The 5 stages of COSTCO

[Pinball wizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKoS4XNqQ0A&ab_channel=HoldernessFamilyLaughs

[Stu from NYC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKoS4XNqQ0A&ab_channel=HoldernessFamilyLaughs

Very funny, do we know you?

[JRcorvette]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKoS4XNqQ0A&ab_channel=HoldernessFamilyLaughs

That was funny and mostly True…. Sharing it with all my Costco freaks!

[Pinball wizard]

Very funny, do we know you?

No. I shop at BJ's.

[ElDiabloJoe]

They need a 6th Stage - the one where there is a Costco-specific item you can't get anywhere else, but always crave. Like their flat of blueberry muffins, or the pumpkin pies (I mean seriously they're huge and only $5!), or the pre-prepped chicken caesar salads, or pot pies.

The 6th Stage leads to return visits and deepening affinity for Costco.

[tophcfa]

Ya gotta love Costco. Just replaced the battery on my wife’s Honda HRV and checked Autozone, NAPA, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Walmart and Costco for a Group 51R battery with 500 cold cranking amps.

The three auto parts supply places charged between $217 - $237, Wally World charged $160, and Costco charged $135 (for a good quality Interstate battery). The new Costco coming to the Villages is going to sell a ton of replacement batteries for Yamaha golf carts.

[Bay Kid]

Ya gotta love Costco. Just replaced the battery on my wife’s Honda HRV and checked Autozone, NAPA, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Walmart and Costco for a Group 51R battery with 500 cold cranking amps.

The three auto parts supply places charged between $217 - $237, Wally World charged $160, and Costco charged $135 (for a good quality Interstate battery). The new Costco coming to the Villages is going to sell a ton of replacement batteries for Yamaha golf carts.

My son's battery died a few months ago. He put it in his car in 2008. I can't believe it lasted that long. It was an Interstate battery.

Dad loved Costco. The family always had tons of everything when he shopped there. I'll never have to buy a new toothbrush.

[Cuervo]

Every so often on this site there will be a message that a Costco is opening soon.
Is there a Costco near The Villages?

[bsloan1960]

I'm a bit confused. So I pay a fee to join. Then I stock up on everything I need- in bulk packaging- which means it will last a long time. If I don't need to go back for a long time- how does my fee pay for itself with the reduced number of shopping trips per year- because I'm stocked up? There are only 2 of us. Rather than simply tell me it is worth it, please address the point I made about being stocked up with bulk packaging. I just don't get it. Thanks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKoS4XNqQ0A&ab_channel=HoldernessFamilyLaughs

[justjim]

I'm a bit confused. So I pay a fee to join. Then I stock up on everything I need- in bulk packaging- which means it will last a long time. If I don't need to go back for a long time- how does my fee pay for itself with the reduced number of shopping trips per year- because I'm stocked up? There are only 2 of us. Rather than simply tell me it is worth it, please address the point I made about being stocked up with bulk packaging. I just don't get it. Thanks!

I get it and you make some good points. We were in Sam’s Club yesterday. (In Illinois) A very large crowd is an understatement. I’m thinking to myself (saying nothing to wife) we are retired and can go most anytime so what are we doing here. Let me tell you it was just for a few things. Mostly it was for Sam’s $1.38 large hot dog/soda. Which according to what I’m told Sam Walton said the price to always stay the same. Has to be a loss leader at today’s prices.

[ElDiabloJoe]

I'm a bit confused. So I pay a fee to join. Then I stock up on everything I need- in bulk packaging- which means it will last a long time. If I don't need to go back for a long time- how does my fee pay for itself with the reduced number of shopping trips per year- because I'm stocked up? There are only 2 of us. Rather than simply tell me it is worth it, please address the point I made about being stocked up with bulk packaging. I just don't get it. Thanks!

Because some of the stuff you are "stocking up" gets used up. Like a flat of water, or case of beer, or package of toilet paper, or the rotisserie chicken you bought (can't store that for three years), or any of the meats, steaks, seafood. Yes, they're in bulk. Yes you can freeze them, but yes you will use them up. No one buys enough stuff in one trip to last three lifetimes. You don't have a car big enough to take even a year's toilet paper home with you, muchness anything else. So people buy enough for a few months. That will necessitate multiple trips in a calendar year.

Yes, we use Costco. I go every month. There are only 2 of us in the household. Yes, we have a bidet seat (so use less TP), yet we always need batteries, or paper towels, or paper plates, or the awesome very inexpensive clothes, or the coffee (a huge Folgers was on sale last week for $10. I can't get the tiny one at the store for under $12). You will find that dynamic with many of Costco's offerings.

If you're so reticent to go all-in on the membership, you can go once and request a day pass to try it out. Then after you go through all the stuff you may have purchased on that trip, then decide if you are willing to pony up for replenishment.

I first joined when it was Pace-Costco in Long Beach, CA in the early late 80's. I was going to buy my then-girlfriend a very nice pair of Ray-Ban ClubMaster sunglasses for Christmas. They ran $120 at the sunglass store. I told myself if I found them for a low enough price at Pace that I could buy the membership ($25) and the glasses and still be out less than $120, I would l do that. I found them at Pace for $65.

Got the membership and still saved $30.

You can apply this example today to things like eyeglasses, hearing aids, tires, car batteries, gasoline, OTC pharmaceuticals, televisions, appliances, etc. Overall, your purchases will save the membership fee and more in a year's time or even much less (depending on what you buy).

Let's not even discuss the incredibly liberal return policy. I knew a guy that did something I disagree with - I find it unethical - but he did it. He returned his big screen TV every year and replaced it with a new one. Sometimes he got money back as the price dropped over time and he always had the newest and latest. He just saved his box and packaging in the attic. I think it is wrong, but Costco allowed it - they have a very forgiving return policy.

[SoCalGal]

As one of the viewers said, "This is so incredibly, tragically, mind-blowingly accurate."

[justjim]

If you drive very much . Gas is much cheaper at the Wholesale Clubs and so are the tires, oil changes, etc. The newer built clubs are much nicer and Costco will be new,

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

We joined BJ’s and we don’t by any the fresh fruit or veggies but they do have a deli meat section where you can buy a half pound of whatever. (We were just there yesterday) But you can buy cereal, and milk, and butter and . . .

The amazing thing to get is their credit card and use it exclusively. We had $804 dollars in credits so we didn’t pay a cent for our purchases the last two times we went.

[asianthree]

I get it and you make some good points. We were in Sam’s Club yesterday. (In Illinois) A very large crowd is an understatement. I’m thinking to myself (saying nothing to wife) we are retired and can go most anytime so what are we doing here. Let me tell you it was just for a few things. Mostly it was for Sam’s $1.38 large hot dog/soda. Which according to what I’m told Sam Walton said the price to always stay the same. Has to be a loss leader at today’s prices.

It’s been years since I paid for Costco membership, our points pay for that and more. We buy appliances and furniture for our multiple homes, tires for 3 cars when needed, eyewear yearly, gas. Bulk does not define everything at Costco, just my coffee, dairy, poultry and seafood cost me less than any grocery.
As one ages it’s hard to justify change of buying habits, and admit, that the change could be worthwhile.

[LianneMigiano]

Every so often on this site there will be a message that a Costco is opening soon.
Is there a Costco near The Villages?

:bigbow:It is supposed to be on the property off CR 466 between Hobby Lobby and the plaza with Marshall's/Home Goods etc. in it. It seems as though it's been almost a year since we first heard it was coming - and they still haven't made a single move toward breaking ground. I'm almost 84 and am beginning to wonder if I'll still be around when they finally DO open!
:bigbow:

[MplsPete]

Ya gotta love Costco. Just replaced the battery on my wife’s Honda HRV and checked Autozone, NAPA, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Walmart and Costco for a Group 51R battery with 500 cold cranking amps.

A year ago I needed a battery. Chose Sam's over Costco.
At my Costco, they directed me to a shelf of batteries and said, "There they are. Take it home and bring back the old one." Let's see, possibly injure my back lifting and changing, burn clothes with battery acid, freeze my fingers changing the battery, and drive twenty miles for the core charge refund. To each, his own.

[tophcfa]

A year ago I needed a battery. Chose Sam's over Costco.
At my Costco, they directed me to a shelf of batteries and said, "There they are. Take it home and bring back the old one." Let's see, possibly injure my back lifting and changing, burn clothes with battery acid, freeze my fingers changing the battery, and drive twenty miles for the core charge refund. To each, his own.

I brought the old battery in when I picked up the new one, so there was no core charge. I’d rather change the battery myself and know it was done right. It takes time to clean off the terminal connectors and properly treat both the battery terminals and connectors with a good terminal protector. I wouldn’t trust some kid working at Sam’s or Autozone to do the job to the standards I expect.