Costco

Leopoldstoch

First time adventuring into my closest Costco. That place could be dangerous and expensive!

Picked up some awesome looking prime brisket and some great looking cap ribeye steaks!

GrateEggspectations

Watch out. $400-500 trips will soon become the norm. 

Battleborn

I am surprised when I get out of the door under $200. 

GrateEggspectations

Know this: Their return policy is phenomenal. Phenomenal. 

stlcharcoal

Battleborn said:

I am surprised when I get out of the door under $200. 

I used to have this game I played.....try to get as close to $200, without going over.  Those days are long gone now as it's $300-400 every trip.

YEMTrey

Love our Costco membership, but it is not wallet friendly.  A routine trip is a $200 trip.  Going on a serious grocery trip and it's easily double that.  We just became members again this year after several years of not, and it's been wonderful. 

You definitely want to plan your trips. And you'll spend more money there than you imagine.  At a minimum get the Executive membership and if you want, get the Costco credit card to boot with the additional cash back.

GregW

It's crazy, but i once heard about a guy returning a 7 year old Christmas tree for a refund.

Phenomenal refund policy as stated.

littlerascal56

We have those same issues at Sams Club.  $250-300 out the door. Not that happy with Sams lately, and see that there is a new Cosco in Wichita. Might drop the Sams membership and buy a Cosco instead.

Lit

Get the Costco Visa. 2% on everything in store and 5% on gas up to $7k and that’s at all gas stations not just Costco.I just got my yearly Costco executive member check it was $197 and my Visa check comes next month it is just over $500.  I’m like others my average is $200 a week and we go every week. 

stlcharcoal

Lit said:

Get the Costco Visa. 2% on everything in store and 5% on gas up to $7k and that’s at all gas stations not just Costco.I just got my yearly Costco executive member check it was $197 and my Visa check comes next month it is just over $500.  I’m like others my average is $200 a week and we go every week. 

Not splitting hairs, but it's 4% on all gas on Costco......5% on all gas is Sam's Mastercard (first $6000).  So I use the Sam's Card first, then use the Costco card once I hit the limit. 

Also, I found you have to use the respective card at that station.  If you use a Chase Freedom or Discover at either during their promo 5%, you won't get the reward.  

DoubleEgger

How the heck do you keep up with all of those credit card offers?  

Lit

DoubleEgger said:

How the heck do you keep up with all of those credit card offers?  

I have 3 cards. Chase freedom it has awesome online offers you log into their site then click a link to whatever store website and you shop like normal and use the chase card and you get several percent back depending on the store. They also do the quarterly deal where you get 5% back at box store up to $1500. Then amazon card gives you 5% back on everything from amazon. Then the Costco Visa. They are all set to auto pay last months balance so it’s easy and I get probably $12-1500 a year back. 

stlcharcoal

Lit said:

DoubleEgger said:

How the heck do you keep up with all of those credit card offers?  

I have 3 cards. Chase freedom it has awesome online offers you log into their site then click a link to whatever store website and you shop like normal and use the chase card and you get several percent back depending on the store. They also do the quarterly deal where you get 5% back at box store up to $1500. Then amazon card gives you 5% back on everything from amazon. Then the Costco Visa. They are all set to auto pay last months balance so it’s easy and I get probably $12-1500 a year back. 

Yeah then Discover is 5% off groceries Jan-Mar up on the first $1500.  I have two of those cards to take full advantage of that.

I have the Amazon one too for the 5% off.

Then everything else personal goes on the Fidelity Visa which is a flat 2%.

Then I have four Capital One Spark Plus cards for the three businesses for a flat 2% off everything.  They had to give me two of them for the one business since I was maxing the first one out every month.

It's a game keeping them all straight, but a money making one since I easily get $8000 a year back in rewards with just the one Spark card.  I've never added up all the other ones.

SaintJohnsEgger

I got my membership earlier this month and I've been happy with it. I don't spend a fortune and only buy meats for the next week's cooks. I have been 3 times so far and the crowd has been insane each time. I hate crowds. Getting run over by people trying to get to the free samples is not the way I want to die. You would think those people haven't eaten at weeks and need the samples to survive.

GrateEggspectations

SaintJohnsEgger said:

I got my membership earlier this month and I've been happy with it. I don't spend a fortune and only buy meats for the next week's cooks. I have been 3 times so far and the crowd has been insane each time. I hate crowds. Getting run over by people trying to get to the free samples is not the way I want to die. You would think those people haven't eaten at weeks and need the samples to survive.

Go right at opening (or even beforehand, as many open early) and you will avoid the masses (to some extent anyway!).

CheeseheadinAZ

Usually min $300 a visit...and I go there way too often.  About to get my own parking spot soon. 

Dobie

SaintJohnsEgger said:

I got my membership earlier this month and I've been happy with it. I don't spend a fortune and only buy meats for the next week's cooks. I have been 3 times so far and the crowd has been insane each time. I hate crowds. Getting run over by people trying to get to the free samples is not the way I want to die. You would think those people haven't eaten at weeks and need the samples to survive.

Are you going during the weekends and which location?