Is paying to shop at Costco really worth it?

[Chefnot]

By Julia Scott, columnist
Article Launched: 04/06/2008 01:00:00 AM PDT





It seems everybody has a key product they go to Costco for, be it baby wipes, cheap booze or groceries by the van load.
Members insist that shopping at the warehouse is a good deal, but I'm not convinced. Since when is buying a $50 membership for the privilege of overspending a deal? It's not that I hate Costco. It's that 12 of the 14 cans of tomato sauce I impulsively purchased at the store two years ago are still in my cupboard. Somehow, I don't think I'm alone. Costco's prices are generally lower, but overspending and being unable to eat the massive portions before they go bad could erase those gains. Overall, I wanted to know if shopping at the warehouse store makes sense financially.

Is paying to shop at Costco really worth it? - LA Daily News

Not a good shopper...

[BerryBaby]

I love Costco! My tomato sauce many last two months, but that's it. The T-paper, paper towels, well, all paper products are a great deal.

You do need the space to store these things, which could be a problem for some people. We have lots of room on the garage shelves. I like to think of it as my little 'store'. Daughter will come over and 'shop' out there. It's great because we share the products. She doesn't have space to store things.

And their meat is superior to any in the regular grocery stores. I buy the big packs and then divide it up and freeze it. Great bargains if you know how to shop.

[ibcheft]

We have Sams Club, problems is it is just a cheap to shop at the Walmart as it is at the club. The only thng we will not buy from there is meat and vegtables both suck, even the employes go else where. It use to be cheaper at the club but anymore the prices actually are cheaper at the store, you can buy less, get the same or better price, and the store has bags. The only meat we found was baby back ribs and you get a pack of 3 for around 20.00.

[BerryBaby]

The produce at the two Costco's I go to, have great produce. In fact, two weeks ago I went to buy asparagus, meat and a bouquet of flowers.

I was SO hungry driving home, and didn't want to stop for fast food (ick), that I opened the asparagus and ate one. Went against my rules (didn't wash it first) but I took my chances and ate it. Delicious and hit the spot! Never thought about eating asparagus raw, but it was really good. Think I have found a new snack.

[bakerman]

I used to work in a warehouse club and the article is spot on, more housewives seemed to shop with flatbeds than anything else, spending hundreds in one stop.

There are things that are unbeatable deals, for instance cheese, in the grocery store sargento whole milk mozzerella is $6 a pound, at Bj's it is around $2. Milk is also around $1 a gallon cheaper than the grocery stores. Meat is consistently a good price.

Thing is I am a very thrifty shopper, I can often do just as well or better keeping an eye on all of the ads and stocking up when the deals are good. I got a free 2 month membership in the mail last year, so I did a test, I ended up buying very little at the club, because I could get better prices and more manageable sizes elsewhere. With that said, there are some great deals that grocery stores can't touch, but for me there isn't enough to make up for the $50 a year membership.

MAC

[BerryBaby]

Yes, there are things I can find cheaper (and smaller quantities) at other stores. However, the paper products and meat are great buys for us.

[cyberdoc]

I shop at a military commissary, so .that's hard to beat

[Food Network Fan]

I like our Sams club. I think the cheese, paper plates and laundry items and recently milk really make it worth it. Catsup and Chocolate syrup are great deals for my house too. And I get flour there in 25lb bags.

[BernerMommy]

I think I live at Costco! My Costco is just as close to me as the grocery store. I have 3 boys, 9, 10, and 13; I use a minimum of 4 loaves of bread and 4 gallons of milk a week. The meat there is much better than any of the local grocery stores, in fact my kids can taste a steak and tell me where I bought it. Since it is so convenient for me, I do not see going there as an outing, so I am not drawn into things that I do not need.

[Chefnot]

Everything is a drive for me, so it's just a Kroger's here.