Costco up 6% in sales-DEI

[Henry203]

I was just at my local Costco. It is insanely busy.

[RandySF]

1. It's a great store. Period.

[Ms. Toad]

20. As big businesses go, it's pretty good.

If you are expecting relatively universal bargains - not so great.

Their pharmacy is fantastic. They have some loss leaders which are consistently good - gas, rotisserie chicken, hot dog and beverage, fresh mozarella cheese are notable. But other things are as, or more, expensive than competitors.

Jarlsberg cheese, for example, was $5.99/lb - making a chunk $10-$15. The same size chunk at Sam's sells for $5. Not $5 per pound, just $5. (I haven't bought any recently - so it is possible that Sam's Club has increased their prices but for at least two years that was the comparison (my SIL maintained her membership in Sam's Club, so we did regular price checks). That's the most dramatic difference I found, but I was shocked when I first got a Costco membership and discovered that, aside from a few items, I was paying a membership fee to get things at retail prices - or higher. This was very different from shopping at Sam's club, where I didn't really have to price check since I could count on Sam's Club to be cheaper.

We save enough on gas and prescription medicines to be worth buying the the second tier membership (with the 2% back on purchases). But I'd listened to people touting the bargains at Costco for years before there was one in our area, so I was pretty shocked at the high prices the first time I shopped there, especially after our earlier experiences with Sam's club.

[MichMan]

2. I like going there even though it is a 100 mile round trip

Try to time it so I'm on empty when I get there

[NYFlip]

3. I bought a membership

I never shop there but bought a membership to support them. I called to get the membership so they would know why. She said a lot of people have done it to show solidarity and support

[MichMan]

4. Why not shop there too?

[kimbutgar]

14. I love Costco

I needed to buy a new refrigerator. Looked at the model in Lowe’s and found one I liked. I was going to buy it but waited overnight to have my husband look at it also. I got an ad from Costco about appliances and checked out their website and there was the same model for $1000 while at Lowe’s it was $1649 plus $300 for delivery and takeaway of the older one. Plus at Costco no extra charge for delivery or takeaway if the older one ! I picked the date I wanted it delivered and love my new refrigerator!

I will be buying all my appliances from there now on! It was worth the $130 I paid yearly in memberships fees.

[isitreal]

16. the gas is higher quality too

Costco sells Top Tier gas which is a gas with higher than the minimum required detergents. This will help keep your fuel system and combustion chamber cleaner.

TOP TIER™ Approved Fuels meet the high-quality fuel performance standards developed by some of the leading automotive and heavy-duty equipment manufacturers. TOP TIER™ provides benefits to consumers, retailers, and vehicle manufacturers by improving fuel quality to meet the increasing demands of evolving engine technology.

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

[kimbutgar]

17. The only place I fill up my car!

[love_katz]

23. You were lucky you chose not to buy from Lowes.

I bought a new refrigerator with bottom freezer from Lowes in 2022. I also purchased a 5 year extended warranty. They are supposed to fix or replace the unit if it breaks down during that time.
On November 28th, 2024, ( 2 years and one month after delivery) on Thanksgiving Day, it started making loud noises and then quit functioning.
As of today, it has been over 3 months since it broke down. A repair person has been here twice, but it still hasn't been repaired. They can't seem to get the final part to fix it. The last time I heard from the repair company was on February 18th. I had to text them, they didn't contact me. I only get a recording when I have called their phone number.
The last communication from the repair company asked me if the cooling tower had been included in the package of parts shipped to my house? They gave me a part number. I checked both the package and a packing slip, but that part wasn't included. The repair company texted back and said they would update me " soon". Today is March 2nd, and I haven't heard a single word.
I can't afford to go buy a new refrigerator somewhere else, because I had to have my roof replaced in January and I also had a large tree cut down because it had damaged the roof. This drained my savings, and tax time is coming up. I live in Social Security and my very small retirement payment from my job, so I don't have a large income.
Bottom line: I will NEVER buy an appliance from Lowes ever again!!!

[kimbutgar]

28. Was it a Samsung?

The one I replaced was a Samsung I only had for 5 years and the ice maker no longer worked and it was so loud I heard it upstairs in my house. I unplugged almost every other day for a few hours.

Costco has a 2 year warranty on the refrigerators!

[love_katz]

29. No, it's a GE.

The labels in the interior say it was made in China.
I managed to check my warranty claim a few minutes ago. The website shows it as active, and my claim was approved on January 13th.
My first efforts to make a claim ran into problems. Apparently, the model number on the sticker is not correct, so coverage was denied twice because that model isn't covered by the warranty? I have not done anything to the interior stickers. They were on the interior wall of the fridge when it was delivered.
I'm so angry. Three months is not reasonable to wait for repair or replacement! I'm spending a good deal of money buying bags of ice because I am keeping my food in coolers outside my back door. Now that spring is coming on, the outside temperatures are warming up, so I have to buy ice more often. And I have to go up and down a few stairs every time I need to fix a meal.
The 5 year extended warranty is supposed to cover repairs or replacement of the fridge, and some compensation for food lost to spoilage.
Other than 2 visits from the repairman, I haven't been compensated for anything.
I will never buy anything from Lowes ever again.
I will buy appliances from a local appliance company. They are one of the last locally owned appliance companies in my town that haven't been swallowed up by damn chains.
I will also place a complaint with The Better Business Bureau. Going over 3 months without a functioning refrigerator is ridiculous!
Also, next time I won't bother with buying the extended warranty. Like too many forms of insurance, it seems to be a scam. I will save my money, so that I have enough put away in savings so I can buy a replacement fridge and compensate myself for any food lost to spoilage. I purchased the warranty because most of the reviews I read online said that the new refrigerators only last about 2 years, since most of them are made in China. Mine lasted 2 years and a couple of months after it was delivered.
According to my web searches, the only company still making refrigerators in the US is Whirlpool ( they bought out the old Maytag company). If I can manage to afford a Whirlpool, I will buy one of those ( and keep my fingers crossed).

[dalton99a]

5. Good merchandise, cheap gas, great employees

Their reputation is well deserved

[DeepWinter]

6. Members only club

has it's perks. Because you need to show your card to get it, theif is a significant fraction of the other big box stores. One CostCo manager once told me "Keeps the street rats out."

[ecstatic]

7. I have a membership that I rarely use but thanks for the reminder

I need to buy some pots and pans.

[dutch777]

8. I have always liked Costco but any company that needs basic labor has to ask can they afford to alienate...

...potential new employees before they even apply not to mention retain existing good employees that cost time and money to replace if they quit and you have to replace them. Smart businesses alienate no one as it either bites you in sales and/or in hiring and retention.

[Mr. Evil]

15. Yes.

I firmly believe that a happy employee is a productive employee. And happy employees make for happy customers. If you treat your employees like nothing more than worker drones, you will eventually have a high turnover rate. The man-hours wasted by having to constantly train new employees eventually takes its toll. Not to mention fomenting growing frustration with their customers.

[peggysue2]

9. My husband and I are Costco buyers/subscribers

And yes, the last two times I was at the store it was mobbed. I buy all my paper products at Costco. Even when the paper products aren't on sale, it's generally a better buy than normal retailers. We also look for sales on over-the-counter meds like Pepcid, Tylenol. Buy my coffee there, too.

The fact, the company is holding strong on DEI values is a plus/plus incentive.

[Zambero]

10. I made a modest investment in Costco stock several months ago

It is performing well. Our local store is busy with customers much of the time, but checkout proceeeds quickly. Good-bye and good riddance to Walmart, Target, Home Depot et al.

[Voltaire2]

11. Consumer boycotts and targeted support can be effective.

It is one of the few paths we have for exercising power.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

12. I love Costco

[tavernier]

13. Wish they would open in the Florida Keys, or somewhere close.

Would definitely shop there.

[niyad]

18. You can always shop online. I don't know if this is still true, but at one

time, if yiu did not live near a Costco, you did not have to buy a membership to have things shipped...

[tavernier]

22. I will look into it

Thanks

[niyad]

24. You are most welcome.

[tavernier]

27. I did and yes, you can order without membership.

Sadly regardless of the amount, there is a shipping charge for each individual item, even with a membership. That cancels any type of savings.
My best bet for grocery savings is to drive the 40 miles each way to Aldi in Homestead and combine it with other necessary shopping; Lowe’s, clothing stores, etc. This is pretty much what we have been doing every couple of weeks. And at least we always stop for lunch someplace fun and different.
Oh well. Have to pay the price to live on an island.

[niyad]

19. My Costco is always busy. I never go on weekends, and once made

the mistake of going on a holiday. .Indigenous Peoples' Day, who would have thought it would be that insanely busy!

[twodogsbarking]

21. We don't have Costco but we have 2 Walmarts and a Sam's Club. Maybe something is keeping Costco out.

[niyad]

25. Shop them online.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

26. I tried a Costco membership once and bailed...

Just me and my son at home now and everything I shopped for was huge and averaged $10. The rude, self-focused people pushing their giant carts loaded down with dozens of sodas and bottled water and mountains of crap was a huge turn-off for us. I mean, does anyone need a pound of turmeric or other spices? Almost nothing organic available, either. Kinda bummed me out because I really wanted to like the place given their pay and bennies.

Saves me a long drive, besides, and TJ’s is a third the distance.