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I want to live like Costco people

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Re: I want to live like Costco people

#531

Post by spelunker »

darth_aardvark wrote: post #28
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…

I have talked my wife out of us both nearly impulse-buying a mini greenhouse at Costco multiple times. And the worst part is, I regret it. We need a greenhouse now and greenhouse prices are through the roof! I can't afford NOT to impulse buy a greenhouse at Costco 18 months ago now! I'll never make that mistake again.

I have had to repeatedly talk myself out of buying various greenhouses and sheds from Costco. They'd be so USEFUL darnit!

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#532

Post by phil21 »

robohoe wrote: post #111
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…

> cheapest (soft drinks) 24 pack of v8 Energy Drinks are super cheap at Costco, usually $13.49 versus $17+ at other retailers.

For standard soda (Coke or Pepsi depending on location) Costco is rarely the cheapest deal at any given time but they are consistently fair. Supermarkets will have regular prices cases at nearly double Costco unit costs, but on sale they are moderately cheaper.

I’ve long since stopped worrying about saving a couple bucks per case while timing deals and simply buy from Costco instead. The couple bucks a month it runs me is worth not worrying about the mental overhead.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#533

Post by jatora »

kemitchell wrote: post #503
austinl wrote: post #361

Feudal Japan had a measurement called the "koku", which is roughly the amount of rice needed to feed a person for a year: about 330 lb. You can now buy 50 lb. of rice at Costco for $30, which is a few hours of work at minimum wage. To me, that is a modern marvel. I don't want people to buy things that they don't need, and I also don't like the crowds, but I can't help but feel grateful for a stocked grocery store tha…

I wish Costco were accessible to basically everyone. Among some poorer people I've got to know in the SF Bay Area, having the card and confidence in the means to use it are a mark of the middle class, an aspirational thing. Membership is an up-front cost. That excludes those who can't part with the cash for no immediate benefit. Depending on what you buy, and what else is available around you, breakeven can take a go…

I dont understand this. All Costco memberships are functionally $65 at most. How is this beyond literally anyone in America? Am I so out of touch? Why would corner stores have to pool together to get a membership when they absolutely negate the cost of the membership from the cashback? You only have to spend roughly $6,500/year for the executive membership of $130 to cost zero. That seems like something a corner store in any neighborhood wouldn't have much issue doing. As for the non store owners... $65 is the cost of one or two fast food meals. I don't believe this.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#534

Post by Kirby64 »

phil21 wrote: post #530
Kirby64 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

Flour lasts basically indefinitely in a deep freezer. I just emptied out the last bits of a bag bought during covid and it was fine. This is in food grade air tight sealed buckets so ymmv.

Who wants to waste freezer space with 40 lbs of flour? Pretty bad use unless, again, you love baking or don’t have a use for it.

Also, most flour lasts well past the 12 month expiration just fine. Barely a need to freeze it.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#535

Post by wavefunction »

jatora wrote: post #533
kemitchell wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish Costco were accessible to basically everyone. Among some poorer people I've got to know in the SF Bay Area, having the card and confidence in the means to use it are a mark of the middle class, an aspirational thing. Membership is an up-front cost. That excludes those who can't part with the cash for no immediate benefit. Depending on what you buy, and what else is available around you, breakeven can take a go…

I dont understand this. All Costco memberships are functionally $65 at most. How is this beyond literally anyone in America? Am I so out of touch? Why would corner stores have to pool together to get a membership when they absolutely negate the cost of the membership from the cashback? You only have to spend roughly $6,500/year for the executive membership of $130 to cost zero. That seems like something a corner stor…

You are out of touch

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#536

Post by jatora »

naruhodo wrote: post #479
antihipocrat wrote: post #458

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The brand that's 'Australian for beer' is very difficult to find in its domestic market!

That brand was in fact created for the American market, I recall. Australians also don't talk about "throwing another shrimp on the barbie". That's another Americanism. We call them prawns.

Savages

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#537

Post by FireBeyond »

gib444 wrote: post #164

I've been to Costco (UK) a couple of times. It mostly seems to be: 4x the quantity for 4x the price (i.e. same price as any other store). I don't get it? I honestly think a large majority of people think it being in bulk MUST equal a saving? Is it just for like catering companies or families of 20 where the bigger size is kind of helpful? They do some nice discounts on Macs online though (can't say I'm a fan of their…

> They do some nice discounts on Macs online though (can't say I'm a fan of their customer service either though based on my experience returning a Macbook)

That is one area where I think they're starting to crack down, here, thanks to abuse. My ex- returned a glass-topped sit stand desk after 5 years, when she finished her degree, for a full refund. "Anything wrong with it?" "No." "Any reason you're returning it?" "Just don't like it now." "Okay, here you go".

And her mom, who would buy a Keurig, drink all the sample pods it came with (24-30 or so), and then return it to get a new one (and new sample pods), which blew my mind, what a pain in the ass, for that, not to mention...

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#538

Post by Spooky23 »

jatora wrote: post #533
kemitchell wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish Costco were accessible to basically everyone. Among some poorer people I've got to know in the SF Bay Area, having the card and confidence in the means to use it are a mark of the middle class, an aspirational thing. Membership is an up-front cost. That excludes those who can't part with the cash for no immediate benefit. Depending on what you buy, and what else is available around you, breakeven can take a go…

I dont understand this. All Costco memberships are functionally $65 at most. How is this beyond literally anyone in America? Am I so out of touch? Why would corner stores have to pool together to get a membership when they absolutely negate the cost of the membership from the cashback? You only have to spend roughly $6,500/year for the executive membership of $130 to cost zero. That seems like something a corner stor…

You’re probably a professional with a good wage. The working poor are too poor to have much and too rich to be poor and get benefits. They are cashflow constrained.

When I coached little league, we had parents who walked miles to games because the bus fare (1.50) for 3-4 people would push them over the edge. Vulture companies like dollar general exist because they sell consumer staples in smaller quantities at a slightly lower price, but much higher unit cost.

Costco uses an upfront membership to allow you to buy large units of products at a consistently good price. The consumer needs excess cash flow for it to work. Saving on toilet paper doesn’t work if I can’t make my car payment.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#539

Post by maximus-decimus »

jorvi wrote: post #497
heathrow83829 wrote: post #429

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the biggest problem with white rice is the lack of fiber, the somewhat high glycemic index, and it has the same problem all processed grains have: lacking potassium, iron and magnesium. these days though white rice and other processed grains all come with added b-vitamins (before that started at the turn of the century, there were massive b-vitamin deficiencies popping up everywhere). white rice has less protein than…

The lameness is that brown rice is more expensive than white rice because it is a healthy choice. I know, price is what the market will bear blah blah. There is just something that feels fundamentally wrong about a product cheaper to produce being sold at a higher price purely because its the better choice for your health. Another cute principle in that category is convenience pricing. The 0.5L cola bottle with resea…

Isn't it also because white rice is more shelf stable?

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#540

Post by jatora »

Spooky23 wrote: post #538
jatora wrote: post #533

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dont understand this. All Costco memberships are functionally $65 at most. How is this beyond literally anyone in America? Am I so out of touch? Why would corner stores have to pool together to get a membership when they absolutely negate the cost of the membership from the cashback? You only have to spend roughly $6,500/year for the executive membership of $130 to cost zero. That seems like something a corner stor…

You’re probably a professional with a good wage. The working poor are too poor to have much and too rich to be poor and get benefits. They are cashflow constrained. When I coached little league, we had parents who walked miles to games because the bus fare (1.50) for 3-4 people would push them over the edge. Vulture companies like dollar general exist because they sell consumer staples in smaller quantities at a slig…

Shit I guess I'm out of touch lol
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