Let's Talk BBQ
General => General Discussion & Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: deestafford on July 23, 2013, 06:35:54 PM
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Y'all may remember that I posted about getting a membership to Costco for Father's Day. Since that time I've use it and want to give y'all my impressions of the place.
First, as a retired military member I have the opportunity to shop at the excellent commissary at Ft Gordon which is about 10-15 minutes away. I have found for the most part numerous things are less expensive in the commissary than at Costco. I have to do more comparisons to get a better picture.
The comparisons of Costco and Publix and the like show much less expensive at Costco but the side is sometimes you have to buy a larger container or amount. However, what would last you one month from Publix would last two or three from Costco.
Costco is very will organized and clean. The employees attitudes and demeanor are outstanding. The stocking level of goods is excellent as is the quality. I saw nothing in the store which I would consider "cheap" or "cheaply made".
They have some very high class items: $5000 watches, a bottle of wine for $3000 and prime ribeyes at $13.99 a pound.
From what I can gather, Costco is more upscaled than Sam's. I can't swear by that but that is the impression I get.
Bottom line is I never really saw the need to spend $55 for a warehouse card; however, I am so grateful for the gift from my daughter and son in law. If you have a Costco near you I strongly recommend you joining. It may be the best $55 you have ever spent.
Dee
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I used to drive 30 miles to go to Costco instead of 10 minutes to a Sam's club. I know have one closer. I am a huge fan of the company and a shareholder. They pay their employees more then others, and it shows in their longevity and attitude.
I like the scavenger hunt part of it. Always getting in new cool stuff. Don't fall in love with any particular item. No guarantee it will always be there.
Gas is usually 10 - 12 cents per gallon cheaper. Great prices on booze and beer. And they double the warranty on all electronics you buy.
While I can't buy everything there.....I can buy most things.
Good review Dee!
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... $5000 watches, a bottle of wine for $3000 and Choice ribeyes at $13.99 a pound...
My cheap watch is fine but I'll look forward my next trip to Georgia so we can share the $3000 bottle of wine I'm sure you bought.
OBTW, I think $13.99 is what they charge for Prime ribeye here; Choice is about $3 less (and their gas is cheaper than on base)..
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Every time I go to Costco it costs me 300 plus.. Ugh
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... $5000 watches, a bottle of wine for $3000 and Choice ribeyes at $13.99 a pound...
My cheap watch is fine but I'll look forward my next trip to Georgia so we can share the $3000 bottle of wine I'm sure you bought.
OBTW, I think $13.99 is what they charge for Prime ribeye here; Choice is about $3 less (and their gas is cheaper than on base)..
He meant Prime......guaranteed
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Turtle, $13.99 is about what I've seen prime ribeye at other places too when they have it. I think Fresh Market maybe higher but my memory ain't what it never was.
I wish you had told me you were coming to the States and I would have saved one of the two bottles I bought for me to drink for you and I to share. Sorry.
Dee
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I have not been to a Costco for 20 years, but I have been shopping at Sam's Club. While there is only the two of us, we purchase meat, chicken and pork products there. The rib eyes are Angus Choice and they are $7.99 a pound which I notice after visiting some Sam's Clubs in other States to be fairly consistent. No matter how hard that I try, I am always into at least $150.00 or more. They have 90 per cent lean ground chuck by the tube which is 9 to 10 lbs. that I buy for the dog every month for $3.18 per month. However, if you are going to buy ribs you have to spend $27.00 where is I went to Wal-mart, I could get a smaller version for less than 1/2 the price. They also have the vitamins and other things that we consume. In so far as vegetable are concerned, we prefer to purchase smaller amounts at Wal-Mart as this stuff will go bad quicker than we can use it if in large amounts like Sam's Club.
How does this compare with Costco. They are about 12 to 15 miles down the road in Schertz towards San Antonio. What kind of selections do they have and are they priced to be competitive with Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Where are they better than Sam's Club?
Is it worth visiting?
Ed
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I have been to Sam's Club and Costco and prefer Costco. I am a regular Costco shopper. Buying in bulk saves money. They have a great meat and seafood selection.
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dee - No worries; one of the best things about Costco is their customer service. I called and explained the problem and they allowed me to charge a bottle of that $3000 wine to your account for pickup here in Hawaii. SWMBO is on her way down there to get it now. We'll save it for a special occasion - I'm thinking the next time her car pulls into our driveway. Thank you ever so much.
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Costco Is Awesome!!!
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Costco's the $300 store. My bill has never been less than that...
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dee - No worries; one of the best things about Costco is their customer service. I called and explained the problem and they allowed me to charge a bottle of that $3000 wine to your account for pickup here in Hawaii. SWMBO is on her way down there to get it now. We'll save it for a special occasion - I'm thinking the next time her car pulls into our driveway. Thank you ever so much.
LOL......LOL ;D :D
so I guess that customer service is the main difference between the two stores. Either you know what you want to buy at Sam's cause you ain't got no real service except if you want to renew your membership.
Like I said, there are only two of us. Buying in bulk does not make sense.
Ed
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As a long time Costco employee I love hearing this!
J
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Turtle, I did not know about that level of customer service. I'm so glad they were able to do that so I will no longer feel badly about having to live with myself knowing that I had deprived you of a fine bottle of wine. Dee
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Love Costco and only shop Sam's if I have to. The personel at costco are a lot more helpful than Sam's will ever be
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Like I said, there are only two of us. Buying in bulk does not make sense.
Ed
[/quote] Ed, I used to say that too :) Buying in bulk makes perfect sense if you have a freezer and I'm sure you do :)
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Like I said, there are only two of us. Buying in bulk does not make sense.
Ed
[/quote] Ed, I used to say that too :) Buying in bulk makes perfect sense if you have a freezer and I'm sure you do :)
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No, it really does not make sense for the two of us. The only meat that I have purchased over the last 3 months is a tube of 90 per cent hamburger for the Golden every month which is mixed with her Blue Buffalo Wilderness.
We are trying to eat the freezer empty. Now, if you talking paper towels, detergent, Bounce and sponges, yeah, we use that a lot. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, we find to that it is more prudent to purchase only that which will last for a few days, because the vegetables will begin to deteriorate. We have a Farmers Market that we go to on Saturdays that is really good.
When we make ribs, it is one slab. A slab will last for two meals with Golden cleaning up after us. A whole chicken represents at least two meals and a chicken salad or soup. Most of the stuff gets old and we end up throwing it away. Our biggest meal is dinner. I only have a couple of crackers for lunch. I have lost 57 lbs. since January trying to get back to my original weight since I lost most of the use of my legs. And, I still have 40 lbs. to go. I was 262 and now I am 205.
I cook big on Sundays because the kids come over for dinner. That's it. Bulk buying does not make practical as well as financial sense in my situation. We also enjoy going out to eat, so that covers some of our activity.
Believe me, I do understand where you are coming from, and if we had 3 teenagers running around to feed, then it would be different. Thank you Lord for allowing me to survive through that and enjoying life now.
Ed
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Ed, Congratulations on that weight loss. I know how good that feels as I lost 40 pounds. One point though...you must have been a really, really big baby with that original weight of 160 pounds! My original weight was only 7 pounds 12 ozs. ;) :) Dee