AIBU to ask if Costco membership is worth it?

[gassylady]

In laws used to have membership years ago and used to buy enormous trays of scones which were lovely. Am now eligible myself and when we move house will have room to do a bit of bulk storage for pasta, rice etc. But is it worth my £50 do they sell decent stuff or is it all dodgy own brands?

Popped in and it was rather overwhelming. Definitely worth it for me - thanks for all the suggestions. Came away with herbs, pasta, pannetone kitchen roll, loo rolls and few more bits

@laweaselNW
"You 100 per cent can buy using a credit card."
Since when did they start accepting credit cards? They never used to and I am not aware that they have changed heir policies to accept them. I think they would have notified members if this was the case. They do take debit cards.

OP, I think my DH's membership is @£29.95. (Not sure where you got the £50 cost from).

My purchases include:
Large Carrot cake
Tray of muffins
Good wines
Malt Whiskey
Printer paper
Shark upright Vacuum cleaner
Laptop Computers
Television
Home security system
Set of telephones
Spectacles
Tower fan
Solar-powered security lights
Huge set Harris paintbrushes
Packet 36 Microfibre cloths
Children's books
Men's underwear
Ladies' jacket
Waterproof boots - men's & women's
12' Cedar Gazebo

Whether membership is worth it depends on how much you will spend there. It's great for having the latest stuff tech-wise and TVs and computers come with a 5-year guarantee.

They have a refreshment area where you can have:
Baked potato with chilli & cheese for £1.50
Chicken & bacon bake £3.25
Pizza slices
Hotdogs
Cottage pie
3-scoop waffle ice cream in fab flavours for £2.00.

In my experience it has definitely be worth the cost of the subscription. It's great to just mooch around sometimes but I can ever leave without seeing something I have to buy.

What the heck - it is not remotely comparable with Aldi or Lidl. The quality of the stuff is superior with designer label clothes as well as their own (Kirkland Signature).

I think the meat is expensive but it is far better quality than in any supermarkets I've ever been in.

I think the flowers are very expensive compared to supermarkets though.

Kirkland ready mixed margarita is a big favourite in our house and with my SIL. We also like the mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers. You do have to be careful as somethings are more expensive but there are bargains to be had. Last month I got a huge pack of dishwasher tabs for the price I usually pay for half the amount.

Beware the Costco mind ray though. It gets you as you go in the door and makes it impossible to leave without spending at least £100 even if you only popped in to pick up a few packs of chicken wings.

I remember getting a birthday cake for my daughter there, fresh from the bakery. It was huge and we had difficulty getting through it. It tasted incredibly bland and didn't get stale or hard, despite being left on the kitchen worktop for several days. Must have been chock full of preservatives!

Do they still have restrictions on the occupations who can join?

I remember going a few years ago with a friend and looking at the board, not finding my occupation and thinking "well, if my money isn't good enough then sod you"

For the chicken nuggets alone, it's worth it.

I didn't realise the chicken nuggets were good. Must try them! Are they frozen?

Yes they're frozen. They come in a massive bag, which my family (of 4) demolishes in one sitting.

My local one doesn't accept credit cards.

I love costco, i often go and just stare lovingly at the enormous tvs.

We tend to buy birthday cakes from there.

Batteries are great deals
Mince is delicious & good value
Wrapping paper is great quality
Nice selection of alcohol & have come across some great deals, like 6 bottles of prosecco for £48 when one of those bottles in tesco was £9.

Its a dangerous place to shop though, you'd go for one thing & end up spending £200

Love Costco! I get my toilet roll from there, coffee mate, fruit, jam and Costco also do THE BEST blankets. I usually manage to find Christmas gifts in there plus they sell things like Levi jeans and branded hoodies. I also get my washing tablets from there it’s like 100 tablets for £15 (Ariel washing tablets)

I use my Mums card 4 times a year for huge cans of filter coffee, Starbucks coffee beans, Gillette razors, batteries, olive oil, herbs and sometimes shoes and jeans.
I am so relieved we don’t have one nearby as my husband was addicted to Costco. He bought huge amounts of stuff we don’t need including an enormous kayak that sat unused in the garage for years.

Wasn't worth it for me - I get 1.5% cashback on my credit card and the nearest one is 20-30 min drive away, as opposed to sainsburys and Lidl which I walk to. And get reduced stuff.

So never bothered getting my own membership.

They don’t ask for proof of partners living at same address.

Well worth having, especially if there’s a petrol station attached

Love Costco however I pop in for chicken and come out with a 6ft nutcracker or 15 ft swimming pool !

I sometimes take the kids on a Saturday morning and let them try all the samples... free lunch! Whoever called it the £200 shop has it nailed

Anywhere you buy 1l bottles of baileys for £8 on offer works for me.

Most bizarre Costco purchase has to be one of the giant Halloween butler a few years ago.

Costco don’t take Amex. Just debit cards.

My mum buys cat litter every month. It's £43 odds for 6 bags, yet the same bags cost £72 in Asda or Morrisons.

My dd's coffee is £13 for 6 compared to £4.50 for 1 in Asda.

We used to get toilet rolls and when the kids were in nappies they were good value.

I went today and was disappointed as they seemed to have very little.

You can't compare Costco to Aldi or Lidl!
I shop at all 3, plus Sainsbury's.

American quality of Costco is fabulous. Their meat and bakery and ribs, burgers etc are fab.

I didn't find it that cheap on the stuff I would have bought, so didn't renew after the first year. Other places can be cheaper.

I have been a member for few year and the new petrol station opened last month. Definitely buying in bulky saves me money than buying small things from Aldi or lido. I buy toilet paper, kitchen paper towels, washing up liquid, hand wash , chicken, chicken noodles and many more. My local Costco only takes payment by debit card, cash and America express credit card.

For us Costco membership is brilliant. We have loads of storage space though. I also buy for my neighbours. We stock up when things we use are on offer. I have an Amex card so also get money back on it. More than covers executive membership x2 and daughter's.

I agree that the meat is great quality as is the kitchen roll/loo roll.

I clearly don't see things the same way as pp's!
Of course it's not the cheapest! It's not meant to be the cheapest. It's quality! Top quality.
What have you had from Costco that's been BAD?
We've been members for 20 years. Go regularly. Never ever had bad. Anything.