<p>Thinking about joining but have read mixed info on whether these kind of bulk-sales stores really have good deals. Any advice?</p>
<p>All of our plastic bags-ziplocs (gallon and quart), contractor (heavy duty) bags, kitchen bags</p>
<p>beauty supplies-razors, bar soap, anti-perspirant, heads for electric toothbrushes</p>
<p>Kirkland (their store brand) paper towels</p>
<p>dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, batteries</p>
<p>Staples like boxed cereals, fruit juice, snacks (ie: popcorn, fresh nuts, crackers)</p>
<p>Some fresh food on the day I go for the other stuff-ie:cookies, shrimp, flank steaks, roasted chicken, fresh fruit, bagged salad, fresh string beans, cheese, dips/spreads, salsa</p>
<p>Toilet paper, dvds, socks, books, birthday cakes (they taste better than most bakery ones, and the price cannot be beat!), grapefruit, party food.</p>
<p>I go about once a month, and find it well worth it.</p>
<p>Craisins, nuts, chocolate chips,
ziploc bags, red peppers, sometimes cheese</p>
<p>everything …</p>
<p>food - basic food stuffs like milk and cerals … more surprising is the quality of the fresh food … steak, salmon, freshly baked bread, muffins, and rolls</p>
<p>cloths - great for socks, underwear, jeans (if not into designer brands), sneakers (again if not into designer brands).</p>
<p>toiletries - toothpaste, razors, basic medicine like aspirin.</p>
<p>household stuff - batteries, shovels, etc</p>
<p>car - tires</p>
<p>If there is one that’s convenient Costco can be a pretty good deal</p>
<p>Gasoline: best price in our area</p>
<p>We buy many of the items already listed above. An unusual product we discovered before Christmas and one I hope does not disappear: Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce. We have used it as a basting sauce and as an appetizer (poured over cream cheese and serve with crackers.)</p>
<p>Most of our household stuff.<br>
I get all my roses at Costco because they will usually last a week, $15 for 2 dozes long stem roses.</p>
<p>Of course, there was one time when I stood in front of their very large flat screen TV, my husband said, “NO, you are not.” 15 mins later we had my D2 on my lap and D1 pushed against a window and the TV taking up most of the room in our SUV. My H does not let me go by their electronic section any more.</p>
<p>Bags of broccoli florets, boxed organic salad mix, boxed citrus fruit, in the summer, whole watermelons, blueberries, cherries, peaches</p>
<p>Frozen shrimp, spinach ravioli, cheese ravioli</p>
<p>Fish and chicken</p>
<p>Towels, sheets and pillows</p>
<p>I find that the quality is usually very good. Go during lunch and you can make a meal of the free samples!</p>
<p>It’s only a mile from my house so we go once a week. Gas is the big money-saver for us. I think their products, for the most part, are hit or miss, both in quality and in savings. Hits have been tires, a t.v. set, fresh flowers, beef tenderloin, whole cooked chickens, or most deli items, and discounted tickets for our local movie theater. Misses have been some frozen food items, some fresh fruit, and some expensive bottles of wine (because of broken seals), luggage that broke within 2 months, and expensive soda. My Kroger is less on sale items, in most cases. Go on a Saturday and tell them you’d like to take a look around before you join. If you know what items you may want to purchase, price them out elsewhere before the visit. On Saturdays, they have tons of samples for you to try. You’ll get a good idea if you like what they offer.</p>
<p>I belonged to Costco some years ago. It is great when you first move into a house, because they have great prices on things like fire extinguishers. Their food is good, but the quantities are very large. For that reason, I never bought fish or meat there, although I suppose I could have bought meat and repackaged it for the freezer. I bought the household items mentioned above there - toilet paper, toothpaste, etc. They also have good prices on OTC supplements, like CosaminDS. </p>
<p>I was always beguiled by the non-food items in the middle of the store, though. I would end up buying CDs, books, games, other things that were well priced, but that I didn’t really need. Once I found a very high quality telescope for an unbelievable price. But I probably spent more on these “bargains” than I saved on the other items. This, combined with the 2.5 hours it usually took me to shop there, by the time I browsed through the fun stuff and stood in line forever, was the reason that I let my membership lapse.</p>
<p>Great prices and instant gratification on books.
Socks for S since he goes through them like crazy and/or the dog chews them up since he (S) leaves them all over the floor.
Sunblock in the summer for all our days at the beach.
Memory cards for cameras – the per card price was the lowest anywhere when I just bought a 4-pack for D’s study abroad “Amazing Race.”
Cases of 1 L bottles of seltzer.</p>
<p>Salmon. Costco has amazing salmon.</p>
<p>Good prices on ink for computer printers (sometimes significantly cheaper than elsewhere). </p>
<p>I find it tough to buy many of the bulk food items, since I’m usually only cooking for 2 and there is just so many cans of corn I need. But some of their frozen food is good and convenient when I don’t feel like cooking.</p>
<p>Gas
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Coffee Beans
fresh meat- not usually cheaper, but generally an excellent restaurant level quality
frozen meat
half & half
cheese
laundry products
some produce
wine/alcohol (depending on your state rules)
slippers
socks
books
dog & cat food
TV set
down pillows
chocolate covered caramel macademia nuts-don’t try them!
nuts
chocolate chips
sugar
bread
their bakery danish or muffins
rotisserie chicken
eggs
bacon
photo stuff
pharmacy- you can rely on them to have low prices and other stores will sometimes meet the price</p>
<p>Not everything is a good deal, you need to know your prices, I remember 20 years ago I was suprised that diapers were no deal at all.</p>
<p>Let’s see…</p>
<p>Paper towels
Toilet Paper
Toothpaste
ziploc bags
trash bags
bottled water
condiments like ketschup, AI
frozen uncooked shrimp
frozen fried shrimp
ribs
pistachio nuts
steaks (occasionally)
sheet cakes for an occasion
batteries
fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, grapes
party trays
cereal
lightbulbs
copy paper
blank CDs
granola bars
frozen chinese dumplings
tampons
post it notes
sponges
envelopes
hand warmers (for inside ski gloves)
socks
fans
paper plates, cups, bowls
plastic silverware
dishwasher detergent
soap
orange juice</p>
<p>specific item from time to time: vacuum cleaner, jewelry, mattress for D’s apt.</p>
<p>Photo developing
Pharmacy
Eyeglasses</p>
<p>somemom reminded me when she said photo stuff, that their photo paper is a very good deal. DH guest that there and ink for his office and home printers.</p>
<p>Frequent items:
GAS - anywhere from .10c to .20c cheaper!
Kraft Parmesean cheese - mega container (my 11 year old inhales the stuff)
Feminine products
Hotdog/Hamburger buns
Sourdough bread
Flour tortillas - cheap!
Orange Chicken
Kirkland Vanilla Ice Cream - EXCELLENT!
Simply Naked Pita Chips
Packaged French-Style Fresh Green Beans - EXCELLENT!
Blackberries
Pre-cooked bacon for use in recipes or quick breakfast or BLT’s
Red Pepper Hummus</p>
<p>and more and more…</p>
<p>Big Purchase:
Sony 42 inch - better deal than we could find anywhere!!!</p>
<p>I don’t use CostCo; I use BJ’s. Same sort of deal.</p>
<p>Mandarin oranges, bacon, Stacey’s Pita Chips, craisins, cashews, chewing gum, batteries, tp, paper towels, Kleenex, garbage bags, sandwich bags, aluminum foil and saran wrap, paper napkins, SonicCare toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, mouthwash, Lubriderm, ketchup, barbecue sauce, bread. I’ve also bought sheets – not bad at all!! – and socks for DH. I try to stay away from the DVDs, CDs, electronics, etc., although I did buy our most recent telephone (landline, cordless thing) from BJ’s; it was a good deal.</p>
<p>The best part, as far as I’m concerned, is that once a month I get a coupon book in the mail. One must buy only what one needs – otherwise you’re wasting money, obviously – but I can easily take $20 off my bill at the checkout counter by buying what I have a coupon for.</p>
<p>Edit: I also recently bought myself a pair of flannel pyjamas. They were so nice and warm (and cheap) that I went back and bought another pair. My husband calls them “BJ’s pjs”!</p>
<p>Other posts are reminding me of more:</p>
<p>parmesan cheese
tin foil
Saran Wrap</p>
<p>Craisins, pecans, grated parmesan cheese, TV’s, 8 hour Tylenol, Cascade, Pam, Salmon.</p>
<p>Other things, too, but these are the things we almost exclusively buy at Costco.</p>
<p>Everyone’s list made me think of more. </p>
<p>Softsoap refill, olive oil, and I also buy tin foil, all papergoods (great dixie products-plastic silverware) already mentioned.</p>