Costco Membership Dues - a rip off?

[Dogmama]

Got my automatic renewal - $180/year. We have a business membership and also pay for my adult (36 years old) stepdaughter (sigh). I've been noticing that Target is comparable and sometimes cheaper. I buy meat for my dog (cook for the dog) but can get a better deal with grocery store sales. It used to be that we got a certain percentage back with the AMEX card, but now we have a VISA that also pays a certain percentage back. So, I'm not sure that I save $180/year. Plus, it's a PIA to go with crowds in & out of the store.

So, I'm considering dumping this. But my friends are aghast that I would even consider NOT going to Costco. Am I a freak? Has anybody else dumped their membership - or never even taken one out? (The step daughter will stomp her foot - hope she doesn't chip an expensive pedicured nail - oh - was that out loud? :eek:)

[Blueberry]

Our membership isn't anywhere near that expensive, and I do believe we get our money's worth from it. We buy many, many veggies from them (things that aren't in season locally), some cheese, some select meats, contact solution, contacts (that actually pays for the membership), etc. I wonder if you can downgrade to a less expensive personal membership if you're not using it for business that much? And tell the step daughter she's on her own (oops - I guess that was out loud too!).

ETA: I should say - I have lots of friends who don't have sams or costco. I refuse to do business with sams because of the treatment of their workers. However, I think it's a perfectly valid choice to not have a big discount club membership. We are very cautious with what we purchase, but they definitely can encourage over-consumption in the worst way, and most people don't *need* one. I find it a good, economical source for things I would purchase anyway. Others might not agree. That's OK.

[roadie gal]

We had a $75 Costco membership a few years ago. After a while we realized that it just wasn't adding up for us, so we dropped it. Now we have a Sam's membership. So far that one is paying for itself, especially with the 5 cents/gallon off on gas. But you're right, people can't believe it when you don't have a Costco membership.

[indysteel]

I've never been a member of either Cosco (the ones in my area are too far away) or Sam's, but if you're comparing Target prices, you might think about using one of their Red cards. It acts as a debit card so the money comes right out of your bank account. With it, you get 5% off every purchase, including online. You also get free shipping online.

[TrekDianna]

I've never been in a Costco, Sam's. target etc.

[ny biker]

As a single person living in a small home, I generally don't need or have room to store the bulk items that you can get at a place like Costco. The one closest to me is zoo anyway. Just trying to get in or out of the parking lot is infuriating.

Several family members have memberships at BJ's, so I'll often go there when I'm visiting NY. I considered getting a membership because you can get some good deals there but decided I wouldn't use it enough to justify it.

I actually find that my local grocery store often has very good prices on things, comparable to Target, and Trader Joe's also has good prices. And the Bed Bath and Beyond in my 'hood sells health and beauty stuff (shampoos, lotions, soaps, toothpaste) at very good prices. Between them and the occasional trip to Walmart I don't need buy a membership anywhere.

[Irulan]

Whoa, $180? What membership is that? Are you buying your kids cards too? I have the executive which is $150 a years and I get that amount or close to it in a coupon once a year, you dont have to tie it to a card. My adult son pays me back for his card. You can certainly downgrade your membership to the lowest level if you want to maintain it.

It's just the two of us. I am picky about what I buy but I also have a pantry and a chest freezer for storage. I buy a lot of the 8-packs of canned goods, coffee beans, pastas for the freezer, certain snacks like raw almonds (keep the bulk in the freezer) and Lara bars. The meat is very good so I portion it and freeze it. And gas? Always 10 cents a gallon less than anywhere else. It helps that Costco is only 10 minutes away from my house. I can go at 7 PM when it's empty. The selection of affordable organics is improving all the time. Also, if you don't have prescription coverage, the pharmacy is great.

You just have to do the math on what you buy and how you use or store it. I am not an impulse shopper at all, so it's pretty rare that I purchase anything that is not on my grocery list. My rule is, "if its not there next time, you probably don't need it" and I've only been burned once. I don't buy tires, or office supplies. I routinely get out of there for less than $100.

I shop at Costco extensively for our camping, ski and raft trips.

As a side note, Costco pays real living wages and makes health insurance and other benefits available to al employes. They support a lot of regional and artist entrepreneurs, and both those things are something you'll never find at other discounters.

Bottom line, it's not a rip off if you are using it an feel like you are getting good value out of it.

[Becky]

Another Target trick: If your credit card is one that gives an additional percentage back for purchases in certain categories, be aware that Target's merchant category code is "Grocery Stores". You can look MCCs up at http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/usa/supplier/ListLoadAction.do.

We buy as many things as possible at Target because our grocery store % back is higher than it is at other types of merchants.

[PamNY]

I got a free Costco membership through Amex and used it exactly once. The prices simply weren't that good. Of course, I have to get there by subway so that limits how much I can bring home.

I know people who think Costco is great, but I can do just as well with Trader Joe's, Chinatown and regular grocery store specials.

[withm]

Nope - as a single person, I have never been a member at Costco, BJs, or any other membership store. I have no need, nor space for the large quantities required, and buy very little processed or frozen foods. While there is a BJs about 40 minutes from me, it's in the wrong direction to anywhere I ever go. It's at least 2 hours to Costco, Target, Whole Foods, or Trader Joes, and not really on the way to anywhere I go on a regular basis. Certainly no temptation there.

On the other hand I live within 3 miles of 4 different grocery stores (2 very good ones, and 2 well, not as good) and work about 5 minutes from a wonderful CSA pick up location, and I can bike to any number of backyard farm stands all summer long, and walk to the ocean. :)

Clothes shopping is another story however - good thing for the internet!

[GLC1968]

I'm fairly certain we pay $50 a year for our annual membership (for the two of us)! $180 is nuts.

And hell yeah, $50 is worth it. There are two Costco's within 10 miles of us and one of them is walkable from my office, so it's easy shopping for us. We buy boatloads of produce, nuts and meat from them every couple of weeks. They often carry great deals on organics and for us...a vast majority of the in-season stuff is local. Ours carries local, pastured eggs as well. We never even go down half of the aisles since we no longer eat any pre-packaged or processed foods, and yet it's still a great deal for us.

For those that don't shop there (I can't speak for BJ's as I've never been) because you have to buy in bulk, you really don't. Not everything comes in mammoth sizes!

We've also had good luck buying electronics and various other home goods there on occasion but it is very important to be cognizant of pricing as it's not always the best deal.

Between Costco, TJ's, two CSA's and New Seasons (a local 'Whole Foods' type place but better prices and selection of local stuff), we hardly ever go to a regular grocery store anymore!

[Irulan]

I'm fairly certain we pay $50 a year for our annual membership (for the two of us)! !

That is the basic membership with no cash back.



We've also had good luck buying electronics and various other home goods there on occasion but it is very important to be cognizant of pricing as it's not always the best deal.


If you have to get a laptop for a kid (high school or college) they have a really awesome 2 year return policy on electronics. It's good even for things like, "tripped on the power cord and it fell off the table onto the floor and the screen broke". You won't find that anywhere else unless you buy an extended warranty.

[shootingstar]

In Vancouver, we've lived near a Costco that's only 2 blocks away. It has been open there for last 6 yrs.

But we never shopped there. We don't buy stuff in bulk on that scale and to have room to store it all, to make it cost-effective for 2 of us. Besides..Chinatown is only half a block away, and a pile of grocery, drug stores to get good sales on items.

I've only shopped at Costco once in my life....when I was with a friend and she had a card.

[Catrin]

I've thought about a Costco membership fairly often in the last couple of years. I've heard good things about thier meats & organic foods. As a single woman it is hard to justify the fee, and I don't have a separate freezer. I get what I need at Trader Joes, a local butcher with decent prices (and I know where thier farm is), Marsh & Whole Foods on occasion.

I get a lot of value for my modest budget, so I doubt I am missing anything. Part of me would still like to try it but it is just hard to justify.

[ny biker]

With their BJ's membership, my parents buy things like OTC medicines and vitamins -- things they take every day so buying larger quantities makes sense. I'm sure they've done the math re: the membership cost vs. the money they save. But I don't know how much variation there is in membership fees for the different warehouse clubs, so it's possible that some are better deals than others.

[GLC1968]

I just want to reiterate - you don't need to buy huge quantities at Costco. My husband and I now live in a 1400 sf house with almost no storage - certainly without a pantry or anything. It's just the two of us and we shop at Costco all the time.

The largest things I buy are a 78 oz container of coconut oil, 18 ct eggs or large spice bottles (cinnamon, salt, pepper, chili powder...the things we use in quantity) and while they last a long time, they don't take up that much more room than a regular sized container. You certainly don't need to buy cases of mayo or anything. Maybe that's how these stores used to do it, but now most food things are packaged in a reasonable size. At most, something might come in a double pack (like ketchup) where you have to store one of the two bottles.

[Owlie]

My parents kept their Sam's membership after we moved out--it was worth the savings on gas, until my mom left her then-job for one that let her work remotely, and until my dad got a job in Boston. We still get giant packages of razor blades, allergy meds, toilet paper, cumin, oatmeal, etc from there and parcel them out between us (my mom, my sister and I).

[Dogmama]

I do have the Target card & get the 5% off. It's a sweet deal.

But - with the Costco card - we do get a percentage off using their AMEX card. But I also get a percentage off on my Chase Visa & sometimes it's 5% on groceries, etc. So it's almost a wash. Plus there is the hassle factor. A Costco run can eat up a big portion of an afternoon, since I don't go in for just one thing.

[Crankin]

I don't shop at Costco or any of those places. My friends make fun of me, but I absolutely hate the whole concept.
Many years ago, (I was pg with my son who is turning 28), we joined Price Club, which I think turned into BJ's or one of those places. We ended up buying tons of stuff we didn't need, like giant bags of pistachio nuts. I think I went there 3 times, as DH was the one enamored of the idea.
I buy everything online, except groceries. I enjoy going to my local grocery store, which is fairly small and has almost everything I need. I do the rest at Trader Joe's and small local farms. We use our Amex for everything. In fact, I used Amex points to buy my family room furniture from Crate and Barrel when we moved into this house.

[emily_in_nc]

I've never been to Costco but have heard good things. It was always a long drive from where we were living so just not worth checking out.

[eofelis]

We don't have a Costco here. We do have a Sams Club. I've never bought a membership though. Sometimes I'd go there with a friend who has a membership and buy a few things with her card.

Now, my workplace has a Sams Club Card that employees can borrow for personal shopping. Have to pay in cash though. I go periodically to buy a few select items that I can't find cheaper elsewhere.

At Sams Club you don't have to be a member to use the optical store or the pharmacy. I sometimes buy contacts there.

[Koronin]

We have a Sam's membership. (The basic one). Mostly use it for paper, razor blades, OTC meds, paper products stuff like that, and gas. It does save us a bit of money throughout the year. We don't have a Cosco's near us. (Or a BJ's for that matter).

[spokewench]

I used to have a membership at Sams - we do not have a Costco in our town. I found that I went there for only a few items that I felt were really good quality, etc. like some of the fruits and some of the meat. I found that if I shop the grocery stores in town and look for deals, I get what I want at a good economical price and I also get what I want, i.e. if I want organic low salt broth, I can get that and sometimes the Sams choices were too limited so that I would not be able to get low salt or something like that. It is just my husband and myself too so we don't really need large quantities of items.