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I want to live like Costco people

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Re: I want to live like Costco people

#621

Post by mft_ »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #564
lurkshark wrote: post #544

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To maybe add some framing, 37% of Americans don’t have enough cash to cover a $400 unexpected expense. Obviously $400 > $65 but I think it puts some perspective on how tight cash flow is for a good chunk of the population. https://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerscommunities/sheddata...

> enough cash to cover You don't need to buy the membership with cash. Credit card, pay off $3-5 a week with your food savings, you'll barely pay any interest. Also not having $400 would have to be the number after buying food with your paycheck, right? If you get the membership as part of your first food purchase, including that nice bag of rice, you'll be okay.

You’re not mathematically wrong, but you assume that everyone has a rational disciplined approach to their finances, and a reasonably stable income behind that.

And for buying in bulk (which is basically what Costco offers) to work, you need a larger amount of available cash up front, and a home with sufficient safe space for storage.

And of course you need some sort of transport to bring your bulk purchases home from the Costco, often built on cheap land away from dense housing.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#622

Post by antonymoose »

relaxing wrote: post #493
antonymoose wrote: post #451

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only year I broke even-ish on my executive membership was the year I bought an expensive engagement ring. All other years I (household of 3-4) went below break even. I lived 1/4th of a mile across the highway from them even. I just couldn’t make it work.

Then why keep signing up? You clearly don’t need the bulk quantities, so why put up with that inconvenience? To justify the subscription I made the commitment to buy all my necessities there that I could, and in return I get back the equivalent of a month’s worth of free groceries.

That’s my point, it didn’t work and we did quit shopping there.

The prices never really worked out in our favor and the experience of finding a cool product we did truly love only to find it not stocked the following month is awful.

It really makes me wonder how astroturfed the brand is.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#623

Post by robocat »

threetonesun wrote: post #305
MarkusQ wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tesla Model3 dual is 4.03 seconds, not 4.3 while the F-150 lightning standard range is 4.2. The F-150 extended range is 3.8 as you state, but then the Tesla Model 3 performance comes in at 2.8. https://www.0-60specs.com/tesla/model-3-0-60-times https://www.fordoffeasterville.com/blogs/4896/ford-lightning...

Both are absurd and entirely unnecessary for vehicles not on a race track. Tesla's great trick was replacing BMW as the car your neighborhood prick who wants to look upscale buys by default.

> race track

I presume that F150 ain't getting round the corners very quickly.

I reckon optimising for straight line speed is a strange goal.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#624

Post by hparadiz »

Yhippa wrote: post #571
hparadiz wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I'm cognizant of that. Not everything I get there is a large item. The dishwasher detergent for example goes under the sink. Bulk is basically a two pack. Coffee also just throw it in the pantry. Ditto for other drinks and food items. And electronics. I've gotten a MacBook air from Costco only for the extended warranty they offer. Another perk is free installs which I guess doesn't apply for apartment folks but I…

Is it a requirement in Hawaii because of the generally high prices of everything there?

It's just nice to have cause of the gas price discount and the fact that a lot of the product in US big box stores is sold at relatively sane prices with shipping and handling taken care of.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#625

Post by xnx »

Aurornis wrote: post #8

> Something about the whole thing always registered to me as, like, lame—too normcore, too boring, perhaps even too cheugy to an informed and taste-driven millennial ur-consumer like me. The kinds of brands I like to buy aren’t what they sell at Costco Good example of how people can build identities through their brand choices and purchasing habits. It’s a foreign concept for many of us who seek out the best product…

I don't think much of class, but caring about brands is low class behavior (present in both the poor and the rich).

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#626

Post by zanderz »

elzbardico wrote: post #188
Aurornis wrote: post #8

> Something about the whole thing always registered to me as, like, lame—too normcore, too boring, perhaps even too cheugy to an informed and taste-driven millennial ur-consumer like me. The kinds of brands I like to buy aren’t what they sell at Costco Good example of how people can build identities through their brand choices and purchasing habits. It’s a foreign concept for many of us who seek out the best product…

> In some countries I had to make a conscious effort to try to wear clothes from acceptable brands and swap my functional laptop bag for something more stylish to avoid letting my purchasing habits become a point of judgment from others. It is kind of fascinating, having come from such a culture, to realize that in the end, Americans, at least the average of the America I met, are not nearly brand conscious as I and…

And yet, Thorsten Veblen was American. Have we mellowed out since his observations about "veblen goods"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#627

Post by Scroll_Swe »

Aurornis wrote: post #8

> Something about the whole thing always registered to me as, like, lame—too normcore, too boring, perhaps even too cheugy to an informed and taste-driven millennial ur-consumer like me. The kinds of brands I like to buy aren’t what they sell at Costco Good example of how people can build identities through their brand choices and purchasing habits. It’s a foreign concept for many of us who seek out the best product…

Where?

I feel like logos are 100% done now.

The best clothes here in Sweden, from our own Swedish brands, have no logos. And have not been for a long time. Scandinavian minimalism and quality is the best.

Asia is the one obsessed with brands. Europe is not. We care about quality.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#628

Post by GJim »

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #286
bartvk wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're equals in that regard, but try riding a motorcycle one day. I live in a country where lanesplitting is legal. There's nothing quite like getting passed by an extremely expensive car, and then at the traffic lights, cut in front of it.

It feels great until you die.

So do most nice things in life old boy.

[Honda Fireblade: throttle open and in the red, eyes closed and smiling.]

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#629

Post by luotuoshangdui »

elzbardico wrote: post #188
Aurornis wrote: post #8

> Something about the whole thing always registered to me as, like, lame—too normcore, too boring, perhaps even too cheugy to an informed and taste-driven millennial ur-consumer like me. The kinds of brands I like to buy aren’t what they sell at Costco Good example of how people can build identities through their brand choices and purchasing habits. It’s a foreign concept for many of us who seek out the best product…

> In some countries I had to make a conscious effort to try to wear clothes from acceptable brands and swap my functional laptop bag for something more stylish to avoid letting my purchasing habits become a point of judgment from others. It is kind of fascinating, having come from such a culture, to realize that in the end, Americans, at least the average of the America I met, are not nearly brand conscious as I and…

Well, other countries are diverse too. What Aurornis experiences is just a tiny fraction of other countries.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#630

Post by draw_down »

xnx wrote: post #625
Aurornis wrote: post #8

> Something about the whole thing always registered to me as, like, lame—too normcore, too boring, perhaps even too cheugy to an informed and taste-driven millennial ur-consumer like me. The kinds of brands I like to buy aren’t what they sell at Costco Good example of how people can build identities through their brand choices and purchasing habits. It’s a foreign concept for many of us who seek out the best product…

I don't think much of class, but caring about brands is low class behavior (present in both the poor and the rich).

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