Membership fees, Costco, BJ's, Sam's Club etc , Can anyone

[yy4me]

convince me that these stores make enough charging the annual membership fees to compensate for the dollars lost because people like me will not pay a fee in order to pay a store money to shop there. I don't buy much in bulk, and get a lot of what I do buy when it is on sale. I would go to Costco or BJ's if I could do so without paying then whatever it is, $50-75 a year?

I certainly would spend a lot more than the annual fee in the store. Are they not better off with half a pie than none at all?

That membership fee is also an important part of a family budget that could be better spent on food, not on a plastic card that lets you in the door.

[blm]

1. we've found Costco to be very cost effective.....and....they're a Dem company that treats employees

fairly with almost double wages of WalMart(Sam' Club) and good health benefits. That alone sets it apart from the others.

[DesertRat]

59. Well said. That's why we shop there too. n/t

[WCGreen]

63. Same here...

My sister put us on her Super duper account so she gets discounts over and above what they all ready get as a member. I don't mind because we don't spend all that much there anymore...

We shop around for what we want and spend about 250 a month on stuff, including gas...

[PretzelWarrior]

2. if you spring for Executive membership, you get money back

and essentially the membership pays for itself for a normal family that buys food, home items each year.

[trotsky]

34. I can confirm this.

Our money back refund from Costco last year was $160. That pays for the dues a couple times over.

[Bigmack]

75. Same here...

In addition to food and paper stuff, batteries, engine oil, etc, we get virtually all our fuel at Costco. Low gas prices and our membership is more than paid by the rebate. Not bad.

Costco employees are treated well and are happy campers. That's important to me.

[Kali]

3. back when costco was Price Club they would let you do a sample trip without the card

at least once a year...also there are various membership types - I think at one time if you were a local business it was less or you got special days or something. As I recall, the fee was well worth the savings, but I haven't been in so long I really don't know anymore.

[Tesha]

55. BJ's does essentially the same thing.

We were members for a few years and dropped our membership. Now,
at least once a year and often twice a year, we get a "free three month
membership offer" from them and we always take them up on it. During
that membership, we buy most of what we'd buy from them during the
entire year and then forget about them until the next "free trial
membership" turns up.

Our current free trial expires in a few days ;).

Tesha

[MannyGoldstein]

4. It's Just One Business Model. Works For Some People.

Doesn't work for others.

If you're a restaurant, paying $40 or whatever a year to buy food and supplies at wholesale works. Or if you're making a major purchase, you can easily save more than the membership fee immediately.

We usually wait until we need something large enough for the savings to pay for the fee. Then we just let the membership expire until we make another major purchase.

[mwooldri]

52. Exactly - got the nail on the head.

For some people, a Costco membership just isn't worth it. For our family, no, not right now.

But Costco in itself - it's pretty cool actually (yes I was a member once). You visit there and you wonder "Do I really need a years' worth of toilet tissue right now today?", and "I didn't know they did that in super duper jumbo size".

You just got to do the maths and figure out if it'd be best for you. For groceries sometimes you can get better deals at Aldi (if you have one) than even Costco. To me, Aldi would be what Costco would do if it had to start up a neighbourhood store rather than a warehouse.

Some things in Costco don't require a membership. IIRC the pharmacy is free for all, as is the optical department and the photo processing area. I might be wrong, so please correct me.

Mark.

[Divine Discontent]

5. at Disney, from time to time, Costco comes in and sells us memberships for 25. eom

[sammytko]

6. I just joined Sam's Club on a collegiate membership

It was 40 dollars, but they give me a 15 dollar gift card - so 25 bucks in the end.

They gave me 2 cards. I gave one to my sister - so 12.50 per card. I'll save that much on piggie ears in a couple of months.

I am retired military, so have access to the commissary. I thought I would never shop anywhere else, but I have 6 dogs and feed a colony of feral cats. The shelves would be stripped of dog food and cat food. People come in and load up like it's a warehouse club - lol!

Sam's is 4 miles closer than the commissary, so I'll just skip on out there after class.

[RockaFowler]

7. I like them

The cost ($30 for us because of my husband's business) pays for itself right away for us. The gas is cheaper there. The milk is cheaper. The eggs are cheaper. Heck everything is cheaper than at Publix. It's worth it for us.

[AlCzervik]

8. i shop at costco, i buy a lot of produce and they have a really good selection and better prices

than my local supermarket. There are things i buy in bulk like laundry det and cleaning supplies, i always get a better price at Costco.

No matter what i end up buying the average cost per item usually averages out to $10 a piece.

[MichellesBFF]

11. Darn

I wish I had a Costco near me, but the closest one is a couple of hours away.

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. Ditto, but BJ's is all I have near me.

[AlCzervik]

19. when i lived Mass i shopped at Bj's, one of their first stores was in the city i lived in.

[yellerpup]

50. I do feel lucky to have one so close.

Mine doesn't sell gas, though, and it is a zoo on weekends.

[flamin lib]

9. I've bought in bulk in the past but recently have switched to as-need

to help with cash flow. I buy at Big Lots, Dollar Store, Good Will (aka La Boutique) and small ethnic stores. It's cheaper, you buy as-need and you don't need to take up half the garage to store it.

Goodwill: jeans are $3-5.

Dollar Store: room deodorant spray $1.80 (we don't have fart fans in our bathrooms)

Big Lots: Nissan cup noodles for lunch $.30.

Same savings on dog food ($7.00 for Purina 25 lb bag), paper towels (don't use many) and TP to use with the room deodorant).

Bankruptcy has taught me some serious guerrilla shopping techniques!

[notadmblnd]

57. I do Big Lots too

Cat food $5.00.
shampoo .96.
Tampons 1.80.
hair color 2.30.
laundry soap 112 load size 6.00

Dollar stores are a great place for cosmetics, balloons, school supplies and craft items.
I buy my beef live, on the hoof cut to my particular liking for about 1.30 lb. from a local farmer

I only pick up sale items at grocery stores, if it ain't on sale, we don't eat it.

[MiniMe]

66. I would watch the cat food

I don't trust those stores to have quality pet food, it is probably all from China.

[notadmblnd]

68. Fancy Feast is the lastest I'm hearing about.

I buy the Whiska's poultry pouches. Funny thing about my cat, she seems to know when the food I give her may be bad and doesn't eat it. I went through quite a few brands including 9 lives before I found the one she would eat.

[DJ13]

10. When we first started paying for a Costco membership (was an employee before)

It was $35 per year, and the savings were good enough to warrant spending for the membership.

But with it now costing $50 we've stopped renewing as we have found that many other stores that dont charge a membership fee now sell in bulk as well, and the price difference isnt great enough for a two person family.

[Deja Q]

14. On many products. For others, not so much. Of course,

other products they sell in bulk aren't given the same "triple washed" treatment as in the past, and after adding in mileage, for various items of produce, I shop locally. But for others, the cost benefit is quite obvious. Quality-wise too.

[DJ13]

27. Part of the reason we stopped shopping there was that our local Costco

stopped making cinnamon rolls in their bakery.

(Serious!)

That and their own generic brand (Kirkland) had gone up in price so much it was priced at or higher than the national brands on many items.

[countingbluecars]

12. I usually have to wait in long checkout lines

at any of the Costcos in my area. They are always very crowded and seem to be doing well.

[TheCowsCameHome]

13. BJ's is about $40 IIRC, and I save that in meats alone.

It's a good deal.

[LiberalEsto]

16. We basically buy staples at Costco

Our Costco list consists of paper towels, bathroom tissue, dishwasher detergent, liquid hand soap, cat litter, olive oil, canned crushed tomatoes, instant coffee, printer ink cartridges and copy paper, along with a few over-the-counter meds and vitamins. We also get photos developed there at a very good price. I get great prices on huge potted poinsettias there for Christmas gifts, and various potted flowering plants for birthday gifts. Finally, it's a good place to shop for food for a large party or church retreat.

[stuntcat]

17. I'm lucky my mother-in-law has a membership.

Not that I need to go there often, I've learned to get by pretty well and save a lot on what I can get at my local Giant.. I look for deals, buy quantities when I find them.. We NEVER eat out so even though groceries are our biggest expense we do alright saving.

Also going to Costco means spending 2 hours with my baby-craving motherinlaw.

[ejpoeta]

99. you can definitely add a person under you. we've done it under family members before.

at bj's i believe it's $20 for associate membership under another person. at least it was last time i checked.

[Missy Vixen]

18. We're getting ready to reup with Costco at the end of the month

We save far more than the $65 a year it costs to belong. I might also mention that they're a blue company, they pay their employees a fair wage, great benefits, etcetera.

We'll keep shopping there, membership fee or no membership fee.

[uppityperson]

20. I understand what you mean. It is $50/yr, but you can get added onto a friend's card for $20

If your question is "why have to pay a fee? doesn't this hurt them?" I don't know exactly. I think it helps pay for some of the costs of the store, rather like a food coop's membership fees do. ) Unlike a food coop, you don't get the fees back if you decide to not be a member anymore.)

I think the fee does limit who belongs, but I know several people who carpool/shop together on 1 card. You can split your stuff into several bits and pay with different checks, as I do with home vs work expenses (Costco). You can be an add on to another member's card for $20/yr (I think), if you have a friend who will let you piggyback. But still, there is a fee and that money could be spent on food.

I consider it more like my food coop, where the fees go towards business expenses, including decent wages/benefits for employees.

I do buy in bulk, and have a list of what is cheaper @ Costco vs paying for store brand at local store since sometimes Costco brand is a more expensive Name Brand.

[AZBlue]

78. Or, for the $50 membership you get two cards - split it with someone.

I split it with my parents.

[Mojorabbit]

21. I buy in bulk

and save quite a bit shopping there. It was well worth the price of membership for us.

[Warpy]

22. What I do buy there makes up for the fee

and it's stuff like fresh salmon that doesn't go on sale in New Mexico. I also take full advantage of their cheap prescriptions. I don't see a lot of their products in supermarkets, like the incredible selection of dried fruits. Their industrial cleaner is far superior to anything I've ever found in any store including the supply stores. The few electronics and tools I've bought there have added to the savings, as have the multi pack CFLs.

I bought a small freezer to take advantage of their bulk foods. I take it home, divide it, prepare it, and freeze it.

You do have to shop there intelligently. That gallon jug of mayo is probably not going to work out really well unless you have 10 kids or a restaurant. However, the cheeses and butter can be divided and frozen quite well.

[TommyO]

35. Costco also has 64-oz jars of Hellman's

It's not as cost-effective as the gallon, but still way cheaper than buying at the grocery store.

I bought a down comforter there as well, much cheaper than other places were asking for the same, or lesser quality. That alone paid for my $50 membership right there.

[Stevenmarc]

23. Why should I convince you

It's one more person in front of me on line.

[Control-Z]

85. Exactly what I was thinking. n/t

[Lost in CT]

24. Costco's $50 membership is certainly worth it... For the fruits and veggies

and imported cheese alone.

Not to mention Coffee Soda and bottled water ect.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

43. They also have really good thick NY Strip steaks (my hubby loves them).

I think for four steaks in a pack, I usually pay around $25-$30. The steaks are so thick, I can make two or three meals out of them.

I also buy my trash bags, cups, coffee filters, paper towels, toilet paper and other staples there. I'd say it's definitely worth it.

[Lost in CT]

46. Love the steaks and the prepackaged premarinated chicken breasts.

Honestly they have very high quality food at decent prices.

It isn't a substitute for the dollar store crowd but it blows away Trader Vics and Whole Foods.

[DesertRat]

60. Great prices on vitamins and supplements too. n/t

[Lost in CT]

89. Yeah the Kirkland brand vitamins are a steal

And Consumer Reports rates them highest.

In fact Kirkland brands is one of the reasons I prefer Costco. Consistently high quality.

[Chovexani]

102. Yes, their rib-eyes are out of this world.

I also get two-three meals out of them. (I am the queen of getting creative with leftovers. :D)

The only place I have ever seen with better steaks was a local gourmet butcher that I can guarantee, you would not be paying $30 for four steaks. And the quality was not that much better, to be honest.

[TommyO]

108. This is one thing I get elsewhere

Wegmans has their club pack of strip steaks for $5.99/lb and the quality is excellent.

[Renew Deal]

45. And Diapers!

[dana_b]

82. $3.75 for the largest bag of chips you've ever seen!

and yes, I like the veggies and fruit but with only three people in the house they go bad before we eat it all.

[tridim]

25. My savings on JUST coffee pays for my Costco membership every year.

[DemoTex]

70. Mine too.

Plus, I love Costco's house brand (Kirkland) Sumatra French Roast whole-bean coffee (3# bag).

[tridim]

74. I'm hooked on the Rainforest Blend organic

I think it's a buck more, but well worth it. Still about 1/4 the price of grocery store coffee.

[ipfilter]

26. I don't like the membership fee

but I save a lot on groceries at Sam's. It's worth it to me.

[Hekate]

28. #1 They are a more-than-decent employer. #2 The fee is well worth the savings

I wouldn't shop at Wal-Mart if you paid me, due to their business practices and the way they treat employees.

When Costco came to our town 10 years ago I hesitated over the same concerns, but when I found out they are good to their employees we gave them a try. I believe we paid only $35 to join back then.

We've been more than happy with their quality, prices, and incredibly generous return policies. On occasion we have shopped for our MIL and by putting all her items first the cashier is able to give us a separate subtotal on the receipt before proceeding to the rest of our purchases. The store has absolutely no problem with this.

My advice is to take a tour of one of their warehouses and make a few notes on prices and so forth. Decide, among other things, if you have storage space for a couple of dozen rolls of toilet paper or if your family can eat the quantity of fresh produce before it goes bad. There are some who split their bulk purchases with others in order to deal with the large quantities and share the savings. Everything's big -- it really is a warehouse. Unless you have a big family, it's quite a surprise when you bring it home.

"Can anyone convince me..." ? Of what? Costco is in very good financial shape and they treat their employees well. If you are living dime to nickel, paying a membership fee for anything is not for you -- but then you also have much bigger problems than deciding to shop at Costco.

Hekate

[morillon]

67. I agree completely.

I won't shop at Sam's or Wal-Mart, period. They have a well-documented history of being evil to their employees.

We buy whatever we can at Costco, and the rest we pick up at local grocery stores. With Costco, you have to go fairly regularly to find stuff that may not be in stock all the time. You can always find the gigantic packages of toilet paper, but certain types of canned goods may be there one week and not at all the next.

Our membership paid for itself in just two visits.

[cascadiance]

29. My only complaint is I'd rather use a different card than AMEX...

AMEX is becoming one of the bastard companies in terms of credit cards... If I could use cash or a VISA card to buy gas there instead I would gladly do so, even if I didn't get the rebate back on it...

[GentryDixon]

38. I use VISA debit.

[Lost in CT]

48. You can use your bank debit card. nt

[yellerpup]

30. We shop Costco because I can get my protein cost per meal down to under

90 cents per serving. This usually includes, pork loin chops, ground beef (organic), tilapia, salmon, bacon, chicken breasts & thighs, and uncooked tail-on shrimp. This trip I bought pork loin and made it into 2 roasts and 8 pork shops, flounder, chicken breasts and it averaged out to 84 cents/serving. I cook dinner at home at least 6 nights a week and make everything from scratch, so buying in bulk (for the two of us) and freezing individual servings saves us a bundle over supermarket prices. I should mention, for health reasons, I keep meat servings to 4-6 oz. cooked. A 64 oz. bottle of pomegranite juice costs $9.99 there and at our supermarket I have to pay $10.99 for 48 oz. I drink 8 oz. a day. Butter was $3.79/lb. at the grocery and $5.79 for 4(!) lbs. at Costco. Whole coffee beans are just under $4/lb. I buy a gallon of top quality olive oil for under $20/gal. and canola oil for under $6 for two gallons. Facial moisturizer that I paid $35 a jar at Macy's for 20 years I can now buy for $15 at Costco. 6 packs of Goya beans are $4.49 for black beans, red kidney beans, garbanzos and pidgeon peas. We eat oatmeal almost every morning, and I get the equivalent of 6 large canisters of Quaker Oats for the price I would pay for 1-1/2 at the local grocer. Goat cheese costs $4.49/lb at Costco and the equivalent at my grocery store goes for $19.95. It's worth it for us, but it would depend on what you like to eat. I think you would probably save $50 a year easily just on cleaning supplies and laundry products, not to mention toothpaste, shampoo and aspirin. Example: I take a baby aspirin every day (81 mg.). The last time I bought a bottle at the grocery store, I paid $10.99 for 216 tablets. This week I paid $4.99 for two bottles of 365 each, so I paid less than half for more than twice as much product. Hope this is helpful.

[TommyO]

37. Goat cheese at $4.49 is one of my latest finds there

Much better than the $11.99 at the local grocery store

[NashVegas]

41. Yeah, I've Noticed That, Too

If you go through a lot of cheese, especially a lot of good / foreign cheeses, Costco saves you a huge bundle. Last time I was there, they had whole wheels of d'Isigny. Shit.

[yellerpup]

49. Really good stuff.

Don't know why it's so much more expensive on this side of the Hudson. Sheesh. Although, I did buy a hunk of yummy goat gruyere at my local S&S that was excellent at $16/lb. :hi:

[NashVegas]

31. The Fact They Continue To Exist Is Proof Enough

At least until they close shop.

It depends on what you want, and do they offer it, and do they offer it at a big enough discount to make it worth your while.

I go to Costco because it's the only place I can get fresh, hand-thrown mozzarella cheese from NJ and at 1/2 the price of processed Wisconsin stuff. If I buy just one ball a month, the savings come close to paying for the membership.

It's your call.

[npincus]

32. Yes... IF IF IF

you believe that you will save more than the membership fee (obvious answer)... I joined BJs and got new high-index progresive lenses for an old glasses frame about $200 (normal price for the lenses about $475), a pair of prescription glasses for my daughter for $88, and a pair of (designer) prescription glass for my husband for a little over $100... we DEFINTELY saved BIG bucks on that purchase. I was worth it for us. We shop there as well... there are some good buys but don't know if I would have joined otherwise. Also, my husband has ordered contact lenses from BJs Optical for a good price.


BJs has very nice frames. BTW... very satisfied w/that purchase.

[earth mom]

33. A Costco membership is well worth the price-it's a bargain really.

We only buy select food items in bulk because there are only 3 of us and some things would go to waste, but we do save on all sorts of other stuff like books, clothing, dvds, video games, eyeglasses, tools, tires, etc., etc., etc.

I don't think one single shopping trip is going to convince you what a great place to shop that Costco is. Appreciation for the store is gained over time, as you uncover excellent deals on items and thus get value for money spent.

We bought Michelin tires for our car 5 years ago at Costco and after close to 80K miles, we are just looking to replace them. Sure, the tires weren't cheap, they cost around $500 or so, but I'm sure if we had gone elsewhere we would have bought other tires for close to the same price and would already have had to buy a another set. Not only that, but the tire center has been great about patching a couple of nail holes and rotating our tires whenever we need them done-all for free. They will be having a sale on tires next month which is when we'll replace the old Michelins with new Michelins. The value and the service we have received on those tires can't be beat, IMO. Our car will probably wear out before the new tires do, LOL!

[Lex]

36. You'll make the $40 bucks back quick.

No doubt about it.

I have an Executive Membership which is $100/year because I buy office supplies for my office there, BUT I get back 2% refund at the end of the year on most items I've bought. I always get back more than $100 bucks, so I apply it toward my membership and it washes it out totally.

[wickerwoman]

39. If you're shopping for a family of four you can save a lot at Costco.

We save a couple thousand a year by buying almost everything there and then picking up $20-30 worth of perishables at the regular supermarket that we can't use up before it goes off. You get really good deals on electronics, clothes, DVDs, books, etc.

I wouldn't get the membership for a single person unless you don't mind eating the same meal four or five days in a row, but if you're shopping for a couple people you could easily make up the membership fees in two or three trips.

I wouldn't become a member of Sam's Club though... they're Walmart Bulk.

As mentioned above, Costco is a great democratic company that treats its workers very well.

Also, freakishly, Costco has the freshest seafood and vegetables in a forty mile radius. Go figure :shrug:

[fed_up_mother]

40. I buy a large rotisserie chicken at Sam's for $4.99, which is $3 cheaper than my local supermarket

And I buy one every week. I get my "fee" back just on that chicken. I'm lucky - Sam's is very close so it's convenient to pick up a chicken and get a break from cooking. :) Plus, I save money on other items, including drugs. I save lots of money buying their generics.

[Last Stand]

80. Sam's = Walmart = Bad, bad bad nt

[fed_up_mother]

84. Not bad for me.

Of course, if you want to pay my grocery and drug bill, you can drop me a line in my box and I'll be happy to shop somewhere else under those circumstances. :)

[TommyO]

107. It's quite possible they live in an area not served by Costco

Where I live now, I have two Costco locations within 15 miles of me, and two more that are near work and on the way to work. Walmarts are few and far between.

Where I used to live, it was just the opposite, several Sam's, with another one being built, and no Costco.

[Zywiec]

96. We do the same.

Plus the chicken at Sams are so much larger than the local grocery store.

:toast:

[fed_up_mother]

111. MUCH larger. And makes great chicken salad, too!

[dysfunctional press]

42. we're reconsidering wherther to re-up with costco or not...

they definitely aren't as convenient as the grocery stores- and since there's just my wife and i- no kids, we don't really buy enough bulk items to make it worthwhile- and a lot of the other merchandise can be found for similar or better prices elsewhere, especially online.

[Renew Deal]

44. The costco I go to is always JAM PACKED!

And I mean packed.

[blue_onyx]

54. Same here

I frustrating to go there sometimes. Every time I'm there, as soon as I start putting my stuff on the conveyor belt, they open up more check-outs. Of course, the people who just got there swoop in while the rest of us had to wait in line. Parking is a pain too but it still worth the trip.

[Renew Deal]

83. Parking is a pain at mine too.

No more lines can open up because they're all packed. It's not too bad if you go during off hours. But forget going there during holiday season. It's 25 lines 10 carts deep minimum. :yoiks:

[Spike89]

47. Ironically, popular because it's exclusive...sorta

Well, it isn't that Costco wants to exclude or that it is exclusive, but the membership fee and their style of merchandising (and mix of products) all add up to a store that is very efficient in its way. Costco doesn't lose anything by not getting your membership, you don't buy bulk and you shop specials--Costco mostly doesn't put anything but some of the big ticket items on sale, everything else is pretty much as cheap as they can profitably sell it. They can keep their costs down because they average much higher transactions than regular retailers. Think of them as the extreme opposite of a convience store. A 7-11 needs high profit on every sale because the average sale is probably a couple bucks at most. A supermarket can sell cheaper because their average sale is probably around a $100. I've really never shopped at Costco without passing $100, usually quite easily and almost always someone in line with me is popping $1000+.

My wife and I hit the local safeway a couple times a week for the day-to-day stuff like bread and milk, we do a full Costco stocking up about every three weeks...overall, Costco and the local supermarkets probably about split our grocery budget. The $35 membership fee is more than made up simply by the money we save on Costco toilet paper every year (man, why is that stuff so expensive?!?!)

[onlyadream]

51. I always thought the same thing...

maybe with the economy the way it is, they'll change and make it free.

[yellerpup]

53. Another good reason.

This month Costco has Sonicare toothbrush heads on special, which I have never seen there before. We bought 4 refill heads (on sale at Kohl's at $28/for two) at Costco for $38. When we got home I noticed that we had a coupon for $7 off in the Costco flyer they send out at every month or so. We went back a week later, took the receipt and the coupon and they gave us $7 back! So, we paid $31 for 4 new heads. Quite a deal, IMO.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

77. Oh yeah; I've bought Sonicare toothbrush heads there, too.

I also like their cheese selection, bakery section...and it's the only place where I can find Mystic Pizzas.

[yellerpup]

110. See you shopping!

:hi:

[notadmblnd]

56. I do not pay to shop at a store that treats all of it customers like criminals

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

65. Huh?

[notadmblnd]

69. Any store that checks my reciept on the way out, especially when the floor manager

is standing right in front of the cashiers and sees me pay, does not get my return business.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

71. They don't even look at it, they just run over it with a sharpie

[notadmblnd]

73. Then what's the point other than to insult the customer?

I'm not knocking that you're ok with it. I'm not. There's lots of other stores I can shop that don't engage in this exercise of time wasting.

[ContinentalOp]

90. AH! Thank You! I thought I was the only one with that pet peeve.

I just walk on by. I stare straight ahead with a "don't fuck with me" look at places like Fry's. At Costco this is tough though considering how crammed the exit usually is with giant shopping carts. Just one of the many reasons I hate to shop at that hell on earth.

[Stevenmarc]

86. Obviously you are not looking at the bigger picture

When someone employs someone who's qualified to put a swipe a receipt with a marker it keeps them from being employed by motor vehicle.

[Xithras]

58. The membership fee at Costco isn't just about profit.

It has to do with their status as a retail store vs. membership club, which has a whole assortment of impacts on their bottom line. The biggest deal, for them, is that their status as a membership club makes them a distributor and not a retailer, so they are exempt from many laws regulating minimum pricing for dairy, alcohol, and tobacco. There's also a huge profit advantage for them in the fact that the membership fee effectively eliminates shoplifting from their stores.

Generally speaking though, Costco has zero (or near-zero) markup on most items, so bringing new shoppers through the door doesn't necessarily bring in more profit. If you sell 5 items with zero markup, you make zero profit. If you sell 500 items with zero markup, you make zero profit. If you sell 5 items at zero markup while charging each buyer $50 a year for the right to enter the store, you have a fairly steady income stream from those fees alone.

If Costco eliminated that fee, they'd have to jack up prices across the board.

[ContinentalOp]

91. Is that really their business model?

Very interesting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

61. Just the movie tickets we buy a year there pay for the membership

other things such as the Hard Drive (portable) makes it worth my time

Oh and don't get me started on veggies and other sundries like oh coffee and bathroom paper (Kirkland brand rules)

In fact, need to go get some coffee, and other things. My dues are in. No problemo paying for them

[lonestarnot]

62. Costco, Costco, Costco!

I love Costco!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

64. The membership more than pays for itself just with savings on rawhide bones for the dogs

It is well worth it for us.

[FreeState]

72. Costco gives me 5 cents off per gallon of gas - thats enough for me...

not only is their gas generally the cheapest around I get and additional 5 cents per-gallon back via my AMEX card. (if you fill up 20 gallons a week thats $52 a year just there.)

Then there is, wine, liquor, TP, Soda, Detergents etc etc. I really do earn my fee back (actually its a gift yearly from my parents - I have been a member since 1985).

The only thing that I have found that is more at Costco is some electronics (video cameras - but TVs are about the same as Fry's etc)

[Thickasabrick]

76. I make the mistake of renewing - then never go....so ya - it doesn't

work for me. It would if I actually shopped there but I just keep renewing the fee. I'm definitely not going to next year.

[Control-Z]

87. You don't need to keep renewing

Just hold onto your card and if you do decide to shop there, they'll renew you at the time of purchase.

[CRK7376]

79. We belong to both Sam's and Costco

We just rejoined Sam's after spending several years away. $40 membership fee at Sam's, at least to renew....
I prefer Costco, great gas prices, Sam's also offers low gas prices. Costco has great meat and fresh veges we think. Sam's seems to be a tad bit less high quality than Costco. Unfortunately Costco is way across town for us and a Sam's is much closer. We'll see in about a year if we're still happy rejoining Sam's.

[burythehatchet]

81. Costco comes close to how a progressive corporation should be run.

[Control-Z]

88. Their return policy

is reason enough to pay membership. We purchase almost all our big ticket items from them - dryer, refrigerator, electronics. We have returned an item or two almost a year after purchase, and with no receipt.

I would love to see Wal-mart go out of business and Costco take over every location.

[yay]

92. If there was one near me, and I bought enough stuff to make it worth while

I would shop there. But as it is I don't buy a whole lot of stuff, just bare necessities so it wouldn't be worth it... Maybe if they had gunpowder, primers, and lead in bulk I might though.

As it is the nearest one is an hour away on top of things. It just wouldn't be worth it to me.

[No.23]

93. Costco by a knockout. Here's why.

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/costco_vs_sams.php
How Costco Became the Anti-Wal-Mart

[ejpoeta]

101. i've heard great things about costco, and if we had one around here i would

definitely go there.

[yy4me]

94. To all of you who took the time to answer my query, thanks.

My intent was to try and figure if I would be better off joining one of these "clubs". I am alone now and am having trouble getting together enough energy to shop, let alone what to choose. I thought maybe one of these spots would work for me. I was in BJ's once years ago and do not really remember much except the 6 packs of Tuna. That is a 6 year supply for me.

I am glad to hear it works for so many of you but I've come to the conclusion after reading these posts that it pays only if you buy in bulk.

Costco sounds like they are especially good citizens. BJ's in near enough for me to go if I needed. Sam's Club is nowhere near enough but I would never go there. WalMart is entirely off my shopping list for a number of reasons, particularly a very rude pharmacist.

[Grinchie]

95. If you are not concerned about GMO Veggies and Meat

And eat like their is now Tommorrow, then Costco is for you.

If you only buy what you can consume readily in 2 days, without overeating, then forget it and spend your money on Organic food. The people in the Oarganic food store will be nicer, more diverse, and the food more healthy for you in general.


Costco forces americans to buy large quantities of everything, which they do. You will wait in lines, be bombarded by thousands of processed foods screaming to be purchased, and be shopping in a pesticide laden environment, since they spray almost every night.

When we used to shop their, I remember seeing a package of steaks, an 8 pack. Each steak was patterned like a Honeycomb, and it didn't look like any meat I had ever seen in my lifetime. I truly believe it was from a cloned animal, but since our regulations allow almost anything, GMO, Cloned or Pesticide laden into our food supply, I decided to take the Precautionary Principle and support Organic Food markets.

I get better selection, better environment, friendly people, and avoid the McDonaldization of our food supply.

[Chovexani]

100. Generalizations are bad

The "all organic" store near my old place routinely had the shittiest produce selection known to man, and surly, holier than thou employees that used to follow me through the store because everyone knows Black People Shoplift. I went there if I had no other choice.

And you should not be comparing Costco to the local Granola Emporium, it's apples and oranges. The real comparison is between Costco and say, Kroger's or Shop Rite. In which case Costco beats the grocery chain every time. Most people need to prioritize. Obviously shopping at the local farmer's market is best. But if you can't do that, you'd do far worse than Costco.

The reason you couldn't recognize the Costco meat is because it's far better quality than 90% of the shit being sold in stores, organic markets included. The only places I've seen with better quality stuff is gourmet stores like AJ's out West, or specialty markets where you pay three times more for it. Now that I'm back in civilization I buy my most of my meat from the local Italian market, but I still get rib-eyes etc from Costco.

[Chovexani]

97. The point, she is missed. Again.

What you and other membership fee bashers fail to realize is that, for a lot of people, the savings you earn from shopping at warehouse clubs in a year will more than make up for the fee. For a lot of people, it is way more cost effective to shop at warehouse clubs even when you take into account the membership fee. My family has had a Costco membership since before the merger, when it was still Price Club, and every year we've shopped there we've made back the membership fee and thensome every single time. Point blank, if you're not making back your membership fee from shopping at Costco, You're Doing It Wrong. Or you don't need to purchase that much food, in which case warehouse shopping is not really for you.

What Doing It Right Entails: You need to be aware of unit prices at your local regular stores, which is the biggest mistake people make when shopping at warehouse clubs. Just because it's in bulk at Costco does not necessarily mean it's cheaper. For some items, especially those which frequently go on sale or tend to always have coupons, it might be more cost effective to buy those at your grocery store. Also, certain items you simply DON'T ever want to buy in bulk, because most of it will go bad before you can use it, and you'll end up needing to throw most of it out, thus negating any savings you got from buying in bulk. Just as an example, I cringe whenever I see people buying spices at Costco; unless you're a restaurateur or a caterer that stuff is going to lose its potency before you get even halfway through one of those giant bottles. My mom is notorious for that, and I always end up having to prune her cart before we get into the checkout line. The only spice you generally want to buy in bulk is salt, because it can't get stale.

You also need to be on a strict list and budget far more so than in regular grocery stores simply because of the huge amount of stuff for sale. Warehouse clubs are not the places to shop if you're prone to impulse buying. I always make sure I a) eat something before I shop (either one of the cheapy hot dogs if I didn't have time before I left the house). I always, ALWAYS bring a list, and put myself on a strict budget. I make sure, if at all possible, to specifically leave a small amount in the budget for "Fun random non-food crap", and if I can't on that trip, I stay the fuck out of the center aisles with the DVDs, computer games, etc. Even when I lived alone in an apartment, I shopped there, and made my fee back and thensome. I would go one morning early before work and pick up all my bulk stuff (paper products, meat, frozen veggies, etc) and not have to go shopping for months at a time except for things like milk and bread.

Also, understand what that membership is buying you. If you eat meat, aside from your local butcher or Whole Paycheck you will not find a higher quality of meat than at Costco. One of my old clients back when I still read tarot professionally was a Costco buyer and she said they get first pick of everything because of the fact that the store purchases in such huge quantities. The meat you see at Pathmark, Kroger etc is the stuff that was left after Costco picked over it.

Aside from all the economics of it, Costco pays its employees a living wage and provides them with excellent benefits, and they are unionized. The CEO has made a commitment to that in spite of pressure from bean counters to make the stock go higher. My local grocery store is not unionized and employees get paid for shit, they are overworked and undertrained. That alone is enough to make me shop at Costco.

[ejpoeta]

98. it all depends on how much you shop there, really. our bjs membershp is

up and I hesitate to pay $45 for another year. we can wait and get 18 months for the same price if we start a new membership. it's sad that it's cheaper to just get a new membership than renew. I used to have sam's, but it's just too far to be worth it to me. I hardly ever go to the city. I don't know about the other's but you could get a deal on membership for bjs. also, unlike at least sams club, you CAN shop there without a membership. just pay 15% markup or something.

[vanderBeth]

103. Then don't get one

I don't see the problem. The card was meant to be used for people who run a business or restaurant, although anybody can get one because they realize other people can use it in the same manner. It really wasn't meant for casual shopping and wasn't until it was open to everybody.

[queenjane]

104. Even for a household of two, Costco membership is VERY worth it!

It's just me and my elderly mother. I buy everything from fruits & veggies, frozen foods, cooking spices, nuts, vitamins, batteries, coffee, paper goods, etc. I saved over $200 on my new glasses (compared to my ophthalmologist's office) at their eye center. I also save $25 a box on my contact lenses. There are some things I DON'T buy: canned goods (I only buy salt-free, which they don't carry), snack foods (too big & dangerous to have around), and certain veggies (go bad too quickly). I also stay away from their bakery, because the cookies and pies are too wonderful (though I will pick up something for work potlucks if I don't have time to bake).

It depends on your lifestyle and needs, but I do know people who go in together on memberships to save on fees.

[TommyO]

109. I used to be a household of ONE (and three kittehs)

and it was still worth it for me. Many of the large items are significantly less expensive than what other retail outlets get for the same, or similar products, making the $50 fee worth it for even one large purchase. I bought a down comforter for $169, that was about $100 less than what other stores were asking for a similar comforter, that alone left me $50 ahead after the membership fee was considered.

[madokie]

105. I wonder if Sam's isn't subsidized by the regular walmarts

After all they are catering to a whole different clientèle, one being us poorer have lessers and the other to the more affluent have mores

[melm00se]

106. Warehouse clubs are ok

for certain things.

They don't always have the best price on everything. You can usually do better if you watch the sales and buy from the local supermarket.

what they do offer are the super deluxe mega bulk items and those are (sometimes) worth it (I buy paper products basically once or twice a year...ditto for flour, sugar and rice)

[slackmaster]

112. Why do you care?

If you don't believe it's worth paying the fee to shop there, don't do it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

113. The charge fees to keep out the idiots who are too dumb to pay $50 to save $500.

Makes the shopping experience a little more pleasant.

[madmom]

115. How can it be a "little more pleasant" when according to up thread posts...

the parking lots suck, the lines are terrible and you have to have your receipt checked before you can leave. Sounds like a bother to me. Why should I pay for the privilege of shopping there? There are just two in my house hold with very little storage(we down-sized long ago)I'll go Krogering, thanks.

[Rabrrrrrr]

117. I never said that you had to shop there. Shop wherever the fuck you want. Fucking hell.

I don't shop at those stores because, although I could save money, I live alone, and I don't need 600 oz. jars of peanut butter or 30 pound boxes of cereal or 4 gallon bottles of orange juice.

[madmom]

121. Well thanks for your fucking snark. I never said you fucking did say I had to fucking shop there. I

just asked a fucking question! Have a nice fucking day!

[Rabrrrrrr]

122. Fuckin' Christ! You're welcome!! Jesus.

:rofl:

Sorry about that. It was rather rude of me, and embarrassingly snarky. Sorry!

You have a nice fucking day, too!

[Common Sense Party]

114. They don't need your half a pie. They're not hurting.

Especially in this economy. They have a specific business model, and it appeals to a great many people, as evidenced by the long lines every time I go in the place. But it's not for everybody. If you don't buy much in bulk, it doesn't sound like your kind of store.

[960]

116. Yes, they have their reasons for being clubs.

And yes, if you consume as much as the average American you will save enough to compensate for the membership fees.
Especially Costco's executive membership.(2% cash back plus other perks) Every year my family earns enough to pay the $100 membership fee plus a couple hundred more dollars back.
Not to mention their unbeatable return policy.

[Tracer]

118. My sister was a Vice President at BJ's.

She would get me a free membership and I'd occasionally go.

I just don't have the storage area in my house to get monstrous packages of toilet paper etc., not to mention the hassle of driving there (20 miles R/T) and the examination of all your purchases and receipts as you leave.

Now, they send me those "free" 3-month memberships. I signed up once.

[Raineyb]

119. I'm single but I plan to keep my Costco membership.

I buy all my laundry supplies, cleaning supplies and paper products there. I also get olive oil in bulk as well. Plus with two cats the cat litter is cheaper there. I like keeping bottled water in the car and I get that in Costco to. Plus, ladies products are cheaper in bulk at Costco and a very specific lotion that I use that is very expensive is cheaper there. I hate dealing with the crowds but there are certain items that I will not pick up at the supermarket anymore and will run by Costco to get it. They also do photo processing so I can upload my pictures then have them printed in whatever size I choose there. It's good for bulk picture printing especially when you end up with other people's pictures on your camera.

Then again if you're in my area perhaps you shouldn't join. Less people on line and all. :P

Regards

[catzies]

120. My Costco card is just to have access to their cheaper gas.

I don't have a large family to justify buying food n bulk.

The card pays for itself in gas savings 3 months into every year.

[Greyskye]

123. Does Costco carry Organic meat/veggies?

Free range chickens/eggs, etc?