What do people think of Costco?

gimme on 27/11/2013 - 08:16

I'm just curious what hard core price savvy consumers (ie Ozbargainers) think of Costco.

I went there for the first time last weekend to see what the fuss was all about.

People were climbing all over each other to buy all sorts of stuff, including piles of toilet paper!

I'd say over 95% of the items were actually more expensive than what you can get on special at Woolies/Coles on a regular basis.

I just get the feeling that people are getting carried away in the hype and thinking just because something comes in BULK or a LARGE size it's actually cheaper, where in fact a quick /kg or /item conversion demonstrates that it's not.

Since I had driven all the way there, I ended up getting a couple of items that were marginally cheaper but promptly got my membership refund on the way out as there's almost zero likelihood of me returning.

May be I was expecting too much but from my experience outside of the one-off specials that may pop up every now and again, Costco is pretty much a waste of time. I'm not really a regular shopper at Aldi but from what I've seen you get overall much better value with a lot less inconvenience.

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Comments

      • mini2 on 03/12/2013 - 15:34

        I know aye, been yo-yo'ing around $34-38 of late and as soon as it drops back to $31.99, bought a pack straight away. If they're not discounted, Colesworth wants $22 a bottle of those.

      • inlina on 05/12/2013 - 01:38

        They do it to price match Colworths catalogue special. Coke cans yo-yo all the time.

  • ItsMeAgro on 02/12/2013 - 18:44
    +3

    Big fan, but we live fairly close.

    Cons

    • Crowds of people
    • Not everything is cheaper (especially if you just want the same old stuff you can get at Coles/Woolies anyway)

    Pros

    • Novelty. Lots of stuff you can't get elsewhere. Including imported and American-style stuff like American candy (2kg Jelly bellies $20) delicious pumpkin pie for $8, giant muffins 10cm wide, Christmas decorations. A lot of stuff like grade A Canadian maple syrup which we can only afford to buy in bulk at Costco because the coles/woolies bottles are too expensive per litre.
    • Baked goods are fantastic quality and good value. Birthday cakes, mudcakes, giant muffins, cookies, are all good quality and cheap.
    • Catering. Party platters of salads, cheese, snacks, desserts are good quality/taste/value and different to what you can get elsewhere.
    • Kirkland stuff is Costco's own cheap no-name brand except generally better quality than the best brand stuff. Not kidding. Almost everything Kirkland is the best version of whatever it is. This is one of the best Pros, most people commenting don't seem to know this. Not surprising since home-brand often equals crappy in Coles/Woolies.
    • Service. Refunds are fast, in cash, and no-questions-asked.

    I highly recommend trying it out. It IS different and there IS stuff that's great value, depending on your wants/needs.

    But if it's not for you, just get your membership refund on the way out. Easy and quick.

    • gimme on 02/12/2013 - 23:14
      -5

      Most of your pros should be in cons lol.

    • AmericanDad on 03/12/2013 - 12:44
      +2

      Agree, love Kirkland branded stuffs! they are cheap but top notch quality!

    • Scaregdearimasu on 04/12/2013 - 11:56

      ! they had the pumpkin pies there which costco and what year/month I went in october (to the Sydney parramatta one) and they didn't have any D:.
      Also they stopped carrying the Ghiradelli chips and replaced them with the slightly cheaper and possibly as good kirkland baking chips but it's pretty good too.

  • tap on 02/12/2013 - 19:29

    Golden island pork jerky! Anyone that like bacon or jerky.. Try it. I just opened firt packet typing one clean finger. So good. Wow! Better than regular Costco jerk.

    • Dalton on 02/12/2013 - 19:41

      Clean jerk fingers do sound tempting, but clearly not good for typing with.

  • mini2 on 02/12/2013 - 20:38

    Meh Costco is for people who can't wait for Colesworth specials.

    Take Spam for example. IIRC coles got them down to as low as $3 a can. Normally around $5. Costco sells 'em $10.60 for 3.

    Huggies nappies (not everyone buys the Baby Love stuff so take that argument elsewhere) average $0.42 per nappy, IIRC Toys'r'us while on special goes down to $0.41 per nappy and around $0.60 per nappy if full price.

    A2 milk is definitely cheaper - $4.98 at Colesowrth, $3.69 at Costco. I poo cookies and creme if I drink normal milk but I'm ok with A2 so your dietary needs may vary. We drink 4L of milk every week, the savings alone pays for the membership already in 23 weeks in my case.

    Hershey's and Reese's. USA Foods simply cost a bomb.

    Streaky bacon….loved it.

    What about that trolley jack? Good luck trying to find something of equal quality at the same pricepoint.

    However, there are things that's starting to really get up my nerves - various items have gone up in price. i.e. Cookie dough, IIRC it was $12 a box 3 years ago, now it's more like $20. Another pet hate is things go missing/off the shelf after a while i.e. Oreo sticks.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2013 - 22:17
      +5

      "I poo cookies and creme if I drink normal milk but I'm ok with A2"

      "various items have gone up in price. i.e. Cookie dough"

      I have a bad feeling about this.

      • Windows7forever on 03/12/2013 - 09:23
        +1

        Where do you think all that cookie "dough" comes from? ;)

      • ItsMeAgro on 03/12/2013 - 21:41

        It's OK, he's made of chocolate.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2013 - 22:16

    .

  • Cluster on 02/12/2013 - 23:03
    +1

    The key question for me as I browsed through the Melbourne Costco store for the first time was… will anyone use 2kg of mayonnaise before it begins to age and spoil? Buying large items and saving is great but only if nothing goes to waste.

    I was amused to note I needed to sign across my details and get a 'day pass' just to walk into a store. I've never had that experience before in Australia or about a dozen other countries. I guess it makes members feel special.

    The second line up after the checkouts for another set of Costco staff to check your receipt and trolley for 'completeness' was hilarious. A totally unnecessary bottleneck that, let's face it, is only there to catch shoplifters.

    There are no Costco or ALDI stores where I live, although some are planned within the next few years. I found ALDI to be a disappointing experience as well, apart from a select few German imports that were high quality and well priced (75% fruit spreads and chocolates).

    • dirtybird on 05/12/2013 - 00:42

      I wondered the same thing with those large volumed items.
      But I know now the local sporting clubs use them and a couple of truck stops I visit up the Hume also use them.
      Just the other day I picked up some Kirkland Sweetener from a small cafe in Hay and I've seen them sold in Costco in boxes of 1500.
      Someones using it or they wouldnt sell it.

      The checking of your items at the exit is more for your benefit than theirs.
      They are primarily looking to see that you were not overcharged especially on multiple items.
      Apparently they find more overcharges than shoplifted items.
      And they dont check every item and might do a simple item count if you dont have much in the trolley

      The checking of member cards before you enter is also for your benefit.
      If you dont have it on you its better to find that out before you hit the register without one.
      The person on the door will send you to the membership desk to get your membership number written down so you can then use it at the checkout.

  • s00107546 on 02/12/2013 - 23:25

    got this one from Costco Crossroad for only $50

    http://www.superdry.com/mens/shirts/details/40620/london-shi…

    you can share the $60 membership with one of your friend or someone who waiting in the line, so $30 is not too bad. However, Costco employees wouldn't check the card to see whether you are the card owner or not, so just borrow it from a friend or relatives and save the membership fee.

    • mparf on 03/12/2013 - 10:42

      Maybe where you are, but we've been turned away before from Melbourne Costco for simply entering without the card holder present!!

    • [Deactivated] on 03/12/2013 - 14:10

      My most annoying experience was when I used my husband's card (I am co-cardholder) and tried to pay with my credit card. They made a big fuss over it because the names were different: checked the system, told me off for trying to use my cc, gave me a lecture about some email going out, etc. Of course, I refused to budge because I really wanted my points, and they put it through in the end.

      Of course, your strategy should be fine if you pay cash.

      • inlina on 05/12/2013 - 01:43

        Next time just ask them to hold the transaction so you can go to get a temp card from the service desk (assuming you didn't have yours). They will think twice about holding the queue up as I am sure they have their scan rates checked.

  • chiefbodge on 03/12/2013 - 05:11
    +4

    For some people Costco might be good value but to me it's shocking value.

    1. We buy home brand where possible
    2. We stock up on brand name items when they are decently discounted at coles and woolies
    3. We don't buy unnecessary junk food on a weekly basis and only buy it when it's really cheap (so the points about cans of coke always being cheaper and costco is completely moot).
    4. We stockpile necessities like toilet paper and detergent so we are never forced to pay full price for them.
    5. We hardly ever buy fruit/veg/meat from supermarkets unless it's on a very decent special (otherwise we have a VERY cheap green grocer and wholesale butcher nearby which is far better quality and always significantly cheaper).

    I seriously doubt that we'd even make up the $69 annual membership fee every year.

    • gimme on 03/12/2013 - 08:21
      +1

      You're a SMART person! This pretty much summarises exactly what people should be doing!! What you described doesn't take any more effort than going to Costco, yet it's far more efficient and easier on the wallet. #2,4,5 is spot on and pretty much negates most arguments for costco.

      The only thing I don't agree with is #3 as I don't buy junk food at all, but that's got nothing to do with the topic and more of a personal choice.

      PS: On a sidenote, one of the good things about Costco in Sydney is that it actually makes people get some exercise. And for the majority there it's probably a lot more activity than they usually get. You have to grab those giant trolleys from the carpark and push it up the ramp for several minutes and vice versa. So there is some benefit after all.

      • AmericanDad on 03/12/2013 - 12:49

        OP you seem to be biased by your own personal experience of Cosco and dont appear to be swayed by any argument that pro - cosco… whats the point of asking people's opinion then?

        • gimme on 03/12/2013 - 15:33

          I didn't ask because I wanted to be swayed. I have firmly made up my mind about Costco. I was just curious what motivates people to buy there and I'm beginning to see it.

          I perfectly get Costco's business model and why people shop there but I completely disagree that they are actually saving money compared to the 'best' available options, should they choose to take advantage of it.

          The bottom line is that it's simply too hard for people to do so. Costco is an easy and economical option that minimises effort, however it's not the best option, that's for sure.

  • Bilbo Bargains on 03/12/2013 - 09:55

    On a week to week basis i shop at woolies/coles dependent on which has the most specials on my weekly items that i cannot get at aldi.

    Then i top up my shopping at aldi generally getting bread, egg, a2 milk, frozen veggies, split chicken and hoki fish.

    I am trying to move the whole shopping to aldi only but find the fresh fruit and veggies pretty terrible compared to my local woolies/coles

    Costco is more of a once or twice a year thing where i go with someone with membership to have their pizza, churros and to buy items like kirkland babywipes, household item and cleaning products, frozen blueberries, and paper towels and hershey chocolates.

    Dont think i can justify the membership either and i hate crowds!

  • onlyletters on 03/12/2013 - 13:36

    Everyone had been raving about how great it was, I went there for the first time the other day and I was really disappointed, not cheap at all, especially when you're buying in bulk, most of the stuff can be obtained from woolworths/coles without having to buy in that quantity for the same price, really you're only saving 20c per item but you've also got to fork out $60 for a membership, the only good thing is that some of the items were made in america and not offered anywhere else, and their fuel is pretty cheap, if they have a membership just for fuel then that would interest me.

  • Bargain4U on 03/12/2013 - 13:48

    I cancelled my membership after they kept running out of wholemeal bread in the afternoons. The manager told me to come in earlier. Hang on… I pay a membership fee to be told when I can shop? It's not rocket science, order more!

  • gimme on 03/12/2013 - 15:35

    I don't know why people are so worked up over the membership. I don't like Costco but membership is actually the least of my worries. Just cancel it every 11.5 mths and swap with your partner. Rinse and repeat.

    • mini2 on 03/12/2013 - 16:47

      +1

      Different strokes for different blokes. Some prefer more frugal living, I respect that while others will prefer the brand name stuff but wants to acquire them at a lower cost than usual without watching Colesworth/IGA catalogues like a hawk.

  • gpsnomad on 03/12/2013 - 18:52
    +4

    Keep knocking Costco, sheeple.

    If they can't keep up the competition, we will all pay for low quality / high prices. Back to the future…

    How do you think the Coles/Woolworths duopoly suddenly find the energy to keep prices "down down" when Aldi, Costco etc. arrived. Their cosy party was being broken up.

    Does anybody notice how so many of their heavily discounted options now mirror Costco (Weetbix, berries for example) and how they suddenly discovered 50%-off offers in the past 2-3 years. What has changed?!

    The big 2 didn't kill off the competition by accident over the years.

    So in the most strict Ozbargain sense, Costco may not always be cheapest compared to predator pricing on supermarket weekly specials, but in the big picture, all of us may end up paying due to small-picture thinking.

    I am happy to support Costco for getting a good overall basket price, with great product quality and a no-hassle returns policy (which Coles, Woolworths suddenly wised up to, again in the past 3-4 years). You can thank Costco - and Aldi - every time you get real bargains on your supermarket trolley.

    • overlook on 03/12/2013 - 18:55

      Exactly… they thinks corporates that controlling the market will suddenly thinks they are earning too much and cut their margin without any threats in the market.

    • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 03/12/2013 - 19:56

      Hear, hear. Bring on Lidl next year.

    • cloudy on 04/12/2013 - 09:11

      basically you are saying, you want to support the under dog, the smaller player, which i think is great. Competition is important, why not head to your local Independant Grocer? IGA's are great alternative, locally owned, supporting local jobs too.

      Why shun local multibillion dollar woolies and coles for, even big billion dollar companies from USA, who follow the SAME corporate strategies.

      Ur logic is flawed. Free markets like what we have work well, it is the reason why competition is coming, coz profits are available, but it will cycle. Chances are, in 20 years time, you'll be shunning costco and shopping at another foriegn supermarket coz costco has undercut our local woolies/coles out of money? How about that for "big picture".

      • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 04/12/2013 - 09:22

        Coles and Woolies have become horrendously fat by manipulating their markets: shutting other potential entrants out of the game, and screwing Australian suppliers. They have not gotten where they are by free markets - in fact they've destroyed free markets.

        They've also happily shed staff to boost profits (think self-service checkout).

        • cloudy on 05/12/2013 - 07:12

          Anyone that points to self service check outs and says they shed staff is someone who I laugh at. Dumb dumb dumb. In many ways, they have moved all staff from check out to service staff and stocking staff roles. So no job loss. Secondly, productivity is why they are moving ahead!

          U could also blame the computer for the loss of typing staff in offices back in the 1970s, but that is just so draconian. Dumb dumb dumb, my head will explode reading dumb comments.

        • overlook on 05/12/2013 - 07:32

          Cute. How do you want to talk about staff left and no new employment after then? So overall quantity of staff is reduced and hours are reduced too. Do you even work there?

        • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 05/12/2013 - 09:37
          +1

          One person manning a dozen self-service checkouts at peak hour is not enough, given how clunky the machines are (especially Woolies - takes nothing to set off the red light).

          The shelf stockers would have been there anyway.

          I'm not disputing self checkouts are a good and necessary step of progress - just questioning the fact that the value there hasn't been passed onto the most important part of the chains - the suppliers.

  • Stevecro on 03/12/2013 - 22:45

    I don’t think anyone hear is 'Anti Costco'. I can’t 'be 'anti' anything. I just assess things as I see them. I have no reason to be Anti any supermarket. It is what it is. Costco would be a viable options if they changed the following:

    • Reduced prices: Buy buying in the amounts you have to buy there, you should be paying much less than you are now. They should be at least 30% cheaper than what they are now across the board on all products. You pay $60 a year to shop there and have to buy way more than at Colesworth, some of the savings are pretty lame, which means you are just buying more product in general with no benefit.

    • Get rid of non-food side: I have never purchased anything from the non-food end (where the office stuff is etc.) and I hardly see anyone wandering through there at times. Costco should mainly be food based. They could then have a much wider range of groceries! Which is the main reason people go there. They can still pack the middle with odds n ends etc.

    • Eliminate the $60 membership fee: Again they would draw so many more people in if you didn't have to pay to shop there. Yes I know you can join n cancel your membership, but a lot of people out there may not realise that or bother doing that.

    Only positive thing I can say about Costco is that it may be good if you are having a party and you need various items in large amounts. Who has parties all the time?

    I also agree with your point’s chiefbodge, who compares prices of cans of coke and junk foods? If you buy that much of that crap, you have bigger issues than prices to deal with. That stuff should be consumed at an absolute minimum, not enough to warrant buying it in bulk! Also you raise a good point, if you stockpile stuff when it’s on special in other supermarkets, you will be saving more. It’s all about a tiny bit of planning and being generally aware of how to shop. You don’t need to watch catalogues like a hawk as 'mini2' said. It takes me all of 5 mins to look through all catalogues (woolies, Coles, IGA, Aldi) on a weekly basis online, massive time investment!

    • overlook on 04/12/2013 - 07:01
      +2

      well if they get rid of non food side, I wont even join the membership anymore. One of the main reason I am still member since very first days is their non food end. I buy stuff for business and presents for my family.

      One of the best example is that first day I was there, they were selling some Juicy Couture tote bags which I saw in David Jones for around ~$400ish AUD (usual aust RRP) for $180AUD. So first purchase there, I already made up of my membership cost. The chairs and electronics are as many know are a lot cheaper than what you can get in other stores unless local stores running clearance.

      • kasumi on 12/12/2013 - 10:21

        i agree with the non-food side.
        I joined the first year and didn't renew, but with the AMEX Promotion last week, i joined back up.

        I picked up a 18pc Pyrex Glass Set (9 glass containers + lids) for $35 or so.
        DJs sells 1 set (1 x container/lid) for around $14 each. It's really more of the US Homewares/Novelty Items etc that are the best bargains to be had at Costco IMO

  • auna on 04/12/2013 - 00:56

    If you use T-Gel you need Costco. You will save hundreds on that alone!

    Then consider the items you can barely get elsewhere.

    You can't live off Costco alone without sacrificing a lot. But most of everything they sell is cheapest and great. I find items that are in bulk but having small packaging the best.

    They don't have a Mayonnaise that is good. I have tried them all :(

  • ChickenAdobo on 04/12/2013 - 02:06

    Costco is nothing to me. They don't have even 1 store in Western Australia.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/12/2013 - 08:21

      Cool. You got Palmer though.

  • Lucky13 on 04/12/2013 - 04:43

    I went there a while back and are of the same mind as you as its not really that cheap. I think they get people to come back by charging a membership fee too. Youre better off just getting things on special at Coles and Woolies and as for Aldi that you mentioned you get what you pay for which in their case is imported no name rubbish

    • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 04/12/2013 - 09:09

      "and as for Aldi that you mentioned you get what you pay for which in their case is imported no name rubbish"

      Probably from the same factories as the rubbish you buy in Coles.

    • Bilbo Bargains on 04/12/2013 - 09:19

      Surprisingly alot of aldi products are Australian made.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/12/2013 - 09:46

        So that makes it Australian made rubbish.

  • jabanico on 04/12/2013 - 07:37

    We go to Costco to buy the (US) products that can't be found at the grocery chains.

    • Sage on 04/12/2013 - 18:40

      How about USA Foods?

      • berger on 12/12/2013 - 16:17

        at a premium price?

  • Sage on 04/12/2013 - 18:34

    you have to spend alot to get anything out of it.
    you'll think you're saving money but you'd buy more than usual.
    Costco is a scam.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/12/2013 - 19:07
    +1

    In close proximity to each other and close to where I live, we shall be witnessing both a behemoth Costco and a new Ikea opening up in the new year.

    Personally - just hoping a ruthless Swedish v American meatballs war will break-out.

  • Prettyinpink on 12/12/2013 - 08:45

    I visited a Costco yesterday for the first time. This one was in Auburn, Sydney.

    I thought the hearing aid station was quite cool. They had some televisions, phones and other electronics (including beauty - eg spas and toys). I can't comment on the prices as I wasn't looking that closely, sorry. I do remember the family sized spa was $5k.

    There were sunglasses and clothes (male Levi jeans, women's business shirts and leggings).
    Packaged foods - chocolate, biscuits, sugar coated sweets, crackers and cruskits. They had very cheap goji berries - $10/kg which is very very very cheap in Sydney. The chocolate was roughly twice the price per kg as Coles.
    They had 5kg jars of Nutella, huge peanut butter jars, up & go, cheese dressing (gross) etc.
    The 'fresh' food - cakes, sandwich platters etc
    Health/Beauty - tampons, pads and shampoo. Garnier, Pantene etc

    There was a cafeteria outside the store for members and non-members with some unusual offerings for Australia. The food was exactly like America.

    The membership is fully refundable at any time. $60 for individuals and $55 for businesses.

  • easternbluecut on 12/12/2013 - 10:26

    If i were prepping a doomsday bunker or shopping for the entire neighbourhood then I'd probably go to costco but as I"m not Woolies and Coles do me just fine, and they don't take an hour to get to.

  • djones145 on 12/12/2013 - 13:55

    just went cause of the amex discount

    some things where cheap (mainly the american foods)
    but like others have said, when cloes/wollies are on discount, they are usually cheaper.
    milk and eggs seem cheaper, i think fresh products like bread , salad etc is cheaper

    Mr box set was the cheapest i have seen it
    37 bucks for 47 books!
    booko has it around 70 bucks, even more

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