Has Costco Become More Popular
- Thread starter Jules
- Start date
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
Maybe more people are going to Costco because Walmart is such a circus. Plus, since you have to buy a membership, Costco is less likely to fall victim to grab and dash gang thefts, yes?
Remy
Well-known Member
- Location
- California, USA
I went to Costco yesterday to get my stepfather's cats medication. The vet office calls it in there. It was busy as always. I did renew a membership because I wanted reading glasses and their prices are great. However, I'm not so sure how crazy I am about the glasses. My prescription is complex. The eye MD office is expensive.
The amounts people buy is off the charts. While waiting in line, a smaller woman of about 40 was pushing one of the flat carts so laden with stuff, I could tell she was having a hard time pushing it. The amounts there don't work real well for me. I may try their cat food for the ferals and I got a case of organic canned peaches awhile back that were good. Also their protein powder prices. And voltaren gel.
The amounts people buy is off the charts. While waiting in line, a smaller woman of about 40 was pushing one of the flat carts so laden with stuff, I could tell she was having a hard time pushing it. The amounts there don't work real well for me. I may try their cat food for the ferals and I got a case of organic canned peaches awhile back that were good. Also their protein powder prices. And voltaren gel.
dilettante
Well-known Member
- Location
- Michigan
Not here. People are painfully away of the local businesses it's destroyed. And if you want to be cut off by the uncaring effete blindly turning right on red lights in your face you can always drive by the Costco to take your life in your hands.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
When you see such full carts, it's possible those people are shopping for a group home. I had a brief career, like 9yrs or something, as activities director or administrator of group homes for mentally delayed adults. The staff always shopped at Costco.
Small store owners do, too. Costco is where I bought cigarettes and wine for my liquor store.
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
We have both a Costco and Sam’s Club here. We have a Sam’s Club membership but do not use it as often as we should . I do order online from Sam’s, too and that helps with the things that they ship.
I think both of the clubs also use Instacart , so probably a lot of people are using that for grocery delivery nowdays as well.
I think both of the clubs also use Instacart , so probably a lot of people are using that for grocery delivery nowdays as well.
JBR
Senior Member
I think you meant "painfully aware". That's true in my area. Thankfully, you'd have to drive nearly five hours to get to Kelowna, where there's the nearest Costco to our location. My wife & some of her friends have a deal where if one of them is going there, they'l pick up this or that for the others.
But Costco is just one of the mega-corps decimating local & independent businesses. Amazon, Lowes, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, and many others have done that. Several towns and modest-size cities in my region have stated goals to keep out businesses that are part of large-franchise systems. And I applaud that in my rural valley, we have two independently-run, locally owned hardware/building-supply businesses with friendly staffs who have practical experience.
dilettante
Well-known Member
- Location
- Michigan
PeppermintPatty
🐢. 🐳. 🐢
- Location
- Canada
They most certainly have. We joined way back when you had to have a business to become a member in the 1990’s. Now anyone can become a member. They have more and more Costco stores popping up everywhere. They reach out to other companies to see if they will assist their preferences of products with positive results. They ARE definitely doing good.
Teacher Terry
Well-known Member
Locally Winco is cheaper than Costco and you don’t have to buy mass quantities of stuff. I belonged for a year when there were 4 of us and don’t get the allure.
Trade
Well-known Member
I refuse to pay someone for the privilage of shopping in their store.
I do not shop at Costco nor at Sam's Club because both stores are located about 20 miles of high traffic away from my house. The local Publix is only 1.5 miles away from us. Many of my neighbors use the Kroger warehouse that is not open to the public but offers on line shopping with delivery service. Their van is refrigerated and they seem to be happy with the service, product quality and prices.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
..well of course that reasoning doesn't work here in the UK, Frank..and Costco is massively popular here in recent years and they continue to open new stores... altho' they are still sporadically placed around the country
I feel that now that you don't have to be a business owner as was once the criteria, , and that anyone can have a membership and shop there, is a big reason in the UK...plus the price of Fuel is massive here.. and Costco sells fuels at approximately 10 pence on the litre less than surrounding fuel stations... for about 20 miles.. so at any one time, I can drive to Costco, and see a Mahoossive queue for the petrol pumps... even if the store itself isn't particularity busy ... in many vehicles this could save £10 per tank of fuel
Michael Z
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern Wisconsin
In our area, Costco is very popular. And I love it as well. I will take Kirkland over Sam’s or Great Value any day. We dropped our Sam’s membership.
But yeah, you have to know your prices at Costco. I save about $60 a month and there are some items I can not get anywhere else but Costco. Just don’t buy a hot tub or their pricey lawn furniture!
But yeah, you have to know your prices at Costco. I save about $60 a month and there are some items I can not get anywhere else but Costco. Just don’t buy a hot tub or their pricey lawn furniture!
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Their ''white goods'' (washers, fridges freezers, ... tv's etc ) are all way overpriced above the market here in the Uk... garden furniture and things like sheds, all way overpriced, and I can buy them cheaper in other stores or online ... but for me... as a person on my own now .. it's been a life saver being able to buy in bulk, and so much cheaper than the Major supermarket chains... Just a shame that compared to the US Costo stores, ours don't have a Huge variety of food... but generally for food, toilet paper..kitchen paper, bottled water.. I save ££'s by shopping at Costco.. and of course huge savings on fuel.
I'm fortunate that I live within 30 minutes drive of 2 Costco stores.. 1/2 of the country are not within 3 hours of one..
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IKE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Oklahoma....U.S.A.
We've got a Sam's and Costco within 10-15 mins. or so from home and have never set foot in either one....just kinda sticks in my craw to have to pay a $50-$60 membership fee just for the privilege to walk in the door in order to give them more money to purchase their stuff.
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hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
You are right, I shopped at Sam's for many years when my son was here. We were the hangout house for his friends. I had a big freezer in the garage to hold all the frozen snacks, pizza, waffles, etc. to feed the crew.
I stopped using them years ago but am thinking of renewing my membership. It is true that when we are alone we have to be careful about how we spend. It is not only about food but all things household, personal and even clothing. I am doing research now if I would prefer Sam's or Costco. I think more people would use them if they had freezers and storage space.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Exactly that. If I didn't have the 2 big freezers in the outbuildings, I probably wouldn't shop at Costco...