Who uses one of these "Warehouse" stores for regular grocery shopping, etc.? Any savings over the typical grocery store like Vons, Albertson's, Kroger's, etc.? My mom and dad had a membership to Costco when I was in Jr. High and High School, but I haven't shopped at one in probably 14 years. Wife and I are thinking of getting a Costco membership. Pros/cons, aside from the large packaging sizes?

Thanks, Alan

we save our yearly membership on laundry and dishwasher soap alone.

key to the deal: don't go in there to shop, have a list, get the stuff on it and get out.

we save our yearly membership on laundry and dishwasher soap alone.

key to the deal: don't go in there to shop, have a list, get the stuff on it and get out.

You "will" buy stuff you do not need. Guaranteed.

Sam's is the only place to buy beef. Their steaks are top notch quality! We usually buy 3 packs of steaks and some baby back ribs and put them in the freezer.

Photo deloping and birthday cakes cover our membership. At Cosco, you can get a huge slice of pizza and a pop for lunch for about $2.75

The problem with Costco is limited selection and larger quantities... We don't use it "instead" or regular grocery shopping, but rather supplement those things we know we are saving money on...


We usually go to Costco almost every week.

We don't buy alot, but the stuff we do get saves quite a bit.

We get stuff like toilet Paper, paper towels, juice, meat, eggs, fresh fruit, Milk, frozen stuff, soup, cereal, paper plates, laundry detergent, soap, etc, etc...

Except for the milk, eggs and fruit, everything is usually okay for longer-term storage. Fruit is usually pretty good, but you never know what will be there...

I probably get more of my clothes from Costco than anywhere else the last few years.

With the babies, we bought alot of diapers, formula and baby wipes (still buy the baby wipes). We now get alot of kids movies there...

With our last house, we bought flooring there... With the new house, we bought trees, play structure, planters, etc... Bought new tires there recently

We also get our gas from Costco, about 20 cents a gallon cheaper than other local stations...

Great service, good products and great return policy...

We have the "Executive" membership, which costs $100/yr (compared to $45/year or so), but we get 2% back at the end of the membership year... easily more than the cost of the upgrade...

key to the deal: don't go in there to shop, have a list, get the stuff on it and get out.
We always make a list, and we use Costco coupons on alot of stuff

It will save you $. You have to be able to buy bulk, and store bulk though.

FYI, my wife averages better than a c-note every 1/2 hour in those places, so stick to your list, get in and get out:D

The thing that chaps me is you can buy a cooked rotisserie chicken for cheaper than a fresh one you still have to cook yourself. In the same store. :rolleyes: Consequently, I haven't done any beer can chicken in a long time.

Like any shopping, comparision shopping is where it's at. I've got both Costco & BJ's, and compare what's on sale v/s the local market. Takes a little time, however you come out big in the long run.

Like any shopping, comparision shopping is where it's at. I've got both Costco & BJ's, and compare what's on sale v/s the local market. Takes a little time, however you come out big in the long run.

Yup X2.

We shop at Costco. My wife is VERY savvy when it comes to comparo pricing.

If you do a little homework you will end up saving $. The basic concept is "shopping both sides of the isle.

Make a list of the things you buy regularly and write down the price at both the big box and the supermarket.
Figure out how much you use.
Look at the weekly supermarket flyers and check these item when you are in the store.
Quite often your local supermarket will underprice a lot of common items as compared to the "bulk" buys.
Supermarkets also let you use coupons and almost always have a "club card". These club cards often provide additional savings.

ALWAYS USE COUPONS AND IF YOUR SUPERMARKET HAS A "CLUB CARD"...JOIN IT. WE SAVE A TON OF $ DOING THAT.

Then buy what you need, from the place with the best price, in a size that you will be able to use.

Things that have been mentioned or worth adding.
Most big box stores DO NOT take coupons
Don't buy what you don't need. NO IMPULSE BUYS.
Don't be tempted to buy something in bulk (especially perishables) where the package size is more than you will use before it goes bad.
Don't think that everything is cheaper, just because it's in a big package.(water and soda are often cheaper in the supermarket)
Check the meat prices. (We get the best meat at our Costco, but we HATE the chicken)
And yes, you can save the cost of your membership buying only 1 item for the whole year (example-paper towels)

I know Costco treats their employes better than Sams club as far as wages and benefits. Thats a reason right there to choose one over the other.

Member at BJ's... we go about once a month and usually get $200-$300 in meats, take it home and package it up in (smaller) meal sized freezer bags.
Definitely save $$$

Just get some ideas on prices, walk in and see (don't need to buy)

I go to Sams alot and we spend quite a bit there, but as everyone has said, you still need to go to regular stores. Yes you will buy crap you dont need, but you kind of did need it because you wanted to buy it for something. I get a lot of meat from there, bread (freeze it and it is just as good later), house hold items (soaps, personal, toothpaste for the whole year)... It goes on, almost everyone I know goes. Also I can get Crown there for $30, regular stores will usually be $42-48, same with beer and other boozes. I love sharpies too, I always have them for working in the garage while metal working, easy to see when plasma cutting with dark shades on.

The trick is to pay close attention to the price per pound/ounce vs. the grocery stores. I can say one thing, soda pop and Sams or Costco is a lot more expensive compaired to a grocery store. Your basically buying a case of soda at the warehouse even though it is in flat packages instead of the carrying case.

Breakfast cereal in a grocery store is a much better deal then at the warehouse also. A twin pack at the warehouse is around 6 bucks. Our local grocery store often has cereal at 2/4 bucks. 5 for 10 bucks, etc.

Merchandise is much better. I got all 4 James Bond special ed. box sets for around 15 dollars each at the Costco vs. an electronics store and 40 bucks a pop. Thats insane.

I know Costco treats their employes better than Sams club as far as wages and benefits. Thats a reason right there to choose one over the other.

My mom has worked for Sams for many years now and will completely agree with that. I have heard some real stories from her about some of the crap they have pulled in the past.

Sam's = WalMart. :noway:

I'll take Costco any day. :yes:

Quite honestly I am not impressed with either Sam's or Costco. I read the food ads when they come out in the local newspaper and find the best deals that way and go get them. While not having to pay a silly membership fee to spend my money there. It might work for some of you guys but not for me. If I need I need clothes, electronics, stuff for the car, hygiene products or whatever I typically will shop around for the best price which has never been at Costco or Sam's. Another thing that doesn't sit well with me is their membership fee. Why would I pay them money for the rights to walk into their store and spend my money? Even more so when their prices can be beaten simply by doing your homework. I'm not bagging on them as I am sure it might work out for some families but not mine.

You have to look at quality too, Costco in my area has higher quality meat and seafood than the "regular" grocery store. The house brand, Kirkland, is a premium product as well, not bargain basement.

key to the deal: don't go in there to shop, have a list, get the stuff on it and get out.

Maybe I shouldn't get a Costco membership as I tend to start pulling stuff off shelves that I don't need :D . I'd have to send the wife as she has self-control at the grocery store. Thanks for the reviews. We may try it for a year and see how it comes out. With beef alone, we'd probably get the $50 membership fee back ;)

As said before...you need to comparative shop. Some things you'll save on, some you will pay more for. I have yet to find TP or paper towels cheaper at Costco than the supermarket and last time I bought gas there it was only 2 cents cheaper than the supermarket. It I would have had my supermarket/King Soopers car it would have been cheaper at the grocery store. I occasionally will buy pop at Costco only because I'm there. But typically it's cheaper that the supermarkets.

I stay away since 3 items can total $100.

I tag along with members when I really need to go...

I don't know how Sams does it, but I get my thyroid supplement prescription at Sams for $15 a month, vs $45 a month at a Walgreens/Sav-On drug store.

Going there is always titillating, there's nothing like going in for a couple of gallons of milk and a printer cartridge, and coming out with a pressure washer :yes:

the trick is to READ the ad's for all the specials at the local supermarket chain store's

the specials are the ONLY things to buy ....... you can save big $$$ if you can do like has been posted already ......

buy only whats on the LIST !

between the 4 major store's in my area pretty much everything goes on sale Every couple of weeks :D

We only have a Sam's here but yeah stick to the list if you go shopping. My basic guessamate on how much a trip costs, is to multiply the number of items by $10 dollars. If i buy 10 items, the bill is $100 unless is electronics or something. We buy the generic z-rtec allergy medicine there. It is $18 for a 350 pills. CVS brand is 10 or so for 14 bills. That alone is worth the membership.

My basic guessamate on how much a trip costs, is to multiply the number of items by $10 dollars. If i buy 10 items, the bill is $100 unless is electronics or something.

I find the same average.

What I like about either one is. On the weekends they have free samples of FOOD!! ha ha ha ha

Comparative shopping<--- running all over for a day (hours) to save a few dollars<----not for me.:noway:
Thats like driving 10 miles to save .02 cent per gallon and have a 12 gallon tank... yes your saving, but at what cost (your time).

Just IMO.

Know someone who owns two gas station/convenience stores..... He shops at Sam's. Says its way less than the 'wholesale' distributors (Sysco, etc.) He takes two pickups and FILLS THEM UP once a month for resale items for his stores.