Costco fans thread

[bradl]

I like Costco. A lot better than Sam's Club, and that is despite the fact that I have memberships at both. Prefer Costco, though.

MY wife and I actually have it down now that we don't spend more than $60/week there, for anything, until we want to do major prep work for freezer cooking. That's when we go heavily into the meats, which is what costs you.

One of the things that helps to keep the costs down for consumers is to avoid Vendor Alley. Some things are great for what you could buy and store (for example, Bruce Aidell's chicken sausage, Kinders BBQ), convertible ladders? Blendtec and Vitamix blenders (if you don't already have one)? If you don't have the space for it, you don't need it.

With that in mind, you can get great deals on produce there, especially for the amount. Sweet Mayan Onions, bell peppers, strawberries, grapes, celery baby spinach.. their prices for the bulk amount are cheaper than the smaller portions being sold for more at a grocery store, Target, Walmart, etc. Plus, the quality is a hell of a lot better. I've walked into one Sam's Club and went to their produce section, and was grossed out to see gnats flying around the produce section. Not good.

The credit card thing doesn't really affect me or most people, especially if you are using a debit card from your bank or credit union. It has the Visa logo on it, but is a debit card as well. Those are accepted regardless, so you aren't limited to American Express, or Visa there, despite Costco moving to Visa.

However, the biggest bonus (to both Sam's and Costco) is the petrol/gas stations. Out here on the west coast, Arco/AM-PM are pretty much the gas stations with the cheapest prices per gallon, and they pretty much match both Costco's and Sam's prices, though may be 2 - 3 cents per gallon higher. However, what Arco/AM-PM (owned by BP) don't tell you is that when using your debit card, they charge you an extra 35 to 45 cents transaction fee for using the card. Yes, you have to agree to it before pumping, but that's extra tacked onto how much you've spent to fill your tank. Costco nor Sam's have that additional cost.

Plus both have the CheapAss Costco/Sam's Lunch (read: hot dog or polish sausage + Drink for $1.50). Can't really beat that.

But once again, can't really beat the prices, especially if you know what to avoid, and have everything you need to where you're spending less there each time.

BL.

 

[C DM]

I like Costco. A lot better than Sam's Club, and that is despite the fact that I have memberships at both. Prefer Costco, though.

MY wife and I actually have it down now that we don't spend more than $60/week there, for anything, until we want to do major prep work for freezer cooking. That's when we go heavily into the meats, which is what costs you.

One of the things that helps to keep the costs down for consumers is to avoid Vendor Alley. Some things are great for what you could buy and store (for example, Bruce Aidell's chicken sausage, Kinders BBQ), convertible ladders? Blendtec and Vitamix blenders (if you don't already have one)? If you don't have the space for it, you don't need it.

With that in mind, you can get great deals on produce there, especially for the amount. Sweet Mayan Onions, bell peppers, strawberries, grapes, celery baby spinach.. their prices for the bulk amount are cheaper than the smaller portions being sold for more at a grocery store, Target, Walmart, etc. Plus, the quality is a hell of a lot better. I've walked into one Sam's Club and went to their produce section, and was grossed out to see gnats flying around the produce section. Not good.

The credit card thing doesn't really affect me or most people, especially if you are using a debit card from your bank or credit union. It has the Visa logo on it, but is a debit card as well. Those are accepted regardless, so you aren't limited to American Express, or Visa there, despite Costco moving to Visa.

However, the biggest bonus (to both Sam's and Costco) is the petrol/gas stations. Out here on the west coast, Arco/AM-PM are pretty much the gas stations with the cheapest prices per gallon, and they pretty much match both Costco's and Sam's prices, though may be 2 - 3 cents per gallon higher. However, what Arco/AM-PM (owned by BP) don't tell you is that when using your debit card, they charge you an extra 35 to 45 cents transaction fee for using the card. Yes, you have to agree to it before pumping, but that's extra tacked onto how much you've spent to fill your tank. Costco nor Sam's have that additional cost.

Plus both have the CheapAss Costco/Sam's Lunch (read: hot dog or polish sausage + Drink for $1.50). Can't really beat that.

But once again, can't really beat the prices, especially if you know what to avoid, and have everything you need to where you're spending less there each time.

BL.

Well, technically speaking, there is an additional cost with Costco for gas as well, in a sense, the cost of the membership.

 

[2298754]

Well, technically speaking, there is an additional cost with Costco for gas as well, in a sense, the cost of the membership.

Cost of membership is tiny, compared to the overall gas savings.

Rough estimates (Assuming 20 gallon tank, 93 octane for my car)

Costco 93: 2.90
Hess/Irving/Shell: 3.09
20 cent difference -> $4 savings per tank

$55 costco membership/4 = 13.75 fill ups...

You will full up way more than ~14 times a year.

If you drive 12k miles a year, assuming 20mpg city/highway, 20 gallon tank -> 30 fill ups a year.

The savings multiplies when you take into account multiple cars across the household, plus the savings in bulk.

 

[C DM]

Cost of membership is tiny, compared to the overall gas savings.

Rough estimates (Assuming 20 gallon tank, 93 octane for my car)

Costco 93: 2.90
Hess/Irving/Shell: 3.09
20 cent difference -> $4 savings per tank

$55 costco membership/4 = 13.75 fill ups...

You will full up way more than ~14 times a year.

If you drive 12k miles a year, assuming 20mpg city/highway, 20 gallon tank -> 30 fill ups a year.

The savings multiplies when you take into account multiple cars across the household, plus the savings in bulk.

Well, that was more in comparison to the Arco similarly cheap prices, but a roughly $0.40 charge for using debit/credit. So at about 100 fill ups you are still basically at about $40. It was basically to say that they are offering cheaper prices because of this extra charge for debit/credit (among some other things), while Costco is doing it because of membership fees (among some other things)--not that Costco is just cheaper for free, just a different pricing structure (paying yearly membership vs. paying a bit extra every fill up for using debit/credit). Of course with Costco you get other benefits from the membership beyond gas, but again, it's not just like that for free basically.

 

[MacConsultant]

Costco is excellent. What really sucks, and in a bad way, is Citibank's customer service. AMEX was perfect... AMEX answered the phone promptly, all the reps were happy and helpful.

Now with Citiback, one waits on hold for 22 minutes to two hours, listening to an obnoxious repetitive recording, mostly irrelevant and unnecessary, with only 30 seconds of no talk in between time. And the reps are not happy.

Thinking of dropping Citibank and just using a debit card.

 

[0388631]

You don't have a credit card issued to you that's backed by VISA? Really now? Any debit card was and still is accepted. I'm a little bummed out that my AMEX is now useless at Costco, but also happy that I can use any of my VISAs.

I've been using a rewards credit card since they began taking VISA. 2% on groceries and 3% on gas. I prefer to use that card at Costco since there's a quarterly limit. Our Costco bill is about $800 a month.

Bulk purchases range from canned beans and tomatoes, Prime meat, seafood (like large Alaskan crab legs during the winter, they're about the length of your arm), frozen organic cut fruits and vegetables, etc. Honestly, I love stuff like butternut squash but I don't like prepping it, it's a slippery bastard. Easier to buy a large bag of it and be done with it.

Cheese is way cheaper and I can get 2 lb of my favorite gouda for "cheap" or get a 3 lb wedge of Emental or get 5 lb of imported brie for cheap and it's triple creme. The salmon choices are great. My favorite ice cream, the Haagen Dazs almond bars are easier to find here than other stores and in a giant package.

I've mentioned before, but I do have a large chest freezer so it's more economical for me to buy large packages of food and items. Grains like Quinoa are also cheaper than the bulk bin at Whole Foods, which is the cheapest place to find Quinoa and more. Costco also has a huge selection of wines and they, to my knowledge, store them correctly. They've got a wonderful revolving selection of Malbecs, which I've said before are my favority wine type.

Of course, there's stuff I'd never buy at Costco because they only offer one type. Or some stuff that comes in bulk that I don't need much of. I do love the fact I can buy Glide floss in a huge pack or the fact the carry Colgate Total under a few varieties and I can get a large package that'll last 2 years or whatever.

Some stuff doesn't make sense at Costco. For baby stuff, it makes a lot of sense to buy from Target, because they carry safe baby products like unscented, non-irritating washes and whatnot. Also if you have their closed loop credit card, you get 5% credit back on all purchases. It adds up fast.

We've bought a lot of stuff from Costco we love but also didn't like. Aidell's sausages are hit and miss. We thought we liked the Cajun but found it wasn't great later on. They're fantastic when sliced up cold, since they're cooked. Their pitted kalamatas in the large jar? Fantastic in salads or chopped up for sandwiches. The rotisserie chicken? Absolutey fantastic. We get two each time. One to split for lunch and one for dinner or leftovers. The pizza is decent for what it is compared to the swath of chains and indy shops. Just need to put it on the grill until the crust dries up and the cheese is bubbling again. Also, bread. My Costco has two aisles dedicated to domestic and international breads. Not including their bakery bread. I love Boudin sourdough and it's a fabulous price. I also enjoy the pretzel rolls from the bakery, they're amazing with Kerrygold butter.

I've never bought electronics from Costco, at least I don't recall doing so. I've bought Sonicare duo kits from them. But if I'm really desperate for fresh bread and I don't feel like making it or going to my favorite bakery that's sold out fast, I'll usually opt to go to Whole Foods.

 

[AustinIllini]

Costco is excellent. What really sucks, and in a bad way, is Citibank's customer service. AMEX was perfect... AMEX answered the phone promptly, all the reps were happy and helpful.

Now with Citiback, one waits on hold for 22 minutes to two hours, listening to an obnoxious repetitive recording, mostly irrelevant and unnecessary, with only 30 seconds of no talk in between time. And the reps are not happy.

Thinking of dropping Citibank and just using a debit card.

No thanks. AMEX was useless and I hated having to use a debit card at Costco

 

[C DM]

No thanks. AMEX was useless and I hated having to use a debit card at Costco

Useless in what way?

 

[kilcher]

I buy my tires at Costco. Easily save the $50 membership fee on that transaction alone, not to mention free tire rotation.

And our family probably eats half our membership fee in samples each year.

 

[0388631]

Amex isn't what it used to be for customers like it was back in the day. Being a Amex Platinum customer, it still carries a range of benefits but I'll be honest when I say I enjoy using my Chase Sapphire more. The benefits on the Platinum have dwindled over the years. I'd cancel it but I don't want to lose the history on it plus I managed to get the fee perma-waived on both cards, the Amex recently, after kindly coaxing them for a few months. Why cancel?

When you have high credit coupled with a great history, you're able to get non AMEX cards that either rival or exceed what Amex is capable of offering. Though I will concede that Amex CS is brilliant and will contort in whatever way you wish to keep you a happy customer. I'll use it when traveling because it'll be accepted and I feel more confident in using it as opposed to different CC. My first credit card was actually an Amex, which was rather useless back in those days.

 

[AustinIllini]

Useless in what way?

AMEX just isn't as widely accepted. It was like the one credit card I used at Costco.

 

[0388631]

AMEX just isn't as widely accepted. It was like the one credit card I used at Costco.

Might be Illinois. I'd keep the card if I were you. The Citi VISA sucks. It tries to lure you in with great sounding rewards until you realize it'll benefit you more if you shop Costco only. There are bank issued rewards cards that are more useful.
[doublepost=1469130020][/doublepost]I'd say the best Amex to get is the Blue Cash. 6% back on groceries is appealing. Especially if you can get them to waive your yearly fee for life.

 

[C DM]

Might be Illinois. I'd keep the card if I were you. The Citi VISA sucks. It tries to lure you in with great sounding rewards until you realize it'll benefit you more if you shop Costco only. There are bank issued rewards cards that are more useful.
[doublepost=1469130020][/doublepost]I'd say the best Amex to get is the Blue Cash. 6% back on groceries is appealing. Especially if you can get them to waive your yearly fee for life.

You mean the preferred one (with the annual fee basically)? How would one get the fees waived for life?

 

[0388631]

You mean the preferred one (with the annual fee basically)? How would one get the fees waived for life?

Yep. Fee waiving generally involves overall credit history, scores including FICO and payment and loyalty history. I've been with Amex for over 20 years and have probably charged several hundred thousand in that time. I was miffed when they weren't open to that idea but eventually got them to turn over. They'll waive the lower cards, but the Platinum has a higher fee and I'd imagine they make quite a bit on their Platinum level. Any creditor will waive the first year if you ask nicely and are respectful during your call. Getting a permanent waive is more difficult. Spending history is also taken into account. I'd say if you're someone who spends around $60,000 in your Amex Platinum yearly, then chances are you'll get it, but I believe their average charge amount for customers is around $25-30,000.

You may be wealthy, but spending a high annual fee is stupid. I never threatened to cancel my account. For a few reasons, benefits aside, Amex used to backdate cards and grandfathered in all users before early 2015. So unless things have changed, it shows me having opened my Platinum card/LoC in the early 90s. I've had several Amex credit cards over that time and upgraded, yet the card is backdated. Which is why it would be stupid for me to have canceled.

 

[Suture]

I buy my tires at Costco. Easily save the $50 membership fee on that transaction alone, not to mention free tire rotation.

And our family probably eats half our membership fee in samples each year.

Yes! All of the free extras when getting tires there are a nice bonus, too.

 

[millerj123]

No thanks. AMEX was useless and I hated having to use a debit card at Costco

I refuse to use debit cards, and I like that the Costco card is both credit card and Costco membership. Now that it's Visa, I'll probably take another card out of my wallet.

 

[Larry-K]

Well, technically speaking, there is an additional cost with Costco for gas as well, in a sense, the cost of the membership.

My Executive Card Rebate is always more than the membership.

 

[bradl]

My Executive Card Rebate is always more than the membership.

Same with mine. Came in very handy for their Black Friday sales. Last rebate covered 1/3rd of the cost of the Vizio M50-C1 50" Smart TV they had on sale, leaving the cost of the TV and the 40" sound bar we picked up to be the total cost of the TV alone.

BL.

 

[0388631]

I've got the executive card too. I've never hard of anyone getting back the total amount possible unless they were buying for business. It's a lot of money to spend as a non-business owner. That's a bit over 3,100 a month. I can't imagine what you'd be buying, even if you went straight for the seafood on ice and prime meats. Business holders used to have great perks until they got rid of said perks. I'm more disappointed with Costco's snack foods options. Their current contract lineup doesn't really include any good beer snacks.

 

[yg17]

Amex isn't what it used to be for customers like it was back in the day. Being a Amex Platinum customer, it still carries a range of benefits but I'll be honest when I say I enjoy using my Chase Sapphire more. The benefits on the Platinum have dwindled over the years. I'd cancel it but I don't want to lose the history on it plus I managed to get the fee perma-waived on both cards, the Amex recently, after kindly coaxing them for a few months. Why cancel?

When you have high credit coupled with a great history, you're able to get non AMEX cards that either rival or exceed what Amex is capable of offering. Though I will concede that Amex CS is brilliant and will contort in whatever way you wish to keep you a happy customer. I'll use it when traveling because it'll be accepted and I feel more confident in using it as opposed to different CC. My first credit card was actually an Amex, which was rather useless back in those days.

Same here, between my Chase Sapphire Preferred, Freedom and Ink cards, I'm sitting on 90,000 UR points. That's after transferring miles to airlines for two flights to Italy, one to Amsterdam, and three to Seattle. And some to hotels every now and then too. Okay, the sign up bonuses and reimbursable work travel helped, but still. It's a fantastic rewards program and their customer service is excellent too.

I only ever used my AmEx at Costco, and now, I'll never use it again. I'll just keep it around until they eventually cancel it for inactivity.

 

[0388631]

I'll still use the Amex if a business or site takes it and I'm not too confident in them to keep data secure. There's no hassle with them if something goes wrong. As I said, Amex is commonly accepted now. I rarely see walk-in stores who do Discover.

 

[millerj123]

I'll still use the Amex if a business or site takes it and I'm not too confident in them to keep data secure. There's no hassle with them if something goes wrong. As I said, Amex is commonly accepted now. I rarely see walk-in stores who do Discover.

I haven't found any differences between the hassles of Amex vs Discover if the card number has been compromised. Although it was my Visa cards in the data breaches at Target and Home Depot.

 

[Larry-K]

I've got the executive card too. I've never hard of anyone getting back the total amount possible unless they were buying for business. It's a lot of money to spend as a non-business owner. That's a bit over 3,100 a month. I can't imagine what you'd be buying, even if you went straight for the seafood on ice and prime meats. Business holders used to have great perks until they got rid of said perks. I'm more disappointed with Costco's snack foods options. Their current contract lineup doesn't really include any good beer snacks.

I usually get $125 or so, back (I don't know what the max is), that more than covers the membership, I've got all of them pinned to the wall, gonna get a big screen TV when I move.

That was on top of the AMEX rebate which was $200-500 a year. I did typically put large business purchases on the AMEX, which counted.

I don't like Citi Bank, they're criminals, with a big hand in many unsavory dealings, but I'm stuck with them for now. I'll just have to take their money.

Oh, try the Pesto. It's fresh, reasonably priced and they use Pine Nuts.

 

[0388631]

I usually get $125 or so, back (I don't know what the max is), that more than covers the membership, I've got all of them pinned to the wall, gonna get a big screen TV when I move.

That was on top of the AMEX rebate which was $200-500 a year. I did typically put large business purchases on the AMEX, which counted.

I don't like Citi Bank, they're criminals, with a big hand in many unsavory dealings, but I'm stuck with them for now. I'll just have to take their money.

Oh, try the Pesto. It's fresh, reasonably priced and they use Pine Nuts.

I have an account with just about every major bank. Citi in bank support is fine. On phone... well let's just say brain cells were missing at birth. All banks have unsavory dealings. I've usually bought my big screens though another store on Amex in the past. The last time I bought a big screen was in 2009 or 2010 and it was a 65" Sony. I have no idea what the current playing field is like now.

Is it frozen or in a jar? I grow a lot of basil and so make my own pesto, but I'm willing to try it out if it's as good as homemade and it saves us prep time. I was very pissed off that they stopped carrying the Van Gogh aged Gouda (good crystallization) and kept carrying the smoked Gouda which is like sucking on a smoke chip.

 

[Larry-K]

I have an account with just about every major bank. Citi in bank support is fine. On phone... well let's just say brain cells were missing at birth. All banks have unsavory dealings. I've usually bought my big screens though another store on Amex in the past. The last time I bought a big screen was in 2009 or 2010 and it was a 65" Sony. I have no idea what the current playing field is like now.

Is it frozen or in a jar? I grow a lot of basil and so make my own pesto, but I'm willing to try it out if it's as good as homemade and it saves us prep time. I was very pissed off that they stopped carrying the Van Gogh aged Gouda (good crystallization) and kept carrying the smoked Gouda which is like sucking on a smoke chip.

When I started, I was thinking of a 40, but now I afford a 60" or bigger, and if I keep putting it off, who knows?

Citi was deeply involved in some of the Recession nonsense, nothing you'd notice at the retail level. I did briefly have a Citi checking account when they took over one of my banks. Went from being a free account to a 20 buck a month charge and a per check fee, with 30K in the account. I walked 100 feet to a B of A, and got back to free again.

The Pesto is fresh, comes from Italy, in a plastic jar, and it's in the fridge section (only keeps about a month, but it good on more than pasta, so it never lasts). I don't have one in the fridge currently to check, but the ingredients are mostly the essentials. I've never found a shelf stable version I could tolerate. Some people have complained its too salty, but apparently they had an older version, and that may be what they're responding to.

Considering Pine Nuts are $23 a pound these days, at $8 for a 22oz jar, it seems like a good deal. If you try it and don't like it, feel free to call me names, but I think you will.

They have discontinued some cheeses I like as well, I didn't try the Van Gogh, but I did see it there, I'll give it a try, if it ever comes back. I always get my Cambozola there, about half what it is everywhere else. That stuff is heaven on a good, crispy baguette (which they don't sell).