Costco - making me think about becoming a member again.

[Perknose]

Which isle was that in or was it a seasonal item?

It's at one of those samples kiosks. It's a seasonal item called, iirc, Jingle Balls. There was a loooong line at my Costco.

 

[dainthomas]

There was a line this weekend at my local Costco of people returning used Christmas trees.

People like that are why we can't have nice things.

 

[Pens1566]

There was a line this weekend at my local Costco of people returning used Christmas trees.

People like that are why we can't have nice things.

JFC

 

[hal2kilo]

We've been Costco members since they opened their first whse in Modesto...1989. We now live 75 miles from the closest one...doesn't really make sense to maintain the membership...but we do.

Nothing in Aberdeen yet?

 

[nakedfrog]

Nothing in Aberdeen yet?

I think "Nothing in Aberdeen" is already a complete sentence

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

There was a line this weekend at my local Costco of people returning used Christmas trees.

People like that are why we can't have nice things.

When I worked at Walmart I saw a guy return 10 empty bags of sand because it was the wrong texture.

Not sure how he got through the last 9 bags without realizing but he got his money back.

 

[Sunburn74]

My understanding is that what costco takes in from just the memberships alone (something that costs them basically nothing) is more than the revenue of the entire NFL. Yeah they're not falling apart over a few shady returns.

 

[esquared]

My understanding is that what costco takes in from just the memberships alone (something that costs them basically nothing) is more than the revenue of the entire NFL. Yeah they're not falling apart over a few shady returns.

From a google search it looks like costco makes around 5Byr from dues.
Quick check show the NFL made 20.2 B in 2023

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Here in uber MAGA land; Space coast Fl. the only Costco is always chock-a-block so DEI hires must not be too much of a concern for them.

Welcome to Costco, I love you.

 

[hal2kilo]

I think "Nothing in Aberdeen" is already a complete sentence

Well, at least Kurt Cobain was from there.

 

[nakedfrog]

Well, at least Kurt Cobain was from there.

Yeah, they do have a memorial to him, and the sign when you enter the town says "Come As You Are" now. The Nirvana faithful do often make trips there when they visit the area, they'll hit up the fancy house in Seattle and go to the bridge in Aberdeen. You can AirBNB the place in Olympia where he wrote Smells Like Teen Spirit, I thought about it for shits and giggles, book it and write a song while I'm staying there, but it's a 3 day minimum and after fees it's $742 before taxes, I don't think my giggles and shits would be adequate to justify that kind of expense

 

[JTsyo]

We've been Costco members since they opened their first whse in Modesto...1989. We now live 75 miles from the closest one...doesn't really make sense to maintain the membership...but we do.

Too far for online orders too?

 

[hal2kilo]

Too far for online orders too?

Can't get free samples online.

 

[woolfe9998]

The $1.50 hotdog and Pepsi alone is worth the membership IMO. Even better with rumors they're going back to Coke next year.

Costco sells those dogs at a loss. Haven't ever raised the price. It's about the best deal on food like anywhere in the country.

 

[akugami]

I live in a general area with a basically white bread demographic, yet I can tell you if there was some mythical boycott by Asian shoppers there, they'd lose half their business. Costco is my favorite business for everything they do.

As an Asian, the missus and I joke that if you want to know where the local Asian population is, just go find the nearest Costco.

 

[akugami]

The costco I go to in south jersey must allow everyone to fill up gas at their pumps due to some local law i think, including non-members. the lines are always batshit insane and sometimes i dont' feel like waiting.

From what I recall, there was supposed to be some NJ law of some sort that banned membership only gas. Something to do with the fact that NJ requires gas station attendants to pump your gas. This law was defeated, and for a while NJ Costcos had a sign saying members only, but so many complained that it was easier for them to just sell to everyone.

Costco gas is cheaper than any gas station nearby, and using their card, I get very good cash back rewards.

 

[HomerJS]

There was a line this weekend at my local Costco of people returning used Christmas trees.

People like that are why we can't have nice things.

My upbringing wouldn't allow it.

 

[hal2kilo]

As an Asian, the missus and I joke that if you want to know where the local Asian population is, just go find the nearest Costco.

You haven't lived until you've shopped at the Costco in Garden Grove, CA.

 

[akugami]

You haven't lived until you've shopped at the Costco in Garden Grove, CA.

LOL. I have been to that Costco actually. Although only once. Mainly to pick up a couple cases of water and some snacks while riding around Socal. I still have relatives a bit further north in W.Covina and Rosemead.

 

[Moonbeam]

I hate Costco for creating so much waste. You have to buy ten times the amount you want and can’t eat before the expiration date but buy it anyway because the same product in smaller usable portions so much more expensive by weight.

 

[MrSquished]

I hate Costco for creating so much waste. You have to buy ten times the amount you want and can’t eat before the expiration date but buy it anyway because the same product in smaller usable portions so much more expensive by weight.

Depends how you shop. A bunch of things there are good for freezing for example. The chicken parts come in thick freezer worthy portions of three bags per. With any of the meats in general just use freezer bags to save what you won't use in time.

I'm a household of one and I shop at Costco and don't waste it. I'm sure many people do but that's often on them.

 

[ivwshane]

I hate Costco for creating so much waste. You have to buy ten times the amount you want and can’t eat before the expiration date but buy it anyway because the same product in smaller usable portions so much more expensive by weight.

You don’t have a freezer? If not, get a vacuum sealer while you are at it.

Shopping at Costco for food requires good planning. For instance, I’ll buy a rotisserie chicken and it’ll be good for three different meals after deboning and prepping the chicken. For fruits, anything I can’t eat while it’s ripe get frozen and turned into smoothie ingredients. Any meat I get also gets frozen. Quick tip for ground beef: when freezing them portion out how much you’d typically use in a meal and then flatten that out and freeze. The thinner squares (that’s how I do mine) thaw out way quicker, in fact I’ve been able to use the frozen ground beef for smash burgers because it thaws so quickly and evenly.

For chips and cookies I portion them out into individual bags (you could vacuum seal or use reusable bags). Their muffins are also perfect for freezing and reheating later.

The only exception is vegetables. I haven’t found a good way to utilize them so I just buy them locally (except the Romain lettuce, that seems to keep fresh for a long time).

 

[hal2kilo]

Depends how you shop. A bunch of things there are good for freezing for example. The chicken parts come in thick freezer worthy portions of three bags per. With any of the meats in general just use freezer bags to save what you won't use in time.

I'm a household of one and I shop at Costco and don't waste it. I'm sure many people do but that's often on them.

I stay away from their produce. Too much quantity for something perishable , and not all that great a deal anyway.

 

[Moonbeam]

Depends how you shop. A bunch of things there are good for freezing for example. The chicken parts come in thick freezer worthy portions of three bags per. With any of the meats in general just use freezer bags to save what you won't use in time.

I'm a household of one and I shop at Costco and don't waste it. I'm sure many people do but that's often on them.

You don’t have a freezer? If not, get a vacuum sealer while you are at it.

Shopping at Costco for food requires good planning. For instance, I’ll buy a rotisserie chicken and it’ll be good for three different meals after deboning and prepping the chicken. For fruits, anything I can’t eat while it’s ripe get frozen and turned into smoothie ingredients. Any meat I get also gets frozen. Quick tip for ground beef: when freezing them portion out how much you’d typically use in a meal and then flatten that out and freeze. The thinner squares (that’s how I do mine) thaw out way quicker, in fact I’ve been able to use the frozen ground beef for smash burgers because it thaws so quickly and evenly.

For chips and cookies I portion them out into individual bags (you could vacuum seal or use reusable bags). Their muffins are also perfect for freezing and reheating later.

The only exception is vegetables. I haven’t found a good way to utilize them so I just buy them locally (except the Romain lettuce, that seems to keep fresh for a long time).

Thanks for the tips. Nonetheless I still have issues owing to having to be in the mood to cook, an issue of spontaneity that does not go well with frozen food or freezer burn. Other issues:

I like to put catsup on meatloaf or sometimes or maybe on scrambled eggs or an omelet. Maybe a year ago I bought two huge bottles sold as a pair and am nowhere near needing the second bottle. I really don’t wanted a 50 lb. bag of flour rice or sugar or a gallon of mayonnaise. I like to finish a jar of honey while it can still pour. The organic carrots I bought I’ve used a few of before the recall I still have pounds of because they won’t fit in my recycling basket and will require I make a special trip separating them into compost minus the plastic bag they came in.

How about spices? Even the regular ones in the store cost a fortune and are sold way too much at a time.

Due to the cost of land where I live one is limited in how much fresh veggies etc one can grow and pick when you want.

Also I thought you should know, you in general, that even the majestically enlightened can still bitch about issues. Feet of clay. Feet of clay.

 

[MrSquished]

Thanks for the tips. Nonetheless I still have issues owing to having to be in the mood to cook, an issue of spontaneity that does not go well with frozen food or freezer burn. Other issues:

I like to put catsup on meatloaf or sometimes or maybe on scrambled eggs or an omelet. Maybe a year ago I bought two huge bottles sold as a pair and am nowhere near needing the second bottle. I really don’t wanted a 50 lb. bag of flour rice or sugar or a gallon of mayonnaise. I like to finish a jar of honey while it can still pour. The organic carrots I bought I’ve used a few of before the recall I still have pounds of because they won’t fit in my recycling basket and will require I make a special trip separating them into compost minus the plastic bag they came in.

How about spices? Even the regular ones in the store cost a fortune and are sold way too much at a time.

Due to the cost of land where I live one is limited in how much fresh veggies etc one can grow and pick when you want.

Also I thought you should know, you in general, that even the majestically enlightened can still bitch about issues. Feet of clay. Feet of clay.

I don't buy things like ketchup at Costco as a single guy for the reason you said. Although I use it more than you do, that would still be way too much for me. I use enough honey to not waste much, if at all, due to it hardening up. I like it over yogurt a lot. I do use mayo, and don't need as much as they sell of Hellman's, but I also want it healthier, so I buy the regular sized Chosen Mayo with avocado oil. It's so much cheaper than in the grocery stores. Chosen is a pricey brand.

I don't buy spices there except for sugar, which I keep stored away. I use 1 teaspoon a day in each cup of my coffee or tea, two cups daily. I also buy better than bouillon there, as that lasts forever. If I know I'm going camping I'll grab one of their montreal seasonings or some other kind of bbq or meat seasoning. But yeah, otherwise the spices are all too much for me in general.

I do not buy much of any produce at all at Costco due to my small household. I've gotten asparagus there sometimes and just go on an asparagus tear that week. Spinach, if I cook any for my dog.

I do get dry goods like the organic granola, or some barely sweetened cereals. I don't buy the same cereal everytime or each time, I'll get sick of it. But I can have it enough for it to be fine and not wasted at all. Boxed broth for cooking soups/stews and stuff. I get dried ramen noodles. The sardines with skin on and bones in are great there, and last forever. Stuff for my dog like the greenies there and the wet cat food. Every other trip or so I'll buy a bag of chips or snack, usually on the healthier tip. Definitely the chicken parts. I'll buy other meat sometimes, but freeze. Like flank steak I'll find the lightest one, go home, cook half, freeze the other half, stuff like that. I definitely check the weights of the meats there as I often find one that is quite a bit more light than the others, depending on the cut. I buy the kitchen garbage bags there, paper towels, and toilet paper. I have some storage room downstairs otherwise I would not be able to fit it.