Why Are People So Obsessed with Costco?

LShazOz on 28/01/2023 - 08:21
Last edited 28/01/2023 - 10:41 by 2 other users

I joined Costco last year and only visited this place 3 times within 9 months.

I didn't find anything special there or saved money as compared to shopping at Woolies or Coles. I think I could have saved money if I had purchased same stuff at Woolies (10% insurance discounted) or utilised flybuys offers.

To add salt to the injury:

I paid $60 to access Costco
Their staff does all the scanning and the customer is still required to queue and get it checked again at the exit.

I gave up yesterday and ended up cancelling my membership with full refund.

I don't understand why people are so obsessed with Costco and what's so special about it. Will be keen to hear people's thoughts here.

Food & Grocery

Related Stores

Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale

Comments

        • AustriaBargain on 30/01/2023 - 21:59

          It says "until 31 January" on the Coles website. What price will they be on Wednesday?

          • samfisher5986 on 31/01/2023 - 11:33

            @AustriaBargain: Woolworths, Coles and Aldi all have contracts with suppliers and "price locks"

            Coles is using that as an advertising tactic but that doesn't mean that Aldi doesn't have the same issues.

            Since its more then likely the same supplier, if Coles increases then likely Aldi will have to increase when their contract expires.

  • mrhugo on 30/01/2023 - 21:14
    +2

    Just curious, but a lot of people say fuel.

    Isn't it easier to just get a chopper and use your local 7/11 app. Over the last few months at least one 7/11 has always been cheaper than Costco. So I'm saving without membership fees.

  • Saars on 30/01/2023 - 21:27
    +2

    Here are my thoughts on Costco:
    - Things are cheaper than other supermarkets, unless you look out for specials. If you are a thrifty shopper, then Costco is not for you, but if you like the convenience of everything in the one place at an OK price, then great
    - You can buy in bulk: Coles and Woolworths don't really have much shelf stock of items and it's all open boxes. At Costco you can fill your trolley in 10 seconds flat
    - Hot Dog and unlimited soft drink for $2… need I say more?

    • AustriaBargain on 31/01/2023 - 13:09

      Also if you like buying in bulk, not to save money but just for the convenience, then Costco is great. Colesworth might sell ice creams in packs of up to 8 per box. But Costco sell them in packs of 50 per box. It may not be cheaper per ice cream, or it may be, but it is more convenient buying one big box and putting it in one of your big freezers, rather than buying six little boxes and have them floating around your freezer, or making six trips to Colesworth for more ice creams.

  • CocaKoala on 30/01/2023 - 21:28

    I tried very hard but unsuccessfully to be convinced that buying a Costco membership is a great idea. I'll never go there and feel like I'm not the audience they're trying to lure in anyways (unlimited soda for $2 - yeah, nah, thank you I'm good).

    • serpserpserp on 02/02/2023 - 15:45

      I'm not disagreeing with your point. But you should go just check it out first. I don't think you have to pay just to look around.

      • CocaKoala on 02/02/2023 - 16:50

        It not the "having to pay" part that puts me off.

        Do I want to be squashed between "large families" of sweaty overweight people pushing trolleys full of processed junk in jumbo packs drinking unhealthy amounts of their $2 bottomless banana flavoured mountain dew in order to reap the benefits of their membership? Perhaps no.

        I could also do without having to drive to moorabbuttshitton and not having to park in a crowded place will be nice as well.

        The fact that it's a warehouse type store with no layout is annoying, and the constant changing of the position of items don't attract me either at I don't want to spend 2 hours in that environment trying to find my way out (also why I NEVER physically go into an IKEA store).

        Not an experience designed for me. I'll happily stick to Amazon prime for items that I could get there and will visit my local Colesworth/Bunnings/JB, etc for other things as needed.

        I can get fuel for cheaper than Costco's price using 7 eleven price locks, and don't wear specs or hearing aids (the two of which seem to the be only meaningful savings from what I've read).

  • helpme on 30/01/2023 - 22:31

    Agreed, overrated. I find variety better at Cole's/Woolies tbh but they have a lot of different stuff as Costco.

    People love to hate on Coles/woolies but here's Costco where you have to, most likely, drive further, buy a membership, fight for parking, go through a warehouse, buy in bulk, AND it's not even that much cheaper.

    Costco isn't even opened till late or as early as Coles or Woolies.

    • serpserpserp on 02/02/2023 - 15:47

      I really can't get over how bad the parking is. It is the worst place to find a park. The docklands one is mayhem on the weekends past 9am. Auburn in Sydney was also terrible.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/01/2023 - 00:22

    I never bought food, the dehydrated mangos are cheap but fuel is around the corner from my work and literally always .20c cheaper than everywhere else.

    I basically saved got my $60 back within a month on fuel alone

    • AustriaBargain on 31/01/2023 - 13:11
      +2

      a fifth of a single cent cheaper isn't that much cheaper.

  • Aap Ke Papa on 31/01/2023 - 07:18

    In my opinion, costco is an addiction just like ozb except you do find real bargains here but you still end up buying stuff you don't need.

  • polarq on 31/01/2023 - 10:30

    Costco trolleys are so hard to move and manoeuvre, unnecessarily heavy!

  • jaypee06 on 31/01/2023 - 11:05

    My first experience was pretty bad - we literally spent more time waiting for food + jammed in the carpark trying to get out (30 mins waiting for food, an hour stuck in traffic getting out of the carpark lot), than we did shopping.

    To top it all off it was 90 minutes drive away so I haven't been back.

    • snorkles on 31/01/2023 - 12:31
      +2

      Trick is to go on weekdays after 5PM and it's sweet. You feel like you're the only person there, they close at 8 anyway.

      • jaypee06 on 31/01/2023 - 12:35

        I'll keep that in mind… Will they still have things like roast chickens at that time?

        • snorkles on 31/01/2023 - 12:48

          yep, more available actually. they have people still roasting chickens late at night.

  • burningrage on 31/01/2023 - 14:34

    Last time I used them was to buy bulk sandwiches, sushis, and a blackforrest cake.

    I am finding them convenient in addition to the freebies and cheapies I mentioned above.

  • rainbowvac on 31/01/2023 - 14:37
    +2

    Retention rate in Australia is over 80% of members… I save at least $5/10 per tank full of fuel, the tyre centre is insanely cheap, the returns policy is unlike anything else and the quality of the bakery and meat is like nothing else.

    Member since 2010, even when living hours away was still worth it.

    • serpserpserp on 02/02/2023 - 15:49
      -1

      Bakery is on par with other supermarket in-store bakeries.

  • rainbowvac on 31/01/2023 - 14:39
    +2

    Oh and taste of the wild dog food at less than half the cost of petbarn .. $72.99

    • Brianqpr on 31/01/2023 - 19:17

      Petbarn are overpriced on a lot of things and never buy in store. Their online price is often a lot less.

  • krisspy on 31/01/2023 - 14:46

    I get a mate to buy me gift cards so I don't need to join as a member.

    Likes
    - air fried pork crackling
    - sweet baby rays
    - bagels
    - cat litter/food
    - pizza

    • MuddyClear on 01/02/2023 - 00:23

      Only the gift card holder can go in? Can’t bring a friend or family member?

      • krisspy on 02/02/2023 - 09:08

        Never really tried to bring anyone with me

      • foxmulder on 02/02/2023 - 09:13

        I thought anyone can go in with a guess pass anyway but the only members or those with gift card can pay. Check their faq page on cash card or call the store.

  • StonedWizard on 31/01/2023 - 14:56

    Costco used to have better pricing when they first opened. Now, I find it no different to Coles/Woolworths.

    I do like going for the wider range of items they carry as there’s a lot of products they have which you don’t get in Coles/Woolworths.

    I never filled fuel with them so can’t comment on the price saving.

    I stopped going as I found them to be too busy and it was always chaotic inside. For me, it’s not a place you go to just to for small shops.

    I wish they had more locations in Sydney as my nearest one is 40 minutes away. They definitely need more locations across Sydney.

    • Brianqpr on 31/01/2023 - 19:18

      That's the thing, are the savings that do exist (and it doesn't sound like there are many) worth what sounds like an awful experience? Doesn't appear so.

      • StonedWizard on 31/01/2023 - 20:34
        +1

        On a weekday it isn’t so bad. But since they tend to be anchor stores, you have people from 5 - 10 different suburbs going to the one shop.

        That’s why I feel if they had more shops located across Sydney it would help with the chaos. Hopefully they can open up a store along the North shore or northern suburbs of Sydney.

        • Brianqpr on 01/02/2023 - 09:42

          That would probably eat into their profits and mean prices would have to rise. North Shore types surely wouldn't want to be seen there, probably lots of dark glasses and baseball caps if it did happen!

        • serpserpserp on 02/02/2023 - 15:51

          It isn't like a Costco site is cheap to open and operate. They are like 4-6x bigger than a supermarket site.

  • dundy on 31/01/2023 - 15:58

    Their fuel is regularly 20-40c cheaper than competitors. Membership pays for itself in a fee weeks based on this alone.

    • Brianqpr on 01/02/2023 - 09:43

      When I checked the other day the difference was less than five cents to my local servos.

      • serpserpserp on 02/02/2023 - 15:51

        I checked today and it was 2c cheaper.

        • aragornelessar on 06/02/2023 - 16:25

          I've checked on FuelCheck today for 98 and it's much more than 2c - depending on how you value the non-major outlets.

          Casula Costco - 179.7
          Powerfuel - 188.9
          Speedway - 209.9
          Ampol - 229.9
          BP - 213.9
          7-Eleven - 231.9

          Swings and roundabouts. Just like using Colesworth, it's about smart shopping, not blanket shopping.

  • JepunK on 31/01/2023 - 16:10

    I go to Costco just for the pizzas lol

  • neonlight on 31/01/2023 - 17:49

    They got stuff you can't find outside

    • helpme on 02/02/2023 - 18:40

      True, but having tried said stuff you can't get outside, I won't be getting them again.

    • Jared17 on 03/02/2023 - 05:38

      Kiasu

  • dragond on 31/01/2023 - 18:05

    Have bought hearing aids at Costco which are re-branded top-of-the-line hearing aids worth $7,000 a pair. The Costco hearing aids are $1,800, and my insurance company refunded me $1,600 - which means a net cost of $200. Also all the audiologist appointments and check-ups are free, but you have to pay the membership fee annually to enter the store.

  • OzzyBoy1 on 31/01/2023 - 21:57

    Quality of stuff at Costco is quite unparalleled. Things like pet food, home improvement stuff, variety of things is quite extraordinary and you won’t find it at local supermarkets. I look for things in special particularly. Some of the stuff including fuel is bargain lot of times. Than they have great returns policy too. All in all it’s good shopping experience if you tend to not over spend

  • JPMelb on 01/02/2023 - 08:47

    Costco is just f45 for people with lots of kids

  • jellykingdom on 01/02/2023 - 09:52
    +1

    I look like a lunatic when i wander around Costco, laughing at the shelves. I just find it hilarious how enormous some of the packets are. Like, buying a pillow-case full of potato chips. Or a 44-gallon drum of mustard. That's a lot of Reuben sandwiches

  • imurgod on 01/02/2023 - 10:30

    I think it's perceived value which really isn't there unless you buy in bulk.

    Disclaimer: I have never held a Costco membership

  • sashatheman on 01/02/2023 - 10:31

    Petrol and hotdogs combo is our main purchase
    Its good for parties as well, as you can get large platters, party supplies.
    Their bulk mince and Hot Roast chooks are also cheaper than the competitors.

    but I agree a lot of the bulk items, are not worth it. You are better of looking out for weekly specials for those items in Woolies/Coles.
    Their Clothes is also good sometimes. You can get cheap branded jackets

  • mrhanky71 on 01/02/2023 - 10:47

    the quality of their meat and veggies is alot better than woolworths and coles.
    and the hotdog and drink combo for $2 is good too.

  • Richmond Tigers on 01/02/2023 - 12:28

    Because they occasionally stock some cool Tommy Bahama stuff.

    I hate Costco simply because they exists in the 2 farthest reaches from me in Brissy, Bundamba and North Lakes which oddly are both 59KM away from me.

  • Aerith-Waifu on 01/02/2023 - 12:57

    Is it really true if I paid the $60 membership and don't like it in a few months time I can get the full refund?

    • istoleyourid2 on 01/02/2023 - 15:01
      +1

      Yes, they'll refund a 1/2 eaten chicken too if you weren't happy with the quality

    • JimB on 01/02/2023 - 15:31

      I got a refund after 8 months.

      The only time I went there was when I signed up and also on the 8th month to get the refund.

      I do like their meat and other foods… I'm just not willing to go out of my way to get there.

  • Save Medicare on 01/02/2023 - 14:33
    +2

    I once tagged along to Costco with a cool nephrologist and his wife so that I could buy 7 boxes of Kirkland garbage bags.

    I had never met them before that day and I have never seen them again

  • istoleyourid2 on 01/02/2023 - 15:22

    My take on costco is that it is consistently priced for good quality and quantity. If you live near one, buy in bulk and do a $150-200 shop per fortnight there for a few bulk items in addition to your regular shop, its great.

    If you need to travel for it probably not worth it. My savings on cat food alone compared to woolies when full price pays for my membership.

    • istoleyourid2 on 01/02/2023 - 15:24

      Oh and costco's meat isnt any cheaper, its often more expensive but the quality is so much better. Mince at costco is fantastic quality and leaner mince than others but you can only buy 3.5kg at a time.

      Their pork cuts are brilliant, again, not the cheapest but you won't find better baby back ribs or pork butts cheaper including butchers imo. I had to trim 1/4 of fat off a woolies pork butt at $1 less per kilo than the costco ones which didnt need trimming.

  • Hangryuman on 01/02/2023 - 16:49

    I saw a documentary about Costco maybe saying it started as a commercial bulk supplier, thus the membership to get the wholesale type prices - but now they actually make MOST of their money upfront simply from the $60pa m/ship fees or whatever.

    A friend is a member, and has signed us in a couple of times - each time after walking around baffled by the bulk packs of e.g. 20 croissants - hungry ? - um, maybe for one - but looking at that quantity I just lost my appetite - we walk out having bought nothing.

    And surprise, surprise their biggest seller was - guess - toilet paper - why buy 20 when you can get 100 - only thing is you need a spare room aka a 'CostCo Room' to store all the bulk stuff you bought at an apparent discount - meh, no thanks.

  • JimmmyF on 01/02/2023 - 19:19
    +1

    I used my membership to enter an overseas Costco in Asia . It was a fun experience to sample different foods than what we have here. The cafeteria had different products too. Although I don't keep my membership for this purpose, just another perk with having a membership.

  • plentifoo on 01/02/2023 - 19:53

    for me anyway;

    • cheaper fuel annually. i've crunched the numbers and i would save more than 2.5x the annual fee if I were to diligently refill all 3 of my cars there throughout the calendar year. It's probably around a 15mins drive from where I live, so sometimes I just end up going to where's convenient.

    • not as uncommon as it used to be, but access to certain products in certain quantities that are not available outside of costco. For me that's some frozen foods and the huge tub of skippy peanut butter.

    • $1 hotdog, $2 combo meals are to die for. Sometimes my wife and I would make the trip just to eat the hotdogs. Instead of brunching/eating out anywhere else - this saves us a whole lot of money.

    • Excursion with mates - social activity - it's like visiting IKEA without actually buying any furniture, costco makes for a pretty cool middle aged destination spot.

  • ozbs25 on 01/02/2023 - 22:26

    I think one of the main reasons they check at the door is to catch when they may have scanned an item multiple times. Usually they skim through the receipt but they often ask us if we bought X packs of whatever. Super hard to return to the store after you've left and claim that you bought only 1 when they cashier scanned it twice. Then it's a matter of he said, she said. Better to catch it before you leave.

  • SpaceNinja on 02/02/2023 - 00:15

    I love Costco for many reasons. Firstly, their bulk buying power allows them to offer high-quality products at lower prices compared to other retailers. Secondly, the variety of products they offer is unmatched, from groceries to electronics, furniture, and clothing. They also have a fantastic return policy, where they take back almost anything, no questions asked. Additionally, their in-store samples are a great way to try new foods and products. Their commitment to employee satisfaction and fair wages is also something that I admire about the company. Overall, Costco offers great value for money, a wide range of products, and a shopping experience that is enjoyable and stress-free.

  • FittyFitty on 02/02/2023 - 09:53
    +1

    Vlasic dill pickles and nothing else.

  • Ghost47 on 02/02/2023 - 11:29
    -1

    One thing that’s pretty good at Costco is the refrigerated Chicken Tikka Masala. I think it’s about 500g or something, you can get maybe 3-4 servings out of it. Can’t remember the price but if it’s in line with most of the things I’ve purchased in the past it’s about $16-$17 (well, last I bought it which was a while back).

    So equates to maybe $4-$5 per serve, pair with rice and you have a very easy meal. Oh, and it tastes pretty good too.

  • ribenaboy on 09/02/2023 - 08:53

    Love their returns policy, no questions asked, no happy with their product, just bring it back.

  • anti-hero on 25/09/2023 - 14:08
    -1

    Pros:
    1.Apple products consistently enjoy a 3% to 5% discount.
    2.Birthday cakes are exceptionally affordable, nearly half the price compared to specialty cheesecake stores, with Giant Cupcakes priced at just $12 for a 12-pack.
    3.A wide range of international products, including Asian and American foods.
    4.Competitive fuel prices.
    5.A majority of the products are sourced from reputable big brands, ensuring high quality.

    Cons:
    1.Food prices are on par or slightly more expensive than those at Coles/Aldi.
    2.Fresh produce and meat items are bulkier, potentially leading to increased food waste.
    3.Primarily premium products, which tend to be pricier compared to Aldi's offerings.

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