DigitalGhost

You should move to the UK and get a job at Costco. It's almost never crowded because you need a special card to be allowed in. Most people don't qualify for the card and it also comes with an annual fee.

It's basically like a casino or a high-end nightclub, only more shit.

Jerseygirl

the same applies to their stores all over the world...not just the UK.

scrubbedexpat097

So why does it worry you? Did they turn down your application?

scrubbedexpat091

Costco is the same here membership wise, anyone who wants to fork over the annual fee can join. $60 or $120 per year depending on level looking at their website.

We have too limited a budget to shop there, but have been a member in the past to try it out, they are always so busy and so crowded.

I have applied at Costco before across several locations in several city's and whatever they look for, I don't have it, but then Wal-Mart didn't hire me either..

Jerseygirl

They have an extremely low turnaround of staff because they are treated to well. They are not allowed to accept tips if they help you load goods into your vehicle, as they are well paid to cover tips etc.

I have been a Costco member for 25 years. I receive a very nice cheque every year. Their returns policy is second to none...no questions asked. Electronics...Costco cover the item for an additional 1 year after the manufacturer’s warranty. Pay by a Costco credit card and you are covered for 3 years. If you are not satisfied with your membership...no problem...full refund at any time.

Steerpike

I'd forgotten about their amazing return policy - as you say, second to none. I buy everything I can there for that reason - TVs, furniture, luggage, etc. And to keep this thread on topic in case the mods come after us ... ... Costco implemented the best 'plexiglass shields' at their checkouts I've ever seen. In my neck of the woods, some grocery stores have no 'shields' between cashiers and customers; others have a little shield right in front of the cashier, but most of the time I find myself to one side or the other of the shield. But Costco - they installed a long, long shield from one end of the checkout (starting at the start of the conveyor belt) to the other, so there's no 'exchange of air' between you and the cashier. I see this as more of a benefit to the cashier than to me. Also, since the stores are so massive, I feel better about the 'air' situation there. The ceilings are always super-high, and they have big fans moving the air.

scrubbedexpat091

I forgot they refund the membership fee if not happy.

I should have asked for a refund back when we had it, I think we went 2 times in total and found it wasn't a viable way for us to get groceries.

Best value is the OTC meds, don't think there is anywhere cheaper per pill.

Toilet paper, eggs, soda, per unit I never found cheaper food per unit usually was but the problem was when total price is like $20-$25 each, and you have $75, well you can't get enough variety at Costco

If I had to pay the pharmacy filling fee that savings alone would pay for the membership in like 1 month for us, but in BC you don't need to be a member to use the pharmacy anyhow, (maybe the same elsewhere?) but since the government covers the $10 filling fee per script, I just use the closest pharmacy, not worth driving 20km or more to save the government money.

We still had our membership when we went to see my mom in 2017, I think my mom bought a years worth of groceries, she got more use from our card then we did....and I totally forgot Costco in the US sells booze, I could not believe how much booze they sold.

When the border is open a lot of people in BC go to the Bellingham, Washington Costco they had to build a bigger store then the city of that size would normally have because they generally cater to both the local market + thousands of BC lower mainland residents, the US stores just have way better selection of products, plus the milk is cheaper, like 1/2 price of what milk costs in BC, cheese to, and butter, probably the top 3 products Canadian's buy in Washington state and gas.

jimenato

Never heard of them until this thread.

Their qualification criteria for membership are frankly weird. Why do they even need them?

scrubbedexpat091

UK law stricter on who a membership store can accept?

https://www.costco.co.uk/membership-...l-requirements

In Canada and presumably the US any adult can join, just fork over the money for the membership.

Jerseygirl

what is the criteria?

when we first moved to the US I wondered why on earth anyone would pay to shop. Then we bought a house...the rest is history.

Steerpike

Where do you live? I find it hard to believe anyone hasn't heard of Costco! (honestly ... just can't imagine .. no offence ... ).

It may be different in different countries, but in the US, I think they have to have membership in order to qualify for various pricing / resale agreements from vendors. They are technically a 'wholesale' club. Now, I think the lines between wholesale and retail have blurred greatly in recent times, but 'back in the day', there were many vendors who would only sell to 'wholesale' operations, and Costco was able to qualify as a wholesale operation by virtue of the membership. I suspect much of this has disappeared now, with the advent of 'big box' stores in general (like Home Depot, etc). I further suspect that these days, they perpetuate the 'membership' approach purely as a money-maker. Once you pony up that membership, you are more compelled to shop there (to 'get your moneys worth').

Having a membership system also gives them the right to refuse service to non-members; basically allowing them to discriminate. Not sure how this would matter these days but something to consider. Tesco's can't say "no entry to people who don't make 'x' income" but Costco are essentially doing that by setting a stiff membership fee. Just a thought.
When I first joined (US), back in the 80s or 90s, you had to meet some criteria. It was a bit silly, but I had a bank account with a 'credit union' and that was my way in. Don't know if that's still the case.

robin1234

I’ve heard of Costco, but I’ve never ever seen one of their stores, in US, Canada, or the UK, and I travel around quite a bit. They must hide them away or something.

I’m pretty sure there isn’t one within 100 miles of here.

scrubbedexpat091

The membership fee is a nice money maker for them I imagine, probably helps offset the generous return policy, also helps them track returns and catch abusers more easily I would imagine.

Costco has a bit of an interesting history for me anyhow as it in part connects back to San Diego.

In 1954 Sol Price opened a membership store called Fed Mart in San Diego, James Sinegal (who would later become co-founder or Costco in 1983) started in 1955 at Fed Mart and worked up through the ranks to an Executive VP before leaving in the 1970's. By 1982 Fed Mart was no more.

In 1976 Sol Price opened Price Club in San Diego, initially membership was only available to businesses but slowly opened up to other groups.

In 1983 James Sinegal co-founded Costco in Seattle

Both companies continued to grow, by 1993 both companies were facing increased competition, so they merged and the new company was called Price Costco and the stores were operated under their separate branding.

In 1997 Price Costco renamed its self to Costco Wholesale and all stores became known at Costco.

If your ever in San Diego area, some of the older Costco locations are the old Price Club locations, the first Price Club location is now Costco Warehouse 401, located on MORENA BLVD, opened July 1, 1976.

robin1234

Isn’t that like cash and carries in the UK? Back in the 80s, we were youth hostel wardens, so we were eligible to use the cash and carries. They were like hypermarkets but even bigger. They sold catering/wholesale products plus regular supermarket products too. And, you didn’t have to pay VAT. I assume they still exist in the UK..

Pulaski

Not really. If you work for the government in the UK almost any capacity, including the Post Office, and NHS, or for some reason if you work for a bank, insurance company or airline, then you're allowed to joined. Also if you're qualified as one of the "traditional" professions - doctor, lawyer, accountant, architect, surveyor, or engineer, or if your employer pays a fee so they can offer membership as a perk of the job.

The NHS employs about 1.5 milllion, the MoD (military and civilians) about 250k, the civil service about 420k, and local government over 2million, the Post Office about 140k, then there are 1.1million bank employees, and 300k in insurance. The number for airlines is hard to find, but, including UK based employees of foreign airlines, I think that 50k is a very conservative number. Then there are 140k solicitors, over 250k accountants, 50k architiects and 450k engineers. And that lot up (6.65million) and you already get over 20% of the British workforce, before considering the employers who chip in as a perk for their employees. I excluded police, fire, education, and doctors as I assume most would be double counted under "local government" and "NHS" employment. My guess would be that about half of major employers offer Costco as a perk (conservatively 30% of the workforce), so perhaps half of employees in the UK and therefore maybe 60%+ of couples have the potential to get membership. My parents qualified through my mother's emplomement, but there isn't one close enough to make shopping there worthwhile.

I'd join Costco if there was one nearby, but IMO it's not worth driving 30 miles just to shop at Costco, never mind the fee, IMO it isn't worth the time and petrol. We have a BJ's membership (competitor to Costco) and nearly dropped it this spring, but it has been reassuring to have another "buying option" since the grocery shelves went bare in March, but we don't shop there often, usually just when we're passing nearby.