School me on Costco please

jensriot · April 2014

I think I'm going tomorrow to join. Tell me the good, bad and ugly please. Do they accept credit cards? Are giant drums of peanut butter my only option? I haven't been in one of the warehouse stores since I was a kid, so I'm clueless. TIA!

nonoemily · April 2014

They don't have giant drums of peanut butter. Now they sell you like four regular jars plastic wrapped together.

JeffandLeslie · April 2014

Amex and debit cards only. Well, and cash or check. No Visa or MasterCard.

sometimesalwayschaotic · April 2014

We used to have a membership and I loved it. The kids clothes are super cheap! The problem is that it is so day to blow your budget there. You can go in and buy "just a few things" and spend your entire monthly grocery budget.

JeffandLeslie · April 2014

auroraloo said:

JeffandLeslie said:

Amex and debit cards only. Well, and cash or check. No Visa or MasterCard.

But they'll accept my visa debit card?

Yep but not a credit card.

nonoemily · April 2014

The produce is hit and miss. I go there to buy TP, capers, olives, and occasionally I buy some produce.

But yeah. They take all your money somehow.

nosoup4u · April 2014

I get half gallons of half-and-half (I have a problem), and I like their dried cherries. I'll sometimes get giant bags of snack food (pirate booty, etc) or cereal, and they have hippie tuna for a great price (Wild Planet brand). that's about all I get there.

caybeh · April 2014

You need to know your pin though with your debit card. I had always just used my debit card like a credit card, but there you have to use the pin.

I don't go there often, but everytime I do, I think I should!

CiderWench · April 2014

Everything everyone else said plus they treat their employees like human beings, which I find quite refreshing.

vababy · April 2014

I love Costco! Avoid it on the weekend if you can. I buy stuff for parties, Christmas gifts, etc

jensriot · April 2014

OK, I'm convinced. I'm sad they don't take other credit cards though, for points. Not a deal breaker, but it would be nice. Maybe I'll order online. Thanks!

sophie206 · April 2014

My regular Costco buys are a (giant) rotisserie chicken for $5, diapers, wipes, charmin TP, indiv hummus packs, babybel cheese, salad kit that includes blue cheese and cranberries, 10 lb bag of chicken breast, a freezer snack of some sort, food should taste good tortilla chips, mango salsa, avocados, bananas

jensriot · April 2014

Note to self... do NOT go hungry.

nonoemily · April 2014

Don't go first thing when they open! It's like a crush of people trying to get through the door.

When I was little my grandpa used to take me to costco and buy me a polish sausage. He liked to buy a giant tray of Danish there.

lyingliarlies · April 2014

JenS2203 said:

Note to self... do NOT go hungry.

go hungry, fill up on samples (& food court if necessary but most likely not), & rejoice. THEN fill your cart

.

vlagrl29 · April 2014

we buy our meat in bulk there and you can buy spa finder cards there (spend $80 get $100) so it's like getting a coupon for your spa services

vlagrl29 · April 2014

AND we are hoping to buy a hot tub for our patio from Costco next year

bumpuser924057 · April 2014

I buy tons of stuff at Costco, and what I don't get there I get from Sam's. the membership is worth it for the photo center and rotisserie chicken alone.

mandymack · April 2014

I wrote several blog posts about my Costco score - I always look up the prices of what I WAS planning to buy at Trader Joe's/Safeway so I know for sure if Costco is the better deal. This will help you NOT fall into the trap of thinking "bigger is always cheaper" because it's not.

For me the things that are ALWAYS cheaper are:
Batteries
Kleenex tissue
3pk organic ground beef
2pk organic ground turkey
Foster Farms frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts 10lb bag
Tillamook cheddar & Precious string cheese
Goat cheese 2pk
Crumbled feta
24ct organic eggs $6.49 or regular eggs $3.59
Sara Lee 12pk hoagie rolls
Fresh mushrooms, organic baby spinach, organic raspberries, organic blueberries, organic apples (less than $1/lb), avocados, fresh garlic bulbs
Extra virgin olive oil
Organic tomato & herb jarred pasta sauce (Classico brand)
Real grade A maple syrup
Non-stick cooking spray 2pk
WINE!!!
Organic Cliff Kid Z bars
Beef jerkey
2pk Jiffy peanut butter
2pk Quaker granola
Black pepper corns for your grinder
10lb granulated sugar
2pk organic Heinz ketch-up
2pk dijon mustard - Grey Poupon

I could go on and on - that's just a recent selection of things I've purchased.

trizzie · April 2014

we have the costco credit card and you get a % back in costco credit once a year. And you earn points anywhere you use it, not just Costco (it is AMEX).

ariel06 · April 2014

Mine tends to open their door about ten minutes before the stated time. I always try to head there then. Find out what days yours gets trucks. Produce is way better on those days.

We buy organic strawberries, raspberries, lettuce, mini peppers, all our meat, milk, diapers and wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, pop (if we're out and it's not on sale at the grocery store), eggs, baking supplies, spices, contact solution, allergy meds all on a regular basis.

Don't be afraid to try stuff because their return policy is awesome.

MomIn2013 · April 2014

We buy pretty much all of our meat there, then when I get home I portion it out into ziplocs in separate meals and freeze it.

We also bought our shower unit and bathroom vanity from their online store and we really like them.

You can spend a fortune on snacks, so either don't go to the store hungry, or try to fill up on the samples before you hit the snack aisle. Oh, and they have really good ice cream in the food court part at the end.

zbeesma86 · April 2014

sounds like I need to look into a costco membership too!!

martinsgirls · April 2014

Car rentals! We just found out through DH's coworker. Pretty much the best prices you will find. We recently rented an suv (Ford Edge I think) for $157 for the week while we were in FL.

I also came across this recently. Haven't read through it yet but it may be helpful. I do find that prices vary even per store by a few dollars.

https://queenbeecoupons.com/costco-price-list/

notkateanymore · April 2014

They have samples!

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School me on Costco please

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