Potential Costco

[Fast Freddy]

A Costco employee of a responsible position informed me that a new Costco could be planned for Gainesville.

[red tail]

A Costco employee of a responsible position informed me that a new Costco could be planned for Gainesville.
so what? drive 50 miles to get good buy on toilet paper?

[Shimpy]

so what? drive 50 miles to get good buy on toilet paper?

I agree

[ColdNoMore]

Within an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes, from my house in The Villages...there are already three or four Costco's available. :thumbup:

But by all means, exercise your rights and please stay away from them...given that they're so darned crowded now as it is. :oops:



Hint for those who obviously don't know: There's a LOT more than just toilet paper at Costco...available at awesome prices. :cool:

But as mentioned, don't take my word for it...so as to lessen the crowds. :D

[B-flat]

so what? drive 50 miles to get good buy on toilet paper?
:1rotfl::1rotfl:

[vintageogauge]

Before we moved down here Costco put up a huge new warehouse in Boston Heights Ohio. They were selling memberships well in advance of the opening at discounted prices so we bought one. After it opened we went in to see what we could use, we left with nothing and never went back. If they opened one on 466A I would have no desire to shop there. I know a lot of you really want one here but I just don't see it.

[Velvet]

Their kefir I am addicted to it. And the fresh coho salmon which I bake with sea salt and coarse black pepper... usually enough for a small party.

[retiredguy123]

The best deal at Costco is jewelry, because of their return policy. You can buy an expensive piece of jewelry, even a $50,000 diamond ring or bracelet, and return it for a full refund at any time, even 10 years after you bought it. With any other jewelry retailer, you would be lucky to get 10 percent of what you paid.

[TheWarriors]

A good policy for those that have trouble w/ commitment.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Good lord, people. Stop it with the Costco dreams; they are not coming to The Villages.

Go ahead and drive to Gainesville, or any of the others within a couple of hours of The Villages, to save a few dollars - brilliant logic there.

[ColdNoMore]

The best deal at Costco is jewelry, because of their return policy. You can buy an expensive piece of jewelry, even a $50,000 diamond ring or bracelet, and return it for a full refund at any time, even 10 years after you bought it. With any other jewelry retailer, you would be lucky to get 10 percent of what you paid.

The same return policy applies to ANY of their stuff (except maybe partially eaten food :D)...even their most expensive items. :thumbup:

Of which, they carry a plethora of high-end/quality items...at awesome prices. :ho:

[big guy]

i'D RATHER CONTINUE GOING TO THE COSTCO IN WESLEY CHAPEL (LUTZ). iT'S 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES AWAY AND THERE IS A OUTLET MALL NEXT DOOR. Sorry for all caps. Not screaming, the caps lock was on and I don't feel like re typing all of this.

[EdFNJ]

i'D RATHER CONTINUE GOING TO THE COSTCO IN WESLEY CHAPEL (LUTZ). iT'S 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES AWAY AND THERE IS A OUTLET MALL NEXT DOOR. Sorry for all caps. Not screaming, the caps lock was on and I don't feel like re typing all of this.

Actually a very new Costco in Orlando on Gardens Park Blvd is closer in both travel time at just about an hour & distance 56 miles and you have a major indoor mall (Millennia) about 1/2 mile away as well as an large outdoor outlet mall literally down the street about 1 mile from Millennia and a Trader Joe's 5 miles from there. :)

When we go to Disney we sometimes make those stops on our trip home along with an amazing selection of restaurants on "restaurant row" on Sand Lake Rd on the way back to the tpke. Everything there from Ruth Chris to Wendy's and everything in between.

[ColdNoMore]

Actually a very new Costco in Orlando on Gardens Park Blvd is closer in both travel time at just about an hour & distance 56 miles and you have a major indoor mall (Millennia) about 1/2 mile away as well as an large outdoor outlet mall literally down the street about 1 mile from Millennia and a Trader Joe's 5 miles from there. :)

When we go to Disney we sometimes make those stops on our trip home along with an amazing selection of restaurants on "restaurant row" on Sand Lake Rd on the way back to the tpke. Everything there from Ruth Chris to Wendy's and everything in between.

Yeah, that's the one I like going to also...for the same reasons you stated. :thumbup:

[pauld315]

Before we moved down here Costco put up a huge new warehouse in Boston Heights Ohio. They were selling memberships well in advance of the opening at discounted prices so we bought one. After it opened we went in to see what we could use, we left with nothing and never went back. If they opened one on 466A I would have no desire to shop there. I know a lot of you really want one here but I just don't see it.

I had a membership in Cary NC when they first opened a couple miles from my house. Only thing I ever used it for was gas for my cars. Unlike Sam's, they do have really good top rated gas.

Being retired with myself and wife the only ones in the house, it just doesn't make sense to me to do shopping for everyday items there.

I have in the past used them to buy tires and televisions. Problem with buying tires at Costco is that if you let your membership expire they will no longer rotate your tires for free. Buying TV's there is great because you deal directly with Costco for warranty issues and they double the length of the warranty.

[Velvet]

‘I like it too’.

[justjim]

Lets face it, a good number of people in our age group love to shop. It’s what some do as a “hobby” when they retire. Of course, others like our kids and grandkids buy almost everything on-line. I do think they shop for groceries most of the time. Different strokes for different folks. Would The Villages support a Costco? So far, those who do market research for a living, have said no. At least not yet. However, Sam’s appears to be doing a good business so go figure.

[Velvet]

Aha! Stats was my thing too, if it means getting a Costco, I’d love to help out with market research.

[EviesGP]

I agree with most of these posts, both for and against, but I also wonder... with the potential growth, why wouldn't they try here? Yes, on the older, reduced size households here, but there's also younger crowds flocking into the south? I/we shop carefully, not buying in bulk lest we need to, and shopping for deals. Regardless, I was a Costco member for many years, and now I'm a Sam's Club member. Cheers!

[Nucky]

I really like the way Costco takes care of some friends in Jersey who work for them. They are to be admired. We have the bestestest Supermarkets within 5 to 20 minutes from our house in The Villages and I'm going to support them so they don't go the route of other retailers. These big stores are a trap. Go in for milk and tomatoes and come out with unnecessary electronic equipment. For now, we're done with them all. If they work for you that's cool.

[JoMar]

COSTCO has an army of MBA's, Lawyers, Accountants plus others doing their market research. I ran one of those operations for a number of years. It's not just abut population it's also about, demographics, government impacts, labor market, competition, projected profitability (yeah, the revenue guys need to step up), accessibility, liability and other insurances and more. If they make a decision to come here it will because it is in Costco's best interests, we and the surrounding areas would only be a means to get to their ends. We have no skin in their game, if the store fails we will just go someplace else.....which is why petitions, phone calls, letter, emails won't impact their decisions.

[manaboutown]

A friend in the know recently told me the Costco in Kona, HI does $1.5M/day, $400K/day from EBT cards (welfare). Can TV and its surrounding area duplicate that? Welfare in HI is quite prevalent and lucrative for the recipients. The locals receive about $62K/year/family. How to collect it is passed on from generation to generation.

[EdFNJ]

The same return policy applies to ANY of their stuff (except maybe partially eaten food :D)...even their most expensive items. :thumbup:

Of which, they carry a plethora of high-end/quality items...at awesome prices. :ho:


If I had the patience right now I'd tell you a story about that which my wife and I experienced back in a NJ Costco, but just to keep it short they DO even take back mostly eaten food. We stood in return line and the person in front of us made a return that unless you saw it you wouldn't believe it.


Also, return policy on TV & Computers (and some other electronic stuff) is 90 days because like with the food people took advantage of them so they changed it a few years ago. It's posted in all the stores.

[Velvet]

In the end Costco is interested in the bottom line, of course. But they do have a very successful approach in some markets, just wish that we would be one of them.

[Kenswing]

If I had the patience right now I'd tell you a story about that which my wife and I experienced back in a NJ Costco, but just to keep it short they DO even take back mostly eaten food. We stood in return line and the person in front of us made a return that unless you saw it you wouldn't believe it.


Also, return policy on TV & Computers (and some other electronic stuff) is 90 days because like with the food people took advantage of them so they changed it a few years ago. It's posted in all the stores.
Yeah, I remember stories on the news of guys going and getting the largest big screen TV Costco carries for the super bowl then returning them on Monday.. The few will always ruin for the rest of us.. :ohdear:

[EnglishJW]

Actually a very new Costco in Orlando on Gardens Park Blvd is closer in both travel time at just about an hour & distance 56 miles and you have a major indoor mall (Millennia) about 1/2 mile away as well as an large outdoor outlet mall literally down the street about 1 mile from Millennia and a Trader Joe's 5 miles from there. :)

When we go to Disney we sometimes make those stops on our trip home along with an amazing selection of restaurants on "restaurant row" on Sand Lake Rd on the way back to the tpke. Everything there from Ruth Chris to Wendy's and everything in between.

That's both our choice and our strategy as well.

[Retiring]

COSTCO has an army of MBA's, Lawyers, Accountants plus others doing their market research. I ran one of those operations for a number of years. It's not just abut population it's also about, demographics, government impacts, labor market, competition, projected profitability (yeah, the revenue guys need to step up), accessibility, liability and other insurances and more. If they make a decision to come here it will because it is in Costco's best interests, we and the surrounding areas would only be a means to get to their ends. We have no skin in their game, if the store fails we will just go someplace else.....which is why petitions, phone calls, letter, emails won't impact their decisions.

Living here in Kirkland I have several friends that work at Costco headquarters. You said it. If Costco feels it can make money in TV, we’ll see a store. As TV grows it becomes more likely. I have many Costcos within a 10-mile radius and I do shop there often. In full disclosure I sometimes go there just for lunch. I do like/love their chicken bakes. Before you say it, yes I know they are very high in calories and fat. It may surprise some but not long ago they were the largest retailer of wine and diamonds in America, and might still be. So, yes they do have more than the 5 gal. bucket of ketchup. :)

[Retiring]

A friend in the know recently told me the Costco in Kona, HI does $1.5M/day, $400K/day from EBT cards (welfare). Can TV and its surrounding area duplicate that? Welfare in HI is quite prevalent and lucrative for the recipients. The locals receive about $62K/year/family. How to collect it is passed on from generation to generation.

To be fair that store is an anomaly. I believe the Maui store does $1M/day, that too is an anomaly. I don’t think these numbers are the norm but your point is well made. Costco expects high revenues when it invests in a location. Merely “making a profit” might not meet their standard. I hope Costco comes to TV but if it doesn’t, TV is still a great place.

[JoMar]

[QUOTE=Retiring;1645774]Living here in Kirkland I have several friends that work at Costco headquarters. You said it. If Costco feels it can make money in TV, we’ll see a store. As TV grows it becomes more likely. I have many Costcos within a 10-mile radius and I do shop there often. In full disclosure I sometimes go there just for lunch. I do like/love their chicken bakes. Before you say it, yes I know they are very high in calories and fat. It may surprise some but not long ago they were the largest retailer of wine and diamonds in America, and might still be. So, yes they do have more than the 5 gal. bucket of ketchup. :)[/QUOT

Dinner, a movie then to costco for wine and diamonds....could any woman resisit :).

[DangeloInspections]

We go to the one near Millennia Mall. There are 3 Costco's in the Orlando area. We do between 600 and 700 inspections a year in The Villages, and I bet I see new Kirkland products in over 250 of those homes a year. A LOT of Villagers already shop at Costco.

I honestly do not know if that helps or hurts the chance of getting a closer Costco down the road. If they already have you as customers....is there really an incentive for them to build one closer to us?

Frank

[TimeForChange]

A Costco employee of a responsible position informed me that a new Costco could be planned for Gainesville.

Why would anyone care here in TV when you can drive to the new one in Orlando in one hour?

[NoMoSno]

Why would anyone care here in TV when you can drive to the new one in Orlando in one hour?
Maybe because from northern villages you can also get to Gainesville in one hour.

[EdFNJ]

Maybe because from northern villages you can also get to Gainesville in one hour.
Not quite sure on that, 65 miles (1:15mins) per Google maps from Target on 441 to Butterfly Rainforest in Gainsville. I guess it would depend exactly where the alleged Costco would appear and where "north" one lives. It's same time from me here (near Colony 466A). Closer than I though but still 20% further than Orlando Costco distance and drive time but definitely an option to also see stuff in Gainsville including the museums and Trader Joe's! :D.

[NotGolfer]

NOT sure why anyone would want to drive for a Costco...through dense traffic (ie. Orlando). I'm familiar with Costco but it wouldn't warrant me to make a special trip to shop at one. Would I if we had one here---perhaps. We've lived here nearly 10 yrs. and the skuttlebutt has always been..."we're getting a Costco, because I talked to someone who told me...." I'll believe it once I hear it from The Developer or read about it in our daily newspaper. Until then..........

[asianthree]

NOT sure why anyone would want to drive for a Costco...through dense traffic (ie. Orlando). I'm familiar with Costco but it wouldn't warrant me to make a special trip to shop at one. Would I if we had one here---perhaps. We've lived here nearly 10 yrs. and the skuttlebutt has always been..."we're getting a Costco, because I talked to someone who told me...." I'll believe it once I hear it from The Developer or read about it in our daily newspaper. Until then..........

OP didn’t say it was coming to TV.

[jblum315]

A Costco employee of a responsible position informed me that a new Costco could be planned for Gainesville.

There is a Costco in Ocala. Much closer than Gainesville

[retiredguy123]

There is a Costco in Ocala. Much closer than Gainesville
The Costco website does not show a store in Ocala. Where is it ? The closest Costco is Altamonte Springs.

[JSR22]

The Costco website does not show a store in Ocala. Where is it ? The closest Costco is Altamonte Springs.

There is not a Costco in Ocala. There is Costco in Orlando.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Good lord, people. Stop it with the Costco dreams; they are not coming to The Villages.

Go ahead and drive to Gainesville, or any of the others within a couple of hours of The Villages, to save a few dollars - brilliant logic there.

If you go once a month and load up on every thing you need for the month it might be worth it. We do that at Sam's Club here in The Villages, but this is one of the smallest Sam's Club in the chain and even the big ones pale in comparison to Costco.

They also have great deals on large items like televisions which can be ordered online so sometimes a Costco membership might be worth it for just that.

[photo1902]

Good lord, people. Stop it with the Costco dreams; they are not coming to The Villages.

Go ahead and drive to Gainesville, or any of the others within a couple of hours of The Villages, to save a few dollars - brilliant logic there.

Exactly! And in the same breath, look at all the people on this site who complain about having to drive more than 15 minutes to a grocery store or a car wash, but they'll think nothing of making a 60 mile trip to Costco.

[jblum315]

Why is that ruining it? Those TVs get sold as open box for a reduced price

[photo1902]

Why is that ruining it? Those TVs get sold as open box for a reduced price

I don't know if "ruined" is the correct term, but the practice by some customers certainly shortened/limited the period of time in which a tv could be returned.

[retiredguy123]

The 90 day return policy for televisions and other electronics for Costco (and also Sam's) is still a good deal, because Best Buy only has a 14 day return policy.

[EdFNJ]

NOT sure why anyone would want to drive for a Costco...through dense traffic (ie. Orlando). I'm familiar with Costco but it wouldn't warrant me to make a special trip to shop at one. Would I if we had one here---perhaps. We've lived here nearly 10 yrs. and the skuttlebutt has always been..."we're getting a Costco, because I talked to someone who told me...." I'll believe it once I hear it from The Developer or read about it in our daily newspaper. Until then..........


Never had a problem driving to Costco in Orlando, at least the one on Garden Park near Millennia Mall. Worst trip was just over an hour. We usually go once a month unless we are making a couple Disney trips. If you avoid 8-9AM and 5-6PM it's not a problem. It's more than just Costco, it's also Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and LOTS of great restaurants not even considering 2 big malls (outlet and "high end") and Universal Studios and lots of other things to do. While there is a lot to do here we still need a break from just staying in the bubble day after day. Need a break and some real civilization. That was the hardest thing for us to give up from up North in the NYC/NJ area. Maybe in a few more years we'll change our ways but for now we need to escape the bubble occasionally.

[EdFNJ]

Why is that ruining it? Those TVs get sold as open box for a reduced price It ruins it because they make less money when they have to sell open box for a reduced price. Employees said people would return things after a year or more for a full refund to "upgrade" to newer models or after just getting tired of it. There were websites that told you the best way to game Costco return policies. 90 days is more than fair.

[Bill Torres]

When you have plenty of time on hand especially when its a rainy day, a trip to Costco is worth the time to look at what's new on the market.....plus were can you find a hot and soda for $1.50, well worth the trip.

[EdFNJ]

When you have plenty of time on hand especially when its a rainy day, a trip to Costco is worth the time to look at what's new on the market.....plus were can you find a hot and soda for $1.50, well worth the trip. As much as I prefer Costco, SAM's here on 441, also has the $1.50 combo meal! :D

[graciegirl]

When we lived in Ohio we belonged to both Costco and Sams. Here we have Sams and it is just fine. Good deals on cat litter and toilet paper and their meat is very good.

[manaboutown]

Costco's reach never ceases to amaze me. A few years ago I was on a tour in Egypt. The gray haired Egyptian gentleman who led the tour dressed very nicely, usually wearing a suit, clean pressed white shirt and a necktie. One day he wore jeans which I noticed carried Costco's emblem, Kirkland. I asked them if they had a store in Cairo. He replied no, but that his brother who lives in the USA had sent them to him.