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Costco is overhyped

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IronWing said:
At the Costco where I shop milk is 2 gallons for US$3.95. Milk prices are very regional.
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And they vary wildly for various chains within regions. In my area a gallon of milk is anywhere from $3.59 to $4.29 at the major supermarket chains. Costco is about $2.50 and the almighty Aldi is $3.79 to $3.99. Not sure why/how Aldi manages to beat Costco and chains by $1 a gallon in certain areas and yet be a buck a gallon more expensive than Costco and chains in other areas.
 
JM Aggie08 said:
It may be regional, but has anyone tried their beef fajitas/flank steak? Absolutely phenomenal.

We frequently get the bourbon or Italian seasoned pork medallions, and recently got the bulgogi beef (though I think that was a very limited thing 🙁)
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Try the beef cheeks if you can find them. Salt/pepper and brown then on all sides, then braise them in onion, carrots, garlic, tomato, beef stock, and wine for 4 hours.

It's the most tender and flavorful pot roast you've ever had.
 
They have good prices on meats. Rib Eye for 8.99\pound? And the quality is pretty good as well. For a lot of items I think their quality is high and price cheaper than competing stores.
 
Its the only place I go when I feel the need to purchase a birthday cake and flat screen TV at the same time.
 
Fritzo said:
Try the beef cheeks if you can find them. Salt/pepper and brown then on all sides, then braise them in onion, carrots, garlic, tomato, beef stock, and wine for 4 hours.

It's the most tender and flavorful pot roast you've ever had.
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Mmm sounds like you need to make some barbacoa with that sometime. As do I. Had no idea they had them at Costco, but in reality, I haven't even considered looking them for anywhere, not yet.
 
destrekor said:
Mmm sounds like you need to make some barbacoa with that sometime. As do I. Had no idea they had them at Costco, but in reality, I haven't even considered looking them for anywhere, not yet.
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Most Costco locations do not carry it. I've only found it at Costco Business Center locations. And there are only handful Business Center locations in the entire country. Better bet for most people is Walmart or regional Hispanic grocery stores.

Costco has good meats but so do Sam's and Restaurant Depot. One thing I do not like about Costco is they blade tenderize all beef that's not in cryovac.
 
Perknose said:
If by barbacoa you mean what I had, which conforms to this Wiki description, "In the U.S., barbacoa is often prepared with parts from the heads of cattle, such as the cheeks. In northern Mexico, it is also sometimes made from beef head" . . . then, I did order it one time at a Mexican (not Tex-Mex) restaurant I know and trust and like, but was definitely underwhelmed with the dish. 🙁
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Hmm. Honestly, I've never had what is likely authentic barbacoa. I've only had it in burrito bowls at various decidedly not Mexican burrito shops.
 
destrekor said:
Mmm sounds like you need to make some barbacoa with that sometime. As do I. Had no idea they had them at Costco, but in reality, I haven't even considered looking them for anywhere, not yet.
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Already did (inadvertently). The quick story:

- Family reunion, people in charge ordered a pig roast
- Asked twice if the pig guy knew what he was doing, reply was "yeah, he does it all the time".
- Arrived at reunion and saw a guy trying to cook a 150lb pig on a crappy grill like a steak.
- It was a two day pig and he had it on for 8 hours
- Butchered pig with a bread knife, grilled and braised the meat with water from a garden hose, some salt, and some garlic, onions, and coriander I found in an overgrown garden.
- Totally pulled it off 😀

Look at this mess!
20374751_1787662234581601_2188950050126634948_n.jpg
 
^^ fail. guess my reading comp is off today. i dont understand the story line. the weave of pig guy and you is confusing.
 
OutHouse said:
^^ fail. guess my reading comp is off today. i dont understand the story line. the weave of pig guy and you is confusing.
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TLDR: Wife's side of family had a family reunion. They hired a guy to cook a pig. He didn't know how to cook a pig. I do. Arrived at the party and salvaged the disaster.
 
Costco is a great place to shop for most people. If you are just a single person shopping for one, it may make less sense than for a larger family, but even then it can be beneficial. I'm in a new relationship but I've mostly been single the last few years and I have the second card from a family member so it's been nice. Sometimes we all share purchases like toilet paper and paper towls. Also just have freezer room if you buy things like meats. They always have other cool products there that aren't in bulk. Their pharmacy is top notch, generic prices are lower than the Walgreens of the world in my experience. On top of that they treat their employees well, far far better than industry competitors. Shopping there is really a win win IMO.

I use Better than Bouillon stock paste. At my local grocer a tiny jar of it is like 6 bucks. For a few bucks more I can get a jar that is at least 4-5x larger. You find that with a lot of products at costco.
 
I started a new membership this year, thinking that Costco would be better than Sam's, from my experience of 10 years ago. However, there's basically no difference now. A couple of interesting items that Sam's doesn't offer. Now we go basically because of the wine selection; living in the South, the market is completely distorted due to local liquor laws. Costco is 25%-30% cheaper. That's a local factor. I saw Costcos in other places with basically no wine selection, carrying only the more expensive ranges.
 
GreenGhost said:
I started a new membership this year, thinking that Costco would be better than Sam's, from my experience of 10 years ago. However, there's basically no difference now. A couple of interesting items that Sam's doesn't offer. Now we go basically because of the wine selection; living in the South, the market is completely distorted due to local liquor laws. Costco is 25%-30% cheaper. That's a local factor. I saw Costcos in other places with basically no wine selection, carrying only the more expensive ranges.
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This is nothing short of utter blasphemy.
 
Wait so I get a far smaller selection where products can vanish from the store for good at any random moment. I have to buy everything in end of the world fallout shelter sizes and there's a yearly fee? No thanks. Win-Co for basic shopping, Ralphs on Sunday or Monday night for manager markdowns on meat. Got some Prime Rib Eye for $7.50 a pound last week. The lines at the Costco out here are fucking awful, and that's coming from someone who shops 2 or 3 times a month at a Mega Walmart.
 
QueBert said:
Wait so I get a far smaller selection where products can vanish from the store for good at any random moment. I have to buy everything in end of the world fallout shelter sizes and there's a yearly fee? No thanks.
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What we saved on our TV purchase alone paid for the membership fee and then some.
 
JM Aggie08 said:
This is nothing short of utter blasphemy.
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Agreed. We have a Sams much closer than a Costco since we moved and we like Costco so much better (With the exception of Maker's Mark TP) A lot of the name brand stuff like cereal is the same but for other things Costco's quality is better. And the store environment isn't as depressing
 
Exterous said:
Agreed. We have a Sams much closer than a Costco since we moved and we like Costco so much better (With the exception of Maker's Mark TP) A lot of the name brand stuff like cereal is the same but for other things Costco's quality is better. And the store environment isn't as depressing
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Maker's Mark makes toilet paper now? 😵 Whoa, talk about ring of fire, ouch. 😱
 
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