Costco - am thinking of joining, any advice?

Bob63

Costco rocks! (to use an Americanism )

"Gold card company". My company, and American computer company, falls into this category so all employees get to join Costco if they want to. But many UK companies are as well. A good friend of mine was able to join because he works for BT. I don't know if there is a published list of companies. Maybe a call to their central membership number (on the website) will help. Assuming your company qualifies, all you need is ID to prove that you work for the company (badge, business card, payslip) and together with the normal membership ID and they will let you join there and then.

I echo the comment made earlier about spending more than you intended to when you went in. I regularly go for bog roll, kitchen roll, washing powder, calgon, dishwasher stuff etc - all the stuff that makes Costco membership worthwhile - but frequently come out with much much more. But then again that is the joy of the place because the stock changes so often.

And my personal recommendation is their frozen fish. Scallops, prawn, crab stuffed sole etc. All excellent. Mmmmm.....

Mike

meerustar

On a similar note, I have a card for the chinese cash & carry and some of the deals there are fantastic.

You know how much fillet steak is in the supermarkets (the most expensive), i buy a 'roll' of fillet steak for about £10 -£12 and get about 15 steaks out of it. Also, the chicken is cheap (yes, it's chicken, not cat, lol) and the seafood (prawns, lobster, etc)

I only needed some ID to join and I go once a month to stock up on meat.

HTH

postingalwaysposting

Katyag wrote:

You used to get day passes for Makro but im sure they stopped them.

no they still do them but you have to be registered as they pull your details to fill in the pass, you have to be registered before you are allowed in

ksh123

I became addicted to COSTCO when I lived in the US, and was very glad to see it getting the thumbs up from Martin on "Make Me Rich". When we came back home we went to visit one just for the smell!!!! Instant memories......(before we joined again) You can't get it anywhere else (the smell i.e.).

Their own brand stuff, Kirkland, is great value and the cakes are scrummy - try the muffins - not only that, when it was my daughter's 21st we thought we couldn't afford a "proper cake" to feed lots of people but at Costco we got one, personalised, that would easily have fed 50 people, for £9.99!!! Mega bargain.

However there are 2 downsides to Costco 1) soooooo many bargains, you need nerves of steel not to buy loads of stuff you want but don't need. 2) they don't make the cinnamon buns that can be found in all US Costcos which, if you has tasted one, you would know is a case of Costco being very unfair to we Brits.

Oh yeah, it is true tho, as others have said, that some things are still cheaper in Asda or Tesco. But, if you are good and stick to a list (I grapple with that every time) you will spend less overall if you buy from Costco cos biggers sizes/volume mean you shop less so you don't nip to the supermarket for loo roll and come home with £25 worth of shopping.

hollydays

Not sure about this,others will correct me,but the prices are shown without vat

basill

hollydays wrote:

Not sure about this,others will correct me,but the prices are shown without vat

Not sure if you meant Costco or Mackro, but in Costco the prices are shown on shelf edge tickets. The prominent figure is without vat but the price including vat is also clearly shown in slightly smaller type where applicable.

B

Katyag

Yes thats why i prefer Costco to Makro as you are seeing what you pay inc your VAT too, you have to work it out for yourself in Makro, not a big deal but more irritating. Im surprised Makro havent changed their SELs too.

paroak

How do you find out if you work for what they class as a "goldcard company"?