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I want to live like Costco people

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Re: I want to live like Costco people

#111

Post by robohoe »

jonhohle wrote: post #20
qrush wrote: post #6

I just got (at 38) a Costco membership this year, thanks to my in-laws gifting us a membership. There's another huge discount retailer here in Boston (BJs) that I have gone to for years, but Costco is another 10+ min drive away so I've resisted thus far. I will say... I'm still adjusting. - No aisle signs or labels anywhere. I understand the retail strategy here but the lack of efficiency in MY experience kills me. C…

Long ago we found that we saved more money shopping at Costco than the membership cost by a long shot. We even get the executive membership because they will refund the difference of you don’t get at least that back rewards (we always have). For things that are acceptable, it’s usually hard to beat Costco. You have to give up variety, possibly brand choice, and maybe even buy more than you’ll use, but it works out to…

> cheapest (soft drinks)

24 pack of v8 Energy Drinks are super cheap at Costco, usually $13.49 versus $17+ at other retailers.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#112

Post by bryceacc »

Kirby64 wrote: post #27
qrush wrote: post #6

I just got (at 38) a Costco membership this year, thanks to my in-laws gifting us a membership. There's another huge discount retailer here in Boston (BJs) that I have gone to for years, but Costco is another 10+ min drive away so I've resisted thus far. I will say... I'm still adjusting. - No aisle signs or labels anywhere. I understand the retail strategy here but the lack of efficiency in MY experience kills me. C…

> No aisle signs or labels anywhere. I understand the retail strategy here but the lack of efficiency in MY experience kills me. Clearly they can't move the bakery, or meat department. But after ~5 visits I still have no idea where some basic products can be found. What are you having trouble finding, out of curiosity? In my Costco everything is pretty much in the same general area. They might move stuff a little bit…

I do agree that Costco's can be laid out pretty differently and I get confused. My home Costco flows in a circle where you first see:

1. appliances/bedding/toothbrushes 2. alcohol 3. refrigerated foods with the bakery/meat department 4. cleaning products and flats of drinks 5. dry foods

when this cycle is broken or changed in a different Costco I am visiting, I feel VERY lost

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#113

Post by queuebert »

Lucent wrote: post #9

Costco's gimmick is relieving you of choice and price shopping. They find the best stuff and don't mark it up. If Consumer is your identity yet you fear executing its labors, let Costco step in and become your denomination of consumerism, complete with tithe, proscribed usury, and communion hot dog.

I wouldn't call it a gimmick when the business has been so successful for so many years. They target educated shoppers who want to buy quality at minimum markup and not think too hard about it. If I want a TV, I know Costco will have good ones at a good price. If I need socks, same. Their food is cheaper and better than Kroger. It's just a win-win for shoppers and Costco. The only tradeoff is selection and dealing with the crowds.

What you wrote sounds intelligent but belies an ignorance of the business model.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#114

Post by tony_cannistra »

tavavex wrote: post #88

The author's view is alien to me. It paints Costco as some sort of cultural retirement home. A boring place for boring people, not just a big store in a warehouse. I know that displaying brand affinity towards some companies is seen as tasteful and praiseworthy in our cultures, but I didn't realize many people extended this view to something as basic and pragmatic as the place they go to buy flour or whatever.

It's America. We have mythology.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#115

Post by snapcaster »

bryceacc wrote: post #107
giwook wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not necessarily. South Korea is one example that I have intimate knowledge of where one's consumer habits (the clothes one wears, the car one drives, the logo on one's handbag) is the ultimate signal of status. You're automatically pre-judged by complete strangers without having to say a single word. There are always exceptions to the rule, but it is in fact an unspoken rule over there.

are you not describing "toxic and superficial" ? I specifically take issue with pre-judgement based on clothes, cars, and logos.

superficial maybe, "toxic" is your own personal idealogy

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#116

Post by skeeter2020 »

IncreasePosts wrote: post #104
OutOfHere wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good comment, but IMHO the main reason to not love it so much is the annual membership fee. It sits well with cult cultivation. Other stores don't require it and they don't form a cult around them.

The yearly fee is $65. If you save $5/month on what you buy you break even. Personally I save over $5/month just buying butter there vs buying from my local supermarket.

Most people can do even better with the executive membership if you spend ~$550 a month you'll get the $130 fee back in your rebate. That may seem like a lot but not if you buy most of your groceries there, or things like tires or book a vacation.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#117

Post by queuebert »

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #76
jonhohle wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Long ago we found that we saved more money shopping at Costco than the membership cost by a long shot. We even get the executive membership because they will refund the difference of you don’t get at least that back rewards (we always have). For things that are acceptable, it’s usually hard to beat Costco. You have to give up variety, possibly brand choice, and maybe even buy more than you’ll use, but it works out to…

> where the commodity store brand is significantly worse than alternatives (batteries). Kirkland batteries actually last longer than Duracell. They're some of the best alkaline batteries you can get, especially considering the price. Sure, lithium batteries will last longer, but the mAh per dollar is lower, so they'll still cost more. https://youtu.be/8VumAfhdhAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ_tGjXm0Ng

That has not been my experience at all. I think Kirkland batteries have less capacity than the premium brands. Also the point of lithium batteries is that they don't leak, not that they last longer.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#118

Post by throw0101c »

Always found Costco's largest source of profits interesting:

> Revenue from membership fees accounts for the majority of the company's profits, accounting for over 72% of the company's net operating income in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, and 65.5% in fiscal year 2024.[115][a]

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco#Business_model

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#119

Post by queuebert »

mrits wrote: post #17
qrush wrote: post #6

I just got (at 38) a Costco membership this year, thanks to my in-laws gifting us a membership. There's another huge discount retailer here in Boston (BJs) that I have gone to for years, but Costco is another 10+ min drive away so I've resisted thus far. I will say... I'm still adjusting. - No aisle signs or labels anywhere. I understand the retail strategy here but the lack of efficiency in MY experience kills me. C…

It's odd to me thinking people consider Costco a grocery store. I realize they have groceries but that certainly isn't what I use it for.

"It's weird that everyone doesn't behave exactly like me." I believe that's what the kids call main character energy.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#120

Post by wombat-man »

queuebert wrote: post #113
Lucent wrote: post #9

Costco's gimmick is relieving you of choice and price shopping. They find the best stuff and don't mark it up. If Consumer is your identity yet you fear executing its labors, let Costco step in and become your denomination of consumerism, complete with tithe, proscribed usury, and communion hot dog.

I wouldn't call it a gimmick when the business has been so successful for so many years. They target educated shoppers who want to buy quality at minimum markup and not think too hard about it. If I want a TV, I know Costco will have good ones at a good price. If I need socks, same. Their food is cheaper and better than Kroger. It's just a win-win for shoppers and Costco. The only tradeoff is selection and dealing wi…

Yeah, this right here. I don't want to sift through thousands of options. Sometimes I just want a widget that is good quality and I don't want to get ripped off.
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