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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   The Maple Leaf (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/)
-   -   Costco - worth the hype? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/costco-worth-hype-926271/)

Oink Jul 7th 2019 6:25 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
I hate the place. It's hell.

scrubbedexpat091 Jul 7th 2019 6:39 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Especially the Burnaby on Brighton Ave and the one in Richmond, insane level busy, and the Burnaby one parking lot is way too small.

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 12707716)
I hate the place. It's hell.

jandro Jul 7th 2019 6:43 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by Lion Heart (Post 12707622)
Hi guys

Wondering if there are any Costco shoppers here? We are thinking of joining the Halifax Costco, but the annual membership is around $50 from memory.

Is it actually worth it? Is stuff actually cheaper there??
We had one for a while but then OH decided it wasn't worth the savings for the membership cost and didn't want to renew. Our cheque never covered the membership fee. Many food items tend to be bulk size - much larger than you find in a regular supermarket. I liked a few food items there. For a large family it would definitely be worth it. I remember at work a lot of people would go there for lunch - a bit of a greasy spoon I thought.

sid nv Jul 7th 2019 7:38 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
It's worth it for the Kirkland Golden Margarita alone. Costco recently had Kirkland Margarita on sale at $6.95 for a 1.75L bottle. Had to fit the roof rack as I could not get any more in the car boot.

scilly Jul 7th 2019 7:49 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by sid nv (Post 12707736)
It's worth it for the Kirkland Golden Margarita alone. Costco recently had Kirkland Margarita on sale at $6.95 for a 1.75L bottle. Had to fit the roof rack as I could not get any more in the car boot.
Sid ........... that wouldn't apply in Canada. Most grocery stores are not allowed to sell liquor like they do in the US

scilly Jul 7th 2019 7:51 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Regarding the OP's question .................. my daughter and her husband live in Metro Halifax, love getting cheaper deals, but have never joined Cosco as they said it didn't work for them.

sid nv Jul 7th 2019 8:03 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by scilly (Post 12707738)
Sid ........... that wouldn't apply in Canada. Most grocery stores are not allowed to sell liquor like they do in the US
Even more reason to join then. Make a cross-border trip with a Transit van and fill up similar to people who go cross-channel from UK to France. Or do Canada Customs frown on this?

I imagine Costco US stores recognize Canadian Costco membership cards. I have used a UK Costco membership card in the US in the past.

beckiwoo Jul 7th 2019 8:29 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by sid nv (Post 12707743)

I imagine Costco US stores recognize Canadian Costco membership cards. I have used a UK Costco membership card in the US in the past.
yes they do. I have a UK card and it works in Canada and USA.

And Kirkland bottles of Prosecco in the USA is definitely worth a trip. Works out at about $10CAN - you pay about $15-$24 for a bottle in BC liquor stores.

However there is restrictions on the amount of alcohol you can bring over the border

BristolUK Jul 7th 2019 8:39 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Do they sell Makrut Lime Leaves?

(other thread joke) :rofl:

Partially discharged Jul 7th 2019 10:20 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by scilly (Post 12707738)
Sid ........... that wouldn't apply in Canada. Most grocery stores are not allowed to sell liquor like they do in the US
The ones in Quebec sell beer and wine and cider. Beer is very cheap but it is usually swill or the type I buy for when it is my turn to buy beer for my footie team post game beer and then add a few that I would want to drink. The Costco in Gatineau sells beer in 60 packs.

We buy things like bread, bagels, chicken thighs, cheese, coffee cream, bananas, toilet paper, cleaning products, ice cream, tea bags, Dijon mustard, deodorant, toothpaste, olive oil, printer cartridges, batteries, salmon, socks, underwear, jeans, printer paper, ski lift tickets, car rentals. etc.

Atlantic Xpat Jul 7th 2019 1:26 pm
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Costco is not always cheaper but, here at least is a source of decent beef - better than loblaws/sobeys and good fruit and veg. Ymmv if you are not at the end of a long supply chain like we are here. Costco is popular in Newfoundland - and there is only one store for the whole province - with Canada’s largest Costco recently opening here.

CanadaJimmy Jul 7th 2019 3:29 pm
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by sid nv (Post 12707743)
Even more reason to join then. Make a cross-border trip with a Transit van and fill up similar to people who go cross-channel from UK to France. Or do Canada Customs frown on this?

I imagine Costco US stores recognize Canadian Costco membership cards. I have used a UK Costco membership card in the US in the past.
Canada customs aggressively tax you on any booze you bring back in less than a 24 hour period, and after 48 hours its still very limited how much you can bring back.
You can bring back up to 1.5 litres of wine or 1.14 litres of alcoholic beverages or up to 8.5 litres of beer.
I think its stupid personally but it is what it is.

As for Costco, I alternate between thinking its worth it and not. Right now we have it as they are unbeatable for baby diapers and wipes and we have easily saved the cost of the membership fee. Their bakery is also really good. In the suburbs I find its almost expected for you to have one, especially if you put on lots of social gatherings.

dbd33 Jul 7th 2019 11:36 pm
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 12707847)

Canada customs aggressively tax you on any booze you bring back in less than a 24 hour period, and after 48 hours its still very limited how much you can bring back.
That's the law but individual officers may be more relaxed. I always declare the booze and usually get waved through. If they do charge the taxes the price is sill a bit less than the liquor store; it's a bother to go in and pay but not a disaster.

Zoe Bell Jul 8th 2019 12:01 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
worth it for the speed and efficiency of the checkout staff if nothing else in my opinion.
there might be long line ups but they wizz through them
staff are friendly and cheerful as well as competent. The staff is my local sobeys rarely hit one out of three of those.

Meat is excellent. Paper products exceptional value. Not always huge savings if you are a couple as most quantities are simply too big, nut still worth it imo

Jerseygirl Jul 8th 2019 12:26 am
Re: Costco - worth the hype?
 
Originally Posted by Zoe Bell (Post 12707961)
worth it for the speed and efficiency of the checkout staff if nothing else in my opinion.
there might be long line ups but they wizz through them
staff are friendly and cheerful as well as competent. The staff is my local sobeys rarely hit one out of three of those.

Meat is excellent. Paper products exceptional value. Not always huge savings if you are a couple as most quantities are simply too big, nut still worth it imo
For quickness I leave quite a bit of my goods (unless it’s a small item) in the shopping cart, with the bar code facing upwards.This way they can hand scan the items quicker.


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