In my opinion, Costco came to Australia with regular bargains at the beginning on many items. Now it's mostly the cheap petrol. Is there something I'm missing ozbargainers?
List out your regular bargain items or whether you cancelled your membership.
@try2bhelpful: you only need 1 friend thats with costco, they will get the gift cards, even if its $25, you get to the checkout and pay the difference
@johnfuller: I know it has. Just saying if it does become something a lot of people are doing then they might crack down on it. Probably sufficient people decide to get their own membership after they've visited the store to balance this out.
@try2bhelpful: when i did have a membership, i thought i'd be there every week, in reality, i go there once every 3 months, sometimes, not even that .. i use to go there for the fuel but its too far from where i live and then you get stuck in all the traffic if you go at the wrong time so all in all its not worth it for me, but maybe for you .
@johnfuller: We are near Docklands. However we do pop off to Epping at reasonable intervals. Will be interesting to see how we travel once Docklands shuts down. In all honesty we probably aren’t the target market but we do enough to cover the membership. Frankly I’m glad there is a membership, it keeps the queues down a tad.
@johnfuller: As I said if your friend decides they won’t be a member anymore then you lose access as well. This perk only works because you are sponging off your friend’s good will.
@try2bhelpful: theres no big loss to losing access to it, there was woolworths and coles before it, and still remain as my place to go, most of the bulky items at costco end up in the waste because they dont get eaten
@johnfuller: We only have two in our household. It is a matter of knowing what to buy to avoid wastage. People need to look at the use by dates and non perishables. Costco isn’t just about just the groceries either. We’ve bought household goods and appliances as well. The scratch and dent area can be good pickings. We Google what we buy to make sure it is good value.
I don’t think Costco is for everyone but it works for us. Once Docklands shuts down we might be rethinking but, I suspect, we will still get enough value to keep going.
@try2bhelpful: its a good browse but not worth the membership unfortunately, its not a good business model for our economy at this time
I go to Costco for the different food items available, not so much for the cost savings.
Found that the Rotisserie chicken is still cheap, but found the taste of it has gone down. I usually go to the Ringwood one, and there is less basting, not cooked long enough to get a good caramelization.
Compare to Coles and Woolies definitely cheaper and better quality… But if you want to buy the local popular aussie brands processed food. Probably wait for the usual "50%" off at coles and woolies.
Costco has increased prices significantly on many items. It used to be better but lately it has gone bad. Extra long queues at check out is one of them too. They've jacked up prices on all of the items including their signature muffins. We only buy what's needed like eggs, milk, fuel and get out as quickly as possible. Queue at their petrol station is insane too. Promotions aren't there anymore. It really needs to work on warehouse savings model that it used to be before for people to keep holding it's membership.
For me, it's dog food, sliced cheese, shredded cheese, mince, chicken breast, rump steak.
Mind sharing how much it generally is per kg for rump and beef mince?
$9.99/kg for mince from memory
Mince
Whenever I tell my mum what I've bought from Costco, it's always "Coles has it cheaper on special" or, "Woolies has it cheaper this week"
I agree with her, if you're someone who has time to shop between the major retailers, you can for sure get items cheaper. But for those who don't have time however, I think Costco is pretty well priced.
I still find the frozen section worth it, but Costco for some reason has people think differently than normal shops, shop the sales and have no loyalty, always check price per x instead of overall price. Bulk doesn't always mean bargain though, treat it the same as coles/woolies and it can be good, too many fall into the trap of 'more must mean cheaper'.
Personally I haven't found anywhere with better frozen dough for home made pizzas (I suck at making my own), love that you can just put the bag out let the yeast do it's thing as it defrosts and make your own pizza for the same price as takeout only a million times better.
Interesting psychology. The stores are massive warehouses with large trolleys and rush of customers enticing you to "buy big and save". Easy to let your guard down.
Monster Zero Ultra 24 Pack - $48
Pepsi Max 30 pack - $23
Margarita Mix 1L - $10
There is still a fair bit that is cheap but it use to be like "Costco regular price is colesworth special price" but now colesworth special (fake as they may be) is often cheaper then Costco.
The thing I've really learnt is do not but perishable goods, I've ended up throwing out or needing to invite people over just to consume the volume of food. Now I stick to items that will be good for a year in the cupboard.
The second and main thing, is go with a list and don't deviate. This is how they get ya, walk around and see a packet of Doritos for $8 that is 3x the size that $6 gets you at colesworth but do you or anyone need over half a kilo of Doritos? No. do this 10 times in a trip and suddenly you've spent $100-200 more on things ya really didn't need. Hey maybe you have A+ self control and can buy without a list, I am not that good at life lol
Meat is way better and cheaper than anything at Colesworth if you buy the whole piece and prep it at home. Aldi gets close in price but it has an awful taste that requires a lot of seasoning to hide and kinda defeats the purpose of a steak.
perhaps I am too used to meat directly from the farm through my brother, but I find most of the meat in Costco somewhat bland (sure better than colesworth but that is a low bar). Tried various cuts from the wagyu, rump, angus tomahawks etc, really the only meat I get their now is the babyback ribs and chicken, would rather pay more for the expensive cuts from a proper butcher or direct from farm.
Surprised no one here has mentioned their Kirkland brand toilet paper. Great for large families and/or those that burn through the stuff like there's no tomorrow!
That is their number one best seller.
Laughing Cow and Kraft Singles, Savoy crackers, Tiffin butter chicken, nappies (though Amazon are sometimes better), banana bread, giant tub of chocolate mousse. Though I miss their giant danishes and won't forgive them for that.
Also forgot to mention the large tub of nuttlex is far cheaper than colesworth.
Dunno if its cheap but their butter chicken is pretty dam good
+1 on that. It freezes pretty good as well.
It's cheap, it's restaurant quality.
The other thing to keep in mind is Costco membership gets you access to Costco stores overseas. We will be looking at Costco Paris when we travel to Europe this year. We are renting a place in Loire Valley for the family for ten days. We've hired a car and will stocking up on essentials before we arrive.
The roast chicken as cheap and really good.
But that's it IMO. Most things are much cheaper at Cole's/woolies on their regular sales AND you don't have to buy a mega pack. My wife gets sucked in with the mega packs thinking they are cheaper and instead we end up with annoying sizes which are also more expensive.
They have some interesting products if you specifically want that product/brand. That's the only reason to potentially get a membership.
Costco know their place in the market and they target it very well. They are doing very well in Australia. Costco isn't a place to buy cheap stuff. It's for getting more premium items at a cheaper price.
And bulk packs. May not work out cheaper than Colesworth, but a 50 pack of something in your freezer can be more convenient than 8x six packs knocking around in there.
Got membership because they had more choices for children's frames for glasses (i.e. small frames). All opticians just have the same boring children frames, or adult frames that are too large. Aside from that, we buy large bags of baker's flour, and I like their hot dogs.
We shop at Costco often, around 15 mins drive. Costco is like Ikea, every time you go in, you feel like it will take you a while to get out. It is just not built like coles or woolies to grab a few things and come out.
Costco has a lot of gems, but if you shop exclusively for half price special and Aldi, then Costco is not going to be cheaper. All essential food produce items are better quality and cheaper, egg, milk, organic items, fresh produce, meat, prawns, seasonal many things. The berries frozen or fresh always better, I like their edamame beans too. But Hershey chocolate is really bad,,
Hershey chocolate is typical bulk American chocolate which is bad. Godiva is better.
Get the Kirkland Sangria and a bag of the frozen mixed berries. Put a couple of tablespoons of berries and some Sangria in a glass. Makes a great summer tipple. Then take the macerated berries and some Greek Yoghurt for a great dessert.
Goddamn! This is a really good tip. Will pick it up next time.
If the whole berries put you off with the Yoghurt give them a bit of a whizz and mix through. Flavoured Yoghurt without the extra sugar.
I didn't renew my membership. To me it seemed to be just mostly obese people wheeling cart loads of highly processed food and different kinds of sodas in xxxl size packs.
Yes, they still toilet paper or Kirkland whatever but it's nothing I couldn't live without. Besides it's about 45 minutes one way so I won't go there to save $2 on petrol. It was just a waste of money for me.
mostly obese people wheeling cart loads of highly processed food and different kinds of sodas
That's a feature, not a bug. https://youtu.be/CgbFgaDBIb0?si=Nc2mUnQuq8fP3Z4X
Should always look at the big packs of eggs, the fresh milk, the muffins freeze nicely (cut them in half if on a diet), and of course the roast chickens. When I last went they were all cheaper per gram than the supermarkets.
Golf gloves. The package golf sets are also pretty good value.
Barramundi
Samples
Taste testing
Thinking seriously about not renewing… seems the member deals have been cut back to nothing and you have to have Executive Membership to get deals that used to be monthly specials.
There is no way I am being extorted into paying for Executuve Membership because they have reduced the benefits for standard members.
Nothing is much of a deal anymore.
Extorted? We'll probably be able to get the membership for free based on how much money will be returned to us.
I live 260 klms is from the nearest store and only get there 4-6 times a year … the Gold membership is questionable value, the Executive (pegged to spending) is even less value … YMMV. My comments about specials now often being exclusive to executive members still applies.
There are plenty of deals at Costco. Costco isn't for everyone.
@ozbs25: I’ve been a member since they first opened at Docklands … it is no longer the value it used to be for me … again YMMV, but I am entitled to express my thoughts given the OP literally asked.
@chops: We've been members for longer than that and it's better than ever for us at least. Being 260kms away doesn't help you.
@ozbs25: Docklands was their first store, how were you a member before then?
Do you work for Costco?
@sumyungguy: Honestly don't remember how much it cost. All I remember is having to cart our stuff home in bags strapped to one of those folding hand trucks or in a backpack. We didn't have a car and had to catch trains and walk. They did have a delivery service as well but anything cold or frozen we took home ourselves.
The Nexba sugar free version of up n go. Their bulk pack is only sort of matched, if even, by clearance sales at Woolies/Coles. Up n go has tasted average to me ever since trying these.
Not someone who is a costco shopper, but IMO
Fuel and hotdogs are still one of the cheap deals most of the times at costco
Spam 3 pack are cheaper than Woolies and Coles special prices for single.
Buy heaps of stuff there regularly and so do the family.
Beef + Lamb - I havent come across anywhere near as good for the price
Prawn Dumplings
Mayo - this is probably the best value thing we buy there.
Ketchup
Salt/Seasoning
Canned tomatoes
Passata
Dishwashing stuff
Cleaning stuff
Spanakopita
Chewys/Mints etc
boxes of mini packs/snacks for kids school
Strawberries, mini cucumbars, their corn is the best corn ive had, cherry tomatoes
I just bought my mum a Narwal Robot Vac there also as it was a good $200 cheaper than anywhere else.
Spanakopita
ah i see another fan
i swear it was the most delicious pastry with cheese and spinach I have ever tasted in my life and I still dream about Michel's Patisserie spinach and cheese rolls sometimes
Had this at a party once and honestly can't find a better one anywhere.. although maybe my host did deep fry in oil or something because it was very very delicious
https://www.costco.com.au/Business-Delivery/Pilaros-Spiral-S…
unfortunately no costco near me so cannot try it
Khobz Lebanese bread is less than half price of what it is Colesworth.
Milk and eggs are cheap too.
Briwn rice is half of the price of Colesworth.
I had a membership for 1 year and noticed it was mostly overweight people who over consume highly processed foods that shop there. Costco is also great for those who get caught up in the hype and have fomo.
I’m not sure where you were shopping but the ones I go to mainly attract Asian people and they aren’t overweight. I suspect quite a lot of Costco buyers are shopping for extended family or for their businesses.
At least have the decency to say IMHO before saying something that is, definitely, your own opinion.
pizzas! and soft drinks lol
The RawC Coconut Water that they have is half the price when compared to ColesWorth
Clothes
Spirits
Beers
Dishwashing Tabs
Water
Eggs
Milk
Fuel
Butter
Honey
Cooking Oil
Sanitary Products
Dry Fruits
Chocolates
Last 2 times I've been to Costco Ringwood there have been no onions for my hotdog. Is this the case at all Costco stores?
There's usually something missing or broken. I've never had onions in my hotdogs so I can't comment on them but they've had to go with mustard in bottles rather than the dispensers the last couple of times I've been. This was at the Coomera store.
I saw a video from the US claiming you can get into Costco without a membership if you have a gift card (which requires membership to purchase). I assume the same is true here, can anyone confirm?
Affirmative, Costco Shop Card min $25
Rad, thanks! I'll get a $100 one and keep $25 on there so I can maintain access to the hot dogs.
My strategy is to have multiple $25 cards. When you go through the checkouts a supervisor has to approve use of a non-member credit card (for charges exceeding your shop card value). Just checked the web which suggests non-member credit cards aren't accepted at the food court; and Shop Cards aren't accepted there either.
@sumyungguy: The food court payment machine definitely doesn't check what card you are using to pay.
You better hope they don’t take your advice.