Costco: A Review

If you have read any of my reviews, you know I like shopping at Costco. It is a warehouse club where you can buy almost anything. What can't be bought at their brick-and-mortar store may be available on their website. You can even buy or rent cars through Costco. They also sell all kinds of insurance.

You need to buy a membership in order to shop at Costco. However, the pharmacy is open to nonmembers. They offer three different memberships. Executive, Gold Star and Business membership. Each membership lasts for one year. The Gold Star and Business memberships cost $50. Some companies have partnered with Costco and if you work for one of these companies, you can get a Gold Star membership for $40. The Executive membership costs $100, but you get two percent of your purchase price back up to $500 on everything except gas, cigarettes, alcohol and purchases at the food court. If you don't buy enough to get $50 back--which will leave the same amount you would pay for a Gold Star or Business membership--then Costco will give you back $50. This refund is not in cash, but in a rewards check to be used at their store. This year I received over $100. Also, at some stores, if you are an Executive member, you are allowed to go in one hour earlier than when the store opens for all members. There are some other perks such as a lower price on a personal website. (Yes, Costco even offers this service.)

There are some things you need to know about shopping at Costco. They will take cash, personal checks, debit and American Express cards. No other credit cards will be honored. American Express and Costco has partnered so if you get your American Express card through Costco, you can use it in place of your Costco card.

You need to be aware of how much food you can consume before the expiration date. Otherwise, you're going to end up throwing food away. Most canned food has a shelf life of about two years. Canned fish, such as tuna, normally has a self life of three years. If you buy fresh meat you can freeze it, but you don't want it to get freezer burns. I bought a Food Saver and it works great when it comes to stopping freezer burn and extending the life of food.

Costco sells top quality items for a excellent price rather than poor quality for a dirt cheap price. Several years ago my brother and I bought washcloths from Costco. A few days later my brother called and said our cousin went to Wal-Mart and bought the same amount of washcloths for a couple of dollars less. I told him that her washcloths were going to wear out long before the ones we bought. Sure enough, the washcloths we bought are still in use whereas our cousin's had to replaced.

There are items Costco doesn't sell in large quantities. Things such as televisions, computers, jewelry, cameras, mattresses, beds, clothes and other items most people only need one of, are not sold in bulk.

Costco also sells organic foods. Almost every time I go into Costco, I see a new organic item. They are not afraid to sell unfamiliar items/brands, either. If an item sells well, they will continue to stock it. On a few occasions I've gone into Costco and couldn't find an item I normally buy there. Costco has a habit of moving things around. I don't mean they turn the store upside down every week, but one or two items might be found in a different location. This is a routine many stores use to get customers to look for an item in hopes they will see something else they might want to buy. On a few occasions items disappear and do not return to the shelves until two to three months later.

I have never run into any "snotty" cashiers or employees at Costco. Sometimes I'm amazed at this since I have been in the store when there were so many people I could hardly push my cart and the lines at the check outs were extra long. I'm sure the cashiers hear some nasty things from a few costumers who have a hard time dealing with it. But even if I go in at the end of the day, the cashiers are always pleasant. I have found late in the evening on week days is the best time to avoid the worse crowds. Costco is also closed on major holidays. The gas pumps open earlier than the store. The Costco I shop opens their pumps at six in the morning.

Although I like Costco, I can't do 100 percent of my shopping there. I have found there are a few item they don't carry. They sell fish (frozen, canned and fresh), but I have never found tarter sauce there. I have never seen sardines there, either. Most items are sold in the regular size containers you would find in any grocery store, but you need to buy it in a case. Some items are sold only in bulk size, therefore if I know I can't use a large amount of something, then I have to go to another store to buy it.

I give Costco four and a half stars out of five. I don't mind going elsewhere to buy something that I can't use in large quantities or I can't find at Costco, but it is annoying to not be able to find something I usually buy at the store. Then when I decide they no longer carry it, I find it. Overall, I highly recommend you visit Costco. They will let you go in and look around before you buy a membership. I have found if I just walk in without a shopping cart, normally I won't be asked to show my membership card. But if I'm pushing a cart, they will ask to see my card.

I hope if you do join Costco, you will enjoy shopping there as much as I do.