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OT: Should I get a Costco Membership?

2

Comments

  • GrateEggspectations
    GrateEggspectations Posts: 10,177
    Have someone you know who is a member buy you a gift card to try it out.

    Even though you’re a small family, but a vacuum sealer and portion out purchases like meat. 
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  • alaskanassasin
    alaskanassasin Posts: 8,307
    I did not mean to pick on you @td66snrf, you were caught up in a inside joke I have running with @DMW
    South of Columbus, Ohio.


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  • RRog17
    RRog17 Posts: 567
    Yes and get the Executive membership. It pays for itself. 
    Canton, GA
    LBGE, Joe Jr., 28” Blackstone
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  • johnmitchell
    johnmitchell Posts: 6,805
    Can't beat their prices..
    Greensboro North Carolina
    When in doubt Accelerate....
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  • 1voyager
    1voyager Posts: 1,157
    edited October 2019
    I forgot to mention that prescriptions and optical are very competitive on prices. (Most Costco locations have both but not all. Just like some stores sell gasoline and some don't.)

    There are also great travel package deals using their online service. For those who enjoy cruising, the rebates, complimentary drink packages and onboard credit for many itineraries are the best anywhere for certain cruise lines.
    Large Egg, PGS A40 gasser.
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  • Markarm4119
    Markarm4119 Posts: 526
    Good selection of meat, wine and if you use propane for anything, the locations with propane (Cumming,Ga.), 2 20 lb tanks will cost you $17.00 for both, 1/2 price of Ace Hardware or U Haul.
    LBGE, and just enough knowledge and gadgets to be dangerous .
    Buford,Ga.
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  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 16,331
    This has been an interesting thread for me.  I dropped my Costco membership when I re-joined the AF and had access to the Commissary.  Our utard Costcos can't carry wine as the church-state won't allow it, but the Class VI store on HAFB is federal property/jurisdiction, so I'm okay there.   
    But I didn't realize they had rental cars, cruise discounts, a cash-back CC, U-Haul, and even (eventually) Depends™!  I may have to look into a membership again, particularly the difference between a normal and "Executive" level membership (something else I wasn't aware of).  Thanks folks!  
    ___________

    "When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set."

    - Lin Yutang


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  • Gamecockeggman
    Gamecockeggman Posts: 1,336
    I love the place.  I just keep wondering how people are able to get out the door for less than $300.  If you find the secret please share.
    Go Gamecocks!!!
    1 XL, 1 MM
    Smoking in Aiken South Carolina
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  • alaskanassasin
    alaskanassasin Posts: 8,307
    This^^^^^
    South of Columbus, Ohio.


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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,706
    Gamecockeggman said:
    I love the place.  I just keep wondering how people are able to get out the door for less than $300.  If you find the secret please share.
    I have this game where I try as close to $200 without going over since that's usually what i spend there every other week.  

    To the OP, yes definitely join.  The cash back rewards will cover the membership, if not they cover the diff if you complain
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  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,838
    johnmitchell said:
    Can't beat their prices..
    Just an FYI depends are $9 bucks off right now. My mom is 94. I have 5 boxes in the back of my truck right now. 
    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
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  • TEXASBGE2018
    TEXASBGE2018 Posts: 3,831
    Their return policy is top notch. 


    Rockwall, Tx    LBGE, Minimax, 22" Blackstone, Pizza Party Bollore. Cast Iron Hoarder.

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  • XC242
    XC242 Posts: 1,208
    Gamecockeggman said:
    I love the place.  I just keep wondering how people are able to get out the door for less than $300.  If you find the secret please share.
    Go in without a cart. Only buy what you can carry in your arms. Really, that’s the way I do it and it works well for me. 
    LBGE (still waitin' for my free T-Shirt), DIgiQ DX2 (In Blue, cause it's the fastest), Heavy Duty Kick Ash Basket, Mc Farland, WI. :glasses:  B)
    If it wasn't for my BGE I'd have no use for my backyard...
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  • Gamecockeggman
    Gamecockeggman Posts: 1,336
    XC242 said:
    Gamecockeggman said:
    I love the place.  I just keep wondering how people are able to get out the door for less than $300.  If you find the secret please share.
    Go in without a cart. Only buy what you can carry in your arms. Really, that’s the way I do it and it works well for me. 
    Good idea but I would raid the meat department and that would kill it.
    Go Gamecocks!!!
    1 XL, 1 MM
    Smoking in Aiken South Carolina
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  • NorthPilot06
    NorthPilot06 Posts: 1,179
    XC242 said:
    Gamecockeggman said:
    I love the place.  I just keep wondering how people are able to get out the door for less than $300.  If you find the secret please share.
    Go in without a cart. Only buy what you can carry in your arms. Really, that’s the way I do it and it works well for me. 
    I’d need to hit the gym more
    DFW - 1 LGBE & Happy to Adopt More...
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  • blind99
    blind99 Posts: 4,974
    If you can resist the fun stuff and stick with what you need it’s great. TP, papers towels, batteries, frozen pizzas. I used to buy dumb stuff there... come on doesn’t everyone need a two foot tall chocolate Santa???

    best car buying experience ever was done through costco. And I just bought a new foam mattress... in a box! Best I’ve slept in my life!
    Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
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  • OhioEgger
    OhioEgger Posts: 947
    Costco is definitely well worth the membership cost for me, but the"Executive" membership wouldn't pay for itself based on how much I spend there in a year.

    Their meat quality is superb. I often see Choice beef with the same marbling as the Prime in my local supermarket. Lots of great stuff, and you just can't go wrong with the Kirkland brand of anything.

    My only beef is being treated as a potential shoplifter when leaving the place. That business of some "checker" counting my items and checking the register receipt is just demeaning, no matter what justification they put on it.
    Cincinnati, Ohio. Large BGE since 2011. Still learning.
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  • dmourati
    dmourati Posts: 1,295
    edited October 2019
    I got the Executive membership. I spent like $36 there. Didn't buy any meat. They knocked $20 off the membership so I got it for $100.
    Plymouth, MN
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  • GATraveller
    GATraveller Posts: 8,207
    I'm not allowed in Costco without adult supervision. 

    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community [...] but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots."
                                                                                  -Umberto Eco

    2 Large
    Peachtree Corners, GA
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  • rifrench
    rifrench Posts: 469
     
    Yes. Don't overlook the tires, free rotation and balancing for 5 years or 80,000, IIRC. 

     1 LBGE, 1 SBGE, 1 KBQ and a 26" Blackstone near Blackstone, Virginia
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  • fence0407
    fence0407 Posts: 2,242
    Short answer: Yes.
    Long answer: Still Yes.
    Large - Mini - Blackstone 17", 28", 36"
    Cumming, GA  

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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,706
    If you buy the Executive membership over the regular one, you get rewards (2% I think).  If the 2% doesn't cover the difference in the cost of the upgraded membership, they'll refund that amount.  I always spend more than enough to cover it, and get back about $150 or so just in their rewards (not counting what you get on the credit card.)

    BTW, the only thing I don't like about the meat is they blade tenderize everything.  No reason to be poking holes in a prime meat!!  Only the shrinkwrapped primal cuts don't go through the poker.  I've asked them before about why the hell they do this, and the butchers always shrug their shoulders and say, "yeah we don't know why either".

    Some on mentioned rental cars before......YES.  Good deals and you add the other driver for free.  I don't buy tires from Costco, but I have them install them (warranty and free balancing still applies.)  Also, BATTERIES!!  Car, boat, forklifts, etc, all have costco batteries.  You get a 42 month warranty, plus another year or two if you put it on your Costco credit card.  I test them often, and usually end up swapping them out after 3 yrs......they'll give you a brand new one regardless of a price increase.  NO depreciation or prorating.
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  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
    I have a Sam's club membership, mostly for meat and cheese. Wish we had a Costco, I'm about to start making biannual trips to restaurant depot and can the Sam's membership. 

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,172
    You know, I really think this is a personal decision. You get a membership, and see how much you use it. The price to shop is far less than an egg, what really the risk is rather small. I enjoy mine by the way.
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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  • scdaf
    scdaf Posts: 177
    If you get the executive membership AND the Costco Visa card, you receive 4% back at the end of he year.  4% off what is already the cheapest gas in town.
    Good selection of premium cheeses at roughly half the price of a cheese shop.

    The prime rolled ribeye cap steaks are the best I've ever had and just ~ $18/ lb.

    The talk about Disneyland is nonsense.  Costco is the happiest place on Earth!
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  • speed51133
    speed51133 Posts: 691
    I am in Wisconsin. I think the meat selection is good, but the prices are just like the grocery store sale prices. I am sure this varies by locality.

    I really think it is similar to getting everything on sale at the grocer. The tires are overpriced for any car I have owned, but the installation cost is very good. 
    XL BGE and Kamado Joe Jr.
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  • GATraveller
    GATraveller Posts: 8,207
    Yea I have the executive account and the cash back pays for mye membership every year.

    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community [...] but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots."
                                                                                  -Umberto Eco

    2 Large
    Peachtree Corners, GA
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  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,172
    GATraveller said:
    Yea I have the executive account and the cash back pays for mye membership every year.
     I always had you figured for a top shelf (executive) kind of guy.
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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  • KKoterski
    KKoterski Posts: 16
    I'm single and have a membership. It's worth it alone just for gas. I mostly only shop there for non-perishables and meat to throw on the egg. 
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  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    It definitely can be a bit dangerous. I have a Costco 5 minutes from my house (and usually work from home). I ran buy Costco to grab some meat for dinner one week day. I was in a hurry and only had time to run in and grab the meat. 15 minutes later I exit the store with my steaks, a steam cleaner, and a TV. 

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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