much of the meat department, protein shakes when they are on sale. I bought the toilet paper once and it was awful. Even my husband said never buy that again.

Yeah...their "regular" TP isn't very good.

Store deals at places like Safeway or Kroger for their in-store softer stuff is better, and a better deal. Never tried the Kirkland "premium" stuff, but it's still more $$ than Safeway when they have a sale on it.

I was very confused by 3BM’s post. Then saw Joe’s. Then I realized that whet we always get says premium. I didn’t know they made pt that wasn’t premium.

Awhile back Costco was out of their brand. So at the grocery store I got a package of some charmin. I complained all the time until the charmin was gone...their rolls are tiny now; the width is smaller than my hand... WTF?

 

[fredjr82]

The chocolate chip cookie dough, alone, is worth it.

And it's vegan (but who'd know?).
It costs less than the butter you'd use to make the dough.

View embedded media

Diary free cookie dough. I like my cookie dough with a bunch of juicy stories. Pass.

 

[lucas80]

Pretty much got 2 years worth of Champion sweats for my kid there

I’ve bought a lot of cheap workout clothes there.

 

[lucas80]

Good call; I got my last pair there, as well.

A bit of a mixed bag on whether you'll find frames you like or not. But the lens quality is top notch. Haven't had a scratch on my pair that is going on 2 yrs or so now.

I think these only ran around $200, too (for progressive lenses). I paid more, for worse lens and frame quality at my optometrist in the past. Not doing that anymore.

You can also get prescription sunglasses at Costo, but I get the clip-ons that match my frame size and keep one of those in each car so I have instant sunglasses whenever needed.

Solar shield is one brand; I first found them at WalMart, and they are fantastic for turning any regular glasses into sunglasses.

Joe wears clip ons. Who would have guessed...

 

[FormerlyCyberCy]

Dog food alone pays for my membership.
Plenty of people-food specials

Pay attention to anything on sale in their circulars, because all of those deals will easily save you 2x to 3x the membership.

I just bought a new battery for the SUV that was $90 at Costco (Interstate Gold type) and was anywhere from $160 to $300 elsewhere. Same warranty as the ones costing $160-200

Tires are generally an excellent deal, as well.

Agree. I buy all of our tires there. Love Michelin as they wear like iron and never leak around the rims. Bought the Bridgestone Blizzak for my wife’s Outback. Amazing on ice compared to regular A/S tires.. My F-150 tires were $950 compared to $1600 at a tire store.

The car batteries are a good price and just bought two for the camper. Not sure why they don’t install them as an option. I can do mine, but it’s a lot of jacking around to bring back the old battery. Most people don’t want to mess w that. Hire a guy that does that all day in the parking lot like Sears used to.

We get all of our gas as it cheap, high quality and get 4% back on the card.

Great place to buy dog food, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, butter, cheese, olive/avocado/coconut oil, peanut butter.

I do wear their jeans for everyday work around the house. The Kirkland AA, AAA batteries are cheap, so that’s what we use. All of our paper products.

My son says milk is $3/gallon there and he gets it for $1.69 at Aldi, so there are things that aren’t good deals.

 

[cfbfan23]

As long as Costco keeps selling that glorious Kirkland paper towel, I'll maintain my membership.

 

[General Tso]

tell us more about how the toilet paper made you feel...

 

[FormerlyCyberCy]

As long as Costco keeps selling that glorious Kirkland paper towel, I'll maintain my membership.

What amazes me about that towel is how easy they tear off.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

And, as a bonus, they have the cheapest gas in town AND I get 4% back. We had to think about it when Aldi opened because a lot of the staples we were buying at Costco were far cheaper but there are things we still get at Costco that make the membership worth it.

 

[hexumhawk]

ALDIS or GTFO

 

[Joes Place]

Joe wears clip ons. Who would have guessed...

If you wear regular glasses, you should try them

www.amazon.com/Solar-Shield-Pack-Foster-Grant/dp/B07MDVTN35

Can't even tell they aren't prescription sunglasses w/o looking really close

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

It is worth it on some things not others. Same thing with Sams.

You essentially have to start looking at how often you shop there and what you buy vs what it would cost for similar amounts at another store.

 

[Joes Place]

It is worth it on some things not others. Same thing with Sams.

You essentially have to start looking at how often you shop there and what you buy vs what it would cost for similar amounts at another store.

I would point out that their Travel deals include rental car and vacation savings.
Sometimes their rental car prices are lower than anywhere. Not always, but worth a look.

We generally rent something when traveling back to IA, because the 1600+ mile round-trip at $0.50/mile (biz & govt reimbursement rate for wear/tear on your own vehicle) is >$800. Gas costs <$200, so any rental <$500 is a cost saver. And I've rented SUVs for $200-300/wk before, sometimes thru Costco's site.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I would point out that their Travel deals include rental car and vacation savings.
Sometimes their rental car prices are lower than anywhere. Not always, but worth a look.

We generally rent something when traveling back to IA, because the 1600+ mile round-trip at $0.50/mile (biz & govt reimbursement rate for wear/tear on your own vehicle) is >$800. Gas costs <$200, so any rental <$500 is a cost saver. And I've rented SUVs for $200-300/wk before, sometimes thru Costco's site.

Wasn't aware that Costco rented cars.

 

[Joes Place]

Wasn't aware that Costco rented cars.

Deals thru the major agencies.
You sign into their Travel site, and they link to Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, etc.

 

[OrlandNole]

There are several items that are consistently priced lowest: Paper products, gas, water, etc.

Those alone are worth the cost of membership.

We have Executive Membership, which pays an additional 2% on all Costco purchases. Pays for itself every year and then some.

 

[Tenacious E]

If you wear regular glasses, you should try them

www.amazon.com/Solar-Shield-Pack-Foster-Grant/dp/B07MDVTN35

Can't even tell they aren't prescription sunglasses w/o looking really close

Over time those will scratch your lenses.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

There are several items that are consistently priced lowest: Paper products, gas, water, etc.

Those alone are worth the cost of membership.

We have Executive Membership, which pays an additional 2% on all Costco purchases. Pays for itself every year and then some.

I did the figuring on that and one would have to spend a lot of money there a lot to get it to pay for itself.

 

[Joes Place]

Over time those will scratch your lenses.

No; they don't, if you get ones that fit.

The older styles years back did that. These don't touch the lenses at all.
Used them for a couple years on the glasses I have w/o issue.

 

[Rifler]

No; they don't

surprising....

 

[Bulldogs1974]

I did the figuring on that and one would have to spend a lot of money there a lot to get it to pay for itself.

it's $60. Doesn't take much.

 

[Joes Place]

surprising....

Maybe it's just the kickass scratch-resistant lenses from Costco on my glasses.

 

[Tenacious E]

Maybe it's just the kickass scratch-resistant lenses from Costco on my glasses.

To each his own. I like having separate sunglasses.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

heck my kids love microwave popcorn, just buying the huge packs at costco almost pays for the membership.

 

[ping72]

it's $60. Doesn't take much.

unless they’ve changed the memberships, the $60 one was the basic no cash back option.

 

[ping72]

And, as a bonus, they have the cheapest gas in town

I will say this seems to vary based upon location. I’ve lived in 4 states with a Costco membership. Some places it was often as much as 20 cents cheaper at Costco. In others it was typically only 2 or 3 cents cheaper (and as prices fluctuate I’ve seen it more expensive than a normal gas station down the street), so not worth the trip.

 

[Joes Place]

To each his own. I like having separate sunglasses.

If you have prescriptions, those are a pain in the ass, IMO. This clip style fits in a much lower profile case vs. having to carry around extra sunglasses.

 

[NoleFan2U]

They have the cheapest hearing aides around. Top of the line, bluetooth controlled are under $1800, any other place is $5000+. I send all my patients to Costco for them.

Someday I may need them, unfortunately.

 

[Joes Place]

They have the cheapest hearing aides around. Top of the line, bluetooth controlled are under $1800, any other place is $5000+. I send all my patients to Costco for them.

Someday I may need them, unfortunately.

Any more info on these?
My folks might be interested - is this something to have them ask their hearing specialist about?

 

[Tenacious E]

If you have prescriptions, those are a pain in the ass, IMO. This clip style fits in a much lower profile case vs. having to carry around extra sunglasses.

They just stay in my ride, mostly. If I need them otherwise, I just hang them or my regular glasses on my shirt, whichever is not being worn.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

it's $60. Doesn't take much.

Means you would need to spend $3,000 a year or $250 a month at that one store to make the upgrade worth it.

That's not really nothing.

 

[NoleFan2U]

Any more info on these?
My folks might be interested - is this something to have them ask their hearing specialist about?

They do a free hearing test there. And fix them for free too. They are truly awesome. Check these out:

https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-hearing-aid.html

 

[Rustys Dad]

Costco sucks you in! Go in for paper towels, protein powder ... etc., and leave with a 10-pound bag of beef jerky ... or a 12 box package of brown rice ... or .... Ha!

We pretty much just buy our meat and every day necessities from Costco ... Some items are good deals - especially if you are feeding a lot of people, etc. I look at Costco as a double-edged sword ... lots of good deals for good prices ... but because it carries so much product it's easy to spend an extra $150 on items you never planned for ...

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

unless they’ve changed the memberships, the $60 one was the basic no cash back option.

I think he was saying it was $60 over the cost basic membership.

So it makes sense that if you spend more than $3,000 a year there then the executive upgraded membership makes sense as the 2% cash back would cover for the upgrade.

The thing for me though was while I liked going there to pick up groceries I only did it on trips where I was out exclusively to buy a bunch of groceries. Costco and Sams club are near by one another but from where I live it's a 30 minute drive to get out there. So it's not like I would stop by costco to get some gas, or to pick up one or 2 things.

 

[Joes Place]

They do a free hearing test there. And fix them for free too. They are truly awesome. Check these out:

https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-hearing-aid.html

NOOICE!

Are their 9.0 version model something that is recommended?
My folks could DEFINITELY use bluetooth-enabled, and the TV set-top box that'd stream the sound directly to the hearing aids.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

No one's mentioned the vodka yet? Our membership pays for itself. Between the % we get back on their CC and executive membership, we spend enough that it covers the annual fee.

Sadly, the hard stuff is not an option in NC.