<p>I solved the square milk container problem by buying their 1% organic milk that comes in a pack of 3 cartons. :)</p>
<p>One problem I have with our Costco store is management keeps changing the location of items. So it’s impossible for me to dash in and dash out. I have to roam around the entire store which is dangerous because now I find myself purchasing items not in my buy list.</p>
<p>Dadx–the Costco in Clifton (NJ) sells gas and has an alcohol section which is separate and doesn’t need a membership. I haven’t seen great wine deals there, though (in the vein of TJ’s or Stew Leonards which opened up nearby recently.)</p>
<p>Our local Costco is only a 5 minute drive from our home, so it has become our neighborhood grocery store when the other that was 5 blocks away closed. We buy a lot of what other folks wrote, glasses, contacts, electronics (computers, GPS), fans, air cleaners, and clothes (especially like women’s cotton panties, jeans for men & women), produce is fresh & cheap (split with mom or others if don’t want the quantity its sold in), Also, have used their auto rentals many times and gotten great prices.</p>
<p>The staff at our neighborhood Costco is SUPER friendly. They are amazing about returns and have refunded our broken GPS with never a problem. Love their extended warranty on computers and netbooks, which was very handy and the additional year from using the AmEx card for these purchases.</p>
<p>When I go to town, am happy to also get the Costco gas, which is quite reasonable. They do NOT wash cars at any of the locations I’ve been, but would love it if they did (think land in HI is too expensive).</p>
<p>emeraldkity4, krlilies - you’re describing the “Treasure Hunt Experience,” a well thought-out and researched technique that helps to drive sales. You wander, see something you hadn’t thought of, and make an impulse buy. Long time shoppers know that if you see something you like then you buy it then, no guarantee it will come back in.</p>
<p>Nice to see fellow Costco families on here, my Hubby and both DSs work there :)</p>
<p>Can you just take an eyeglass prescription from anywhere? Somehow I think someone told me you had to see their optometrist?</p>
<p>This thread is perfectly timed! A Costco opened by my house last week. I did join - I figure the gas alone will pay for my membership, but it did look JUST like a Sam’s to me and I was disappointed. It was too crazy to buy anything so we just looked around and then left. I have read through this thread so now I’ll know what to buy! </p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>AL34, last week I found a treasure–the Cuisinart 5-in-1 griddler selling for $49. I remember it priced at $100++ somewhere. Amazon is selling it for $98.</p>
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Yes.</p>
<p>AL34-I knew my sister worked at a great place when I was visiting her once time and she had to stop in and talk to someone. Every employee we passed greeted her by name, and cheerfully, whether they were college kids or top management. You could tell too that they all enjoyed their jobs-you can’t say that about a lot of places.</p>
<p>When we lived close to Costco I went there often and always bought my gas there. Now that I live far from a store I don’t belong. My neighbor told me yesterday that the last time they went to Costco they spent $700. They are a retired couple lol! </p>
<p>I bought my last contacts though Walgreens. They had a coupon code and I used ebates and that was as cheap as I’ve found them. They never have my prescription in stock so they have to be ordered. I love when I don’t have to go to the store. </p>
<p>Anyways tires were a good deal at Costco. Now I used a local business and am glad to use them.</p>
<p>TAllThisIsNewToMe-the one here would have allowed me to bring in my own prescription, but by then I had discovered Zenni Optical online where glasses start at about $7. I’ve never bought my glasses anywhere else since then. But for those who prefer to actually handle the frames before buying, Costco is a good choice.</p>
<p>You can also bring frames from elsewhere and get your eyeglass prescription filled. I take my Warby Parkers in since WB does not do graduated lenses. (though I’ve been informed that this will change in the near future.)</p>
<p>I hate going to Costco, but we are still members because dh buys his contacts from them. He also goes there after the gym and picks up steaks, bacon, avocados and vitamins on a regular basis. In the summer most of our produce comes from a CSA or the local farmers markets. Our Costco recently added a gas station and it’s great. I recently went in with dh and came out with dijon mustard and two nice shirts. Now that I have a new model hp printer, I’ll have to check out cartridges there, they didn’t carry my older printer ones.</p>
<p>I wish we could get wine!</p>
<p>mathmom, Costco carries a much bigger selection of printer cartridges online. If you do not find the right type on the shelf, check Costco.com. Thanks for reminding me - my Brother laser printer is asking for a new yellow cartridge. The printer came from Costco, as you correctly guessed. 
Like the fact that I can click on the “yellow toner low” popup, and it takes me to the Brother printers site, where I am given a choice of links to retailers carrying the needed cartridge. No need to look up the model number or cartridge type!</p>
<p>I just checked. They have them, but they are cheaper at Staples - and I get rewards at Staples as well.</p>
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<p>It is indeed regional. The Costco I frequent is quite decent for wines --albeit far from extraordinary. The ones my parents use are pretty bad for wines, as many are either way overpriced and the cheaper ones of dubious quality for the price. Surprisingly, one fares a lot better at Walmart or Sam’s, as they tend to import the massively superior Spanish wines as opposed to the italian, chilean, and argentinian cheap junk.</p>
<p>As far as Costco selling more wines than anyone else in the world (1B) that must be a claim akin to North American teams winning the Super Bowl or the World Series. A number of stores in Europe such as Tesco, or any of the huge french and german deep discounters could make a claim to the title.</p>
<p>There are many products that shime at Costco. I would not count wine as one of them.</p>
<p>Agree, it has to be a regional/local wine issue, xiggi. Our local Costcos carry a fine section of French, CA and WA wines and hardly anything from the countries you mentioned.</p>
<p>My Costco has natural lighting from numerous sky lights in the ceiling - it’s very nice. They also never move stuff - thank goodness - I would get hopelessly lost if they did. I don’t always think the savings are spectactular but I like having some things in bulk. It’s nice to look in the bathroom cupboard and see 18 bars of soap.</p>
<p>Costco Travel!</p>
<p>I have been finding that booking a rental car through costco travel online has been the cheapest way lately.</p>
<p>A recent hotel stay offered a costco discount, better than the AAA rate.</p>
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I like your confidence in your longevity! My father-in-law used to say “At my age, I don’t even buy green bananas.”</p>
<p>LOL at that green bananas quote.</p>
<p>My Costco optical department takes prescriptions from other optometrists.</p>