costco melbourne
Aug 9th 2009 | 6:02 pm
#76
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,948
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Re: costco melbourne
So they actually charge you for the privilege of shopping at their store?
Aug 9th 2009 | 6:08 pm
#77
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,054
Re: costco melbourne
Well, from my experience in Canada many of the small businesses in our town chose to drive the 45 minutes to the nearest Costco because many of the things they needed were still cheaper than the local wholesalers. My step mom bought some things from local wholesalers, some from a large bulk store and the rest (the bulk of it) from Costco. She compared all the prices and would spread her shopping about accordingly. Not all the products are cheaper at Coscto, but quite a bit of it is.
It's probably fruitless to compare prices to the US website. To get Costco going in Australia what they really need to do is distrube some flyers with a list of prices and make sure they include a unit price so that it is easier to compare. A lot of people still assume that the local wholesale suppliers will be cheaper and I think they would be surprised to see the differences.
For me, the benefit of Costco was always the cheaper prices and the selection (without the need to go all over for the best deal). More importantly they had a lot of the brands and items that I wanted, and the fact that you got them in bulk (cheaper) meant I didn't have to go shopping as often. Which suits me just fine.
It's probably fruitless to compare prices to the US website. To get Costco going in Australia what they really need to do is distrube some flyers with a list of prices and make sure they include a unit price so that it is easier to compare. A lot of people still assume that the local wholesale suppliers will be cheaper and I think they would be surprised to see the differences.
For me, the benefit of Costco was always the cheaper prices and the selection (without the need to go all over for the best deal). More importantly they had a lot of the brands and items that I wanted, and the fact that you got them in bulk (cheaper) meant I didn't have to go shopping as often. Which suits me just fine.
Aug 9th 2009 | 6:53 pm
#79
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,761
From: Westernport Mornington Peninsula
Re: costco melbourne
My friend dropped round today and her niece married a Canadian chap on Saturday and all his family were over for the wedding. Turns out the chap is going to be working at Costco. So they had a big discussion and it was decided that Costco is good if you only shop every few weeks like these Canadian people said they did but not good if you shop every day like most Australians do.
To get the new specials one would have to pop along all the time and I cannot imagine the unit dwellers doing that. Although my daughter tells me (she was working in Docklands) that the Costco people came to sell them memberships and told them they could buy single items so who knows what this Costco is going to be like.
I today went to DFO at Moorabbin have not been for a while and note that lot of warehouse bulk selling going on around there as well now.
To get the new specials one would have to pop along all the time and I cannot imagine the unit dwellers doing that. Although my daughter tells me (she was working in Docklands) that the Costco people came to sell them memberships and told them they could buy single items so who knows what this Costco is going to be like.
I today went to DFO at Moorabbin have not been for a while and note that lot of warehouse bulk selling going on around there as well now.
Aug 9th 2009 | 8:10 pm
#80
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,650
From: Mornington
Re: costco melbourne
Canadian people said they did but not good if you shop every day like most Australians do.
I don't know any Australians who shop every day, most are like us both in full time jobs with sod all time to pop down the shop for 2 carrots, 1 potatoe or whatever else we need for tea.
Even now we only shop every 2 weeks and when Costco opens we will use it the same as we did in the UK once every 3-4 months to stock up on the bulk items and we will hopefully save a packet doing so
I don't know any Australians who shop every day, most are like us both in full time jobs with sod all time to pop down the shop for 2 carrots, 1 potatoe or whatever else we need for tea.
Even now we only shop every 2 weeks and when Costco opens we will use it the same as we did in the UK once every 3-4 months to stock up on the bulk items and we will hopefully save a packet doing so
Aug 9th 2009 | 8:39 pm
#81
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 206
Re: costco melbourne
I must admit that whenever I went to the States, I just had to make time to get to Costco. Sad I know 
For people who haven't been to costco yet, I think a good comparison is how popular bunnings is here in oz. Different products etc..no membership fee, but the whole "experience " is the same. Walking into a bloody huge shed packed full of stuff to look .. and maybe buy. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but have to admit I'm and "addict" for both Costco and Bunnings 
For people who haven't been to costco yet, I think a good comparison is how popular bunnings is here in oz. Different products etc..no membership fee, but the whole "experience " is the same. Walking into a bloody huge shed packed full of stuff to look .. and maybe buy. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but have to admit I'm and "addict" for both Costco and Bunnings
Aug 9th 2009 | 9:33 pm
#82
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,761
From: Westernport Mornington Peninsula
Re: costco melbourne
We both worked full time and shopped every day we have lunch hours and the shops are open before and after work. Just like my food fresh as it can be as its not really fresh anyway but at least we try to get it fresh 
Aug 9th 2009 | 11:49 pm
#83
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,650
From: Mornington
Re: costco melbourne
Different generation I am afraid, my mum and dad used to shop everyday as well. We haven't done it 25 years of marriage and don't intend to start now.
