I'm planning to visit Costco this weekend to have a look around and may be buy some stuff. It appears you can signup online:
http://www.costco.com.au/Common/Membership.shtml
Any idea if they email you a temporary print out pass immediately?
Do you need to be running a business in order to signup as a business member? Or an ABN (sole trader) is enough?
Cheers!
If you want to look around you can sign up for a free guest pass at the member counter or just walk in with someone who has a card.
You need an ABN to be a business member but note that the card is still only valid for that individual person even though you signed up through a business.
IMHO, membership is worth it if you have a family of 3 or 4 ppl and enough storage space. Most stuff is 30-40% off retail.
Sign up on line, in my case at Sydney we got faster access to getting your card, than those signing up at the store.
Free guest pass is best if you want to look around and make sure membership will be worthwhile.
Sign up at the store…lines will be short or non-existant now (except peak weekends/weekday 6pm)
Thanks, just tried to sign up, apparently membership starts after payment, so will signup at home before going there.
I guess no harm paying for the membership since it's refundable, anyway mostly like I will buy something.
anyway mostly like I will buy something.
If you don't then we'll revoke your Ozbargain membership!! LOL
Visited the store today, the place is packed! Luckily I pre-registered, got the membership cards without any wait, otherwise would have to join a queue of 200 people. I signed up for business membership, they didn't ask to see the registration paper but I did have it with me.
It was so crowded, didn't really enjoyed "the trip". A bit disappointed to see it's quite a bit smaller than the ones in the States. Also didn't find any Dr Pepper or Campbells clam chowder (false information). Spent $100 on paper towel and toilet paper, they're cheaper than supermarket but not a lot.
Noticed they have Michelin XM2 after checkout, but the tyre shop was already closed, would be interesting to find out the price.
By the way, there's a sign saying members only on Saturday and Sunday, I guess that means no guest pass on weekends.
I guess paper products qualify - you can retain your Ozbargain membership (at no charge).
Let us know about the tyres, may help others.
They had Dr. Pepper last month, however it seems to be replaced by A&W rootbeer now though.
I got my tyres replaced at Costco Chiba whilst living in Tokyo. way cheaper than elsewhere………….this post would have got 20 pos votes on JapBargain.
There's no way they are "30-40% off retail" across the store.
Some items for sure but for the majority of groceries I've looked at they are pretty similar to supermarket prices (after you've converted from bulk prices) and you have to buy in bulk.
Many items I have only ever seen in Costco so no direct comparision.
Some electrical stuff and clothing is definitely cheaper though.
apart from the above, the main saving I think is if you have storage you can do a "big shop" less often and avoid picking up stuff you didn't really intend to buy at the supermarket.
I called up the tyre shop on Monday but they don't quote prices over the phone, so still don't know how much the XM2's are. They better to be a lot cheaper if I have to go there to find out the price.
costco sell tyre too??
costco sell everything they even have a hearing department
Pardon!? ;) Oh what, I mean, I can't read that…oh, nevermind. :P
good thing they have an optical department carlenet :P
Dr.Pepper are back on sale when I went in today =D
Thanks for the update, will pickup some tomorrow.
"I called up the tyre shop on Monday but they don't quote prices over the phone"
I had a fairly long email conversation with CostCo regarding why they do not disclose their pricing upfront on specials catalogs. "Save $5 on toilet rolls" does not mean anything unless the price is advertised. Supermarkets advertise their prices along with discounts in their specials catalogs. Given CostCo members actually pay an annual fee, I would expect CostCo to look after its members and be more upfront about the prices rather than making them drive long ways just to find out the prices.
CostCos incessant reply was that "We are not a supermarket, we are a membership warehouse club. We have a right to change our prices, so the prices are not advertised in specials catalogs. Not to disclose the prices in specials catalogs was a management decision."
I was there last week so stopped by at the tyre shop to check out the price tags. Prices were reasonable but not spectacular, they are cheaper by a few dollar per tyre only because the current promotion ($50 off if you buy 4, obviously doesn't help if you only need 2).
However, the biggest draw back is that they don't do wheel alignments. Not worth the trouble to pay a separate visit to a specialist tyre shop.
once you signup, you take the confirmation email to their membership counter and they print it out for you right there.
Just take your driver licence or any other valid id.