I can’t deal with Costco – too big, too crowded, too noisy, just too much stuff. It is literally migraine-inducing for me.
BUT the one thing I will go there to buy is the prime beef – really excellent, fine-restaurant quality. It is really hard to find anywhere else, and it is priced extremely well. Much of their seafood is also excellent. I just head STRAIGHT to the meat department, and then, keeping my head down, go straight to the checkout lines. (I go with my sister; I’m not a member).
Their fruits are our favorite–apples, oranges, nectarines and peaches. Sometimes we get berries too. Their office supplies are a good deal as well. Just bought 8 rolls of mailing tape for $17; S mails a TON of stuff for his business and I like mailing flat rate gift boxes.
I’m annoyed with Costco right now. I always buy two cases of caffeine free Diet Coke when I go. They haven’t had it for about two months, although the customer service people tell me they do still carry it.
I am still bummed that they switched from Coke to Pepsi at the snack counter. Pffftt.
Basil pesto sauce, in the refrigerated aisles, near cheeses etc. My family is going through multiple jars in a week.
Chicken breasts at 2.99 a pound. Gluten free bread much less expensive than in regular grocery stores. Einstein bagels (we aren’t all on gluten free in my house). Wine, Scotch (Glenlivet).
It has replaced Target as the store I go into for one thing, and walk out $100 later.
The closest Costco to where we live in NJ doesn’t sell any alcohol, no beer, wine.
It has to do with state laws. Our CT Costco doesn’t sell liquor either.
I might have posted this before but we love the Ahi Tuna. It is just the best quality.
We make Tuna Satays on the Grill. Having it tonight!
We like their Halibut when it is in season.
Do not like their red snapper–they cut it all ragged.
Love to have their Scallops and Prawns in the freezer for those last minute meals.
And the organic ground beef is the best.
Love the Prime steaks but not the other.
The pork is just ok.
Fruit and veggies, Kind bars. Cheese.
Do not find their wine the best price–do better with the “buy 6” discount at the local QFC.
Really, not much more than this list.
But as mentioned above, Costco has been our go to store. We are in and out and H is doing better as in
not needing to look at every item,
I want a new TV this fall and so this will be a big purchase.
Overtime we go they talk to us about upping our membership to the next level…
Anyone doing this?
I guess I’m lucky but my local Costco is rarely crowded. They have a huge parking lot and always have a large number of check out lanes open. The system the cashier and helper have is very efficient and they get you through the line quickly. I also notice that many of the employees have been there since the store opened. It’s always an extremely pleasant experience. I prefer Costco over going to the regular chain grocery store.
The only time I avoid Costco is move in weekend at the local UC.
@TempeMom - the convertible table is by Klaussner & sells for $179.99. Here’s a link: http://www.costcoweekender.com/2016/07/klaussner-multifunctional-table-costco-639057.html
I bought Sesame Beef Braised Short Ribs for dinner tonight - DH went crazy for them. They were in the refrigerated section, also known as the “What can we have for dinner tonight?” section.
“Overtime we go they talk to us about upping our membership to the next level…
Anyone doing this?”
Costco is the closest grocery store for us, so we shop there more than anywhere else. It made sense for us to get the executive membership. For only $50 extra, we get $300-350 extra in rebates.
We have the executive membership. We go there a ton and it is our grocery store. Our rebate every year exceeds the $100 cost, so we are getting our money’s worth, I think. S has the executive membership as well, with D as his partner. He decided he spends enough that it makes sense for them–electronics, etc.
I am looking at my bill. The business membership seems to be an additional $55 over the base membership price. My bill is $110. My rebate is $66. So if I am following correctly the $66 basically covers the bump up from a base membership to the executive membership.
And here, some stores have liquor (separate door outside the main store) and others don’t. But they all have wine (inside the store).
We have the executive as well. Even last year when we seemed to slow down our Costco shopping a bit for some reason, it still paid for itself.
I have the executive. With four people on my card. It still pays for itself.
@3bm103 – how do you have four people on your card? My local warehouse told me that there can only be two on the card. I have the regular $110 executive membership. Perhaps they offer a business one also?
Yes. It’s a business one. We used to have five people on the business card which got charged to two different credit card accounts. We shut down the business a few months ago so when I went to Costco to remove one employee (the other two are my kids) I told them the business closed but they didn’t care so we still have four people on it. Mine and my husband’s get charged to my cc and my son’s and his wife get charged to his. I still pay the membership fees so I can either charge my son for it or just keep paying it since he give me his Amazon prime for free so I win 
You can have extra cards on a business membership, but you pay for the ones over the main two, and those cards do not result in the cash back on the costco card (not on the Amex (old) or Visa (new) rebates, just on the costco rebate). We are all on my brother’s company cards, but only mine and his give the rebates, so when I go with my mother we always use my card.
Went to costco today. Cashed my executive membership rebate $. We bought a box of frozen steam buns (like for dim sum), aosme chocolate covered raisins and something I’ve never seen before ( and is very yummy). I had something similar elsewhere, These are “whisps Parmesan Cheese Crisps” by Cello. http://cellowhisps.com/ yumm!
I am now the owner of an expandable table! Thanks CC!