https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:06:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-49699 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:53:07 +0000 mrsnarbonne 49699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a Costco in Taiwan, where we live, and we do a lot of our shopping there. Probably too much, because as previous posters stated, you go in wanting to get just one item and end up walking out with a bunch of other stuff. ;) </p> <p>We love their return policy - sometimes if the price is similar we will buy from Costco because we know we can return it. They once took back a fan that I had bought 5 years prior that had broken - I didn't think they would, but my husband asked, and they actually encouraged us to return it! Of course, we turned around and used our store credit to buy an even more expensive fan. :P</p> <p>Do be careful of the coupons, though, because sometimes they raise the price right before the coupon activates, so that you pay the same or more than the original price. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-49694 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:12:56 +0000 looch 49694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have warehouse style stores that are open to the public where we live and our lifestyle isn't really conducive to huge amount of stuff (limited storage, small fridge/freezer).</p> <p>Anyway, we are doing a relo to the US later this year and since we're a family of three, it doesn't make sense for us to get a membership to a warehouse store. The sizes on perishables are simply too much for us to consume. One thing you can do at Costco, not sure about other stores, is buy gift cards...any nonmember can use a gift card at Costco without a membership. Since my parents have a membership, we'll just get a few hundred dollars in gift cards a few times a year and use those to do a stock up if we feel we need it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-49555 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:25:12 +0000 mrscheesefries 49555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love Costco!</p> <p>Basically they are a giant warehouse store. They buy things in bulk lots from retailers, and then sell them at lower prices per piece than what you will see at traditional stores. You buy in bulk.</p> <p>Love them for things like meat and coffee, but it is tricky getting into the bulk mentality. It is cheaper (but more expensive up front when you're buying 10 of something instead of 1 of something). Our biggest issue is storage. It sounds like a good idea to buy 40 rolls of toilet paper, but then you get it home and have to figure out where to put it. If we didn't have a deep freeze and a big pantry, it would not make sense for us at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-49554 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:08:43 +0000 mrskc 49554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love Costco! For all reasons stated above. Watch out though, because if you're not careful, you'll end up buying stuff you never intended to. At least I tend to do that. So I make a list and stick to it. I head straight to those items and avoid browsing, so I don't buy something I don't need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-49523 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:10:45 +0000 MsMini 49523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love costco as well! It is just the 2 of us, but we stock up on things that are non-perishable (like TP, paper towel, kleenex, razor blades, toiletries), we also get our vitamins, OTC meds there (they are way cheaper than at the drugstore), and we have a huge freezer, so meats, pre-made meals etc are. They also have good deals on furniture, baby stuff (through the website) and lots of other things. We have an executive membership, and we get enough back per year to cover our membership cost, plus a little extra. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-49509 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:44:27 +0000 SugarplumsMom 49509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You will also be bombarded with yummy samples if you come during lunchtime! So you can try things out before you buy it. </p> <p>I LOVE Costco! I miss it so much. It's pretty interesting because you can find a pack of bananas for 99 cents right across from a kayak for $1000. They also have a really good selection on wines and ginormous bottles of alcohol! The jewelry selection is limited but the quality is top-notch and they even have a guarantee on all their diamonds.</p> <p>Also, if you happen to shop a lot, it might pay off to get an upgrade on your membership because you'll get a 2% discount on all purchases (correct me if I'm wrong, I've been away for a few years). For larger families, it pretty much will cover the membership fee plus.</p> <p>Note that they only accept American Express, cash or debit. No credit cards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-49500 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:29:01 +0000 MrsH 49500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Be warned you will walk out of the Costco with things you never intended to buy because it all seems like such a good deal - maybe that is just my problem:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44741 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:30:22 +0000 mrs. wagon 44741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm an extreme couponer (seriously, I have a binder and everything) and have come to the conclusion that Costco is still hands-down the best deal for most things, such as paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent (all Kirkland brand) and we LOVE their baby wipes. I wait for the coupon books to come out each month, and then whatever we use I stock up on like crazy. Our Costco is right around the corner so we go at least once a week to take advantage of deals like that (they usually have a limit for coupon use, per visit).</p> <p>Be careful with food and produce-- their meat is AWESOME (second only to buying from a butcher in bulk) but it's easy to buy too much and it goes bad before you can use it. </p> <p>And I echo the comments about the great return policy-- our Keurig was acting up so Rob Sr. brought it back, and they gave him a new one-- with the 60 free kcups!! So we got 60 kcups for free just for exchanging our Keurig. Sweet!!!</p> <p>If you buy enough you can upgrade to an executive membership. I share a membership with my parents, who buy a lot for their church, and the yearly rebate checks they get from all of our purchases more than covers the membership fee (I think it's $90 a year?). So they pay the membership fee each year, I get a free membership, and they get the rebate check. Win win! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44720 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:05:31 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 44720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I love Costco...he buys almost everything there.<br /> But I made him throw away his Kirkland jeans...I told him he jeans should not have the same label as our toilet paper : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44703 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:41:04 +0000 chopsuey 44703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamabolt: I LOVE COSTCO's return policy!! We just returned a broken 2 year old Keurig. Got cash back, no questions asked! They also took back my old engagement ring (about 2 years old) when my DH upgraded my rock. They're so awesome!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44700 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:25:11 +0000 mamabolt 44700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Costco also has a really amazing return policy - we returned electric toothbrushes that weren't holding a charge well after 7 months and they took them back no questions asked. A good freezer/storage space is a must if you are going to shop there often, but they can be a great place to save. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44647 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:55:56 +0000 venice4504 44647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To really get the most bang for your buck you'll need to buy a chest freezer or something to store all the food you buy. Everything is in bulk (think 10# of flank steak) so you'll end up freezing a ton. If you've got a bigger family you'll probably get a lot out of a Costco style store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44627 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:10:54 +0000 Red 44627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tequiero21: I'll take your word for it as I haven't tried their clothes yet. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44570 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:56:43 +0000 tequiero21 44570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Red: well, kirkland clothes - definitely very cheap - i'm speaking from experience. not very well made. we use their other products, like paper towels and all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44569 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:55:39 +0000 heffalump 44569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Laneybugsmommy: we have a Costco in Clearwater. I also love it, it's been great to get baby items in bulk. And I love their frozen food section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44564 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:26:36 +0000 Laneybugsmommy 44564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depending on where in Florida you took your placement, you'll have a hard time finding a costco. There are other bulk warehouses- Sam's club is the most popular in Florida, but there is also BJ's .We use Sam's club for our meat purchases (split up packages and freeze) and also for things like toilet paper, diapers, and dry goods. I don't know where you are moving to in Florida, but I live in central Fl on the west coast just north of Tampa- if you have any FL specific questions feel free to let me know :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44563 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:26:30 +0000 Laneybugsmommy 44563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depending on where in Florida you took your placement, you'll have a hard time finding a costco. There are other bulk warehouses- Sam's club is the most popular in Florida, but there is also BJ's .We use Sam's club for our meat purchases (split up packages and freeze) and also for things like toilet paper, diapers, and dry goods. I don't know where you are moving to in Florida, but I live in central Fl on the west coast just north of Tampa- if you have any FL specific questions feel free to let me know :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44542 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:26:03 +0000 Red 44542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love Costco too!! It's similar to a military commissary but much larger. You pay $50/yr membership and get discounted prices on what's sold which includes just about everything (even coffins!).</p> <p>In my former life, Costco was one of my accounts and they have a great business model. They mark up their goods only a fraction of what other retailers would and instead make their money from membership fees and volume. Their pharmacy also follows the same model and charges sometimes less than half of what other pharmacies will charge for prescriptions. They're also very ecologically responsible, work with sustainable vendors when possible, and carry a good amount of organic foods. Another thing that most people don't know is that Costco performs their own battery of tests on a lot of the items (especially toys) that they bring in to make sure they pass standards. </p> <p>Oh, and their private brand (Kirkland) actually performs as well if not better than a lot of name brands (according to consumer reports). I would definitely check them out when you get back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44541 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:20:34 +0000 tequiero21 44541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you buy in bulk and save some. i think you get your money's worth in membership. for example, we just bought a keurig for $150. it cost the same at best buy, except the one we got from costco included 60 extra cups of coffee, which is probably worth like $50. </p> <p>i think it's nice getting jewelry and watches (their return policy is awesome). clothes - i'd stick to the name brands (they sell adidas, dockers, etc.). the kirkland stuff (costco's brand?) is a little cheap, so i'd stay away from that.</p> <p>food - unless you're feeding a big family or buying things that don't expire right away or just eat a LOT of certain things, i'd stay away from. i think you end up wasting more by throwing things away. we buy frozen stuff, dog food, etc.</p> <p>supplies - we buy from costco (paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, printer ink, etc).</p> <p>good luck in FL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44540 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:02:45 +0000 chopsuey 44540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You pay $50 a year for membership. It's a HUGE warehouse filled with food, clothes, appliances, jewelry everything you need for your home. They sell food, water, drinks, toiletries, etc in bulk so you end up saving money.<br /> I love costco! They sell gas too! And tires.. :)<br /> Costco.com<br /> Check it out!<br /> DH and I used to go every Saturday morning for food samples. :) HAHA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44536 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:41:18 +0000 StbHisMrs 44536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's a warehouse setting and you buy in bulk, many savings to be had! I love Costco! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/costco-someone-explain-it-to-me#post-44534 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:22:52 +0000 MH.Abroad 44534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As some of you know, DH and I live overseas. We've been living outside the states for practically our entire lives, with short furloughs to the US occasionally. I've been living outside the US since I was 14, DH since age 7.</p> <p>Well, we've just accepted a placement in Florida for 1-2 years, and being the research addict that I am, I'm trying to figure out life back in my own country. :)</p> <p>Since we make very little money, I've been researching budget living in the US, and I'm curious about Costco. I keep hearing about it being a good way to save money.<br /> I know it's a membership thing, which I don't really get. Will some kind American please explain it to this confused ex-pat? :) </p>