Is Costco a cult?

[Magnumcharger]

My wife and I dropped by the nearest Costco to take a look. Of course they wouldn't let us in as we weren't members.
It appears they're very protective of their empire.
I might have been imaging it, but it seemed that the "regulars" - who were lined up to leave the store with their purchases - seemed a bit too "happy", in an unsettling, "Stepford-wife" kinda way. And they were casting very accusing eyes at us "outsiders".

Long story short, my wife buckled under the pressure and bought us "memberships".

So I bought a set of winter tires for her car.

And we're very, very happy now.

[skip68]

Welcome to "THE CULT!!!" Just an FYI: you can alway's get a visitor pass to go in for free! (This works for Sam's club as well!) That way you can see what they have, and if your tight on budget, you don't have to pay a full membership the first time you purchase! Just don't think they will do this all the time, because they DO take your info! We are members at Costco & Sam's and we love it!
Mrs.Skip68

[Magnumcharger]

Welcome to "THE CULT!!!" Just an FYI: you can alway's get a visitor pass to go in for free! (This works for Sam's club as well!) That way you can see what they have, and if your tight on budget, you don't have to pay a full membership the first time you purchase! Just don't think they will do this all the time, because they DO take your info! We are members at Costco & Sam's and we love it!
Mrs.Skip68

Now you tell me.....

[bull]

Costco is not a cult because I think a cult would have better prices. The place doesn't do much for me. Every time we go it seems we're out $200 with very little to show for it. Pretty much everything you can get there you can get as cheap or cheaper somewhere else.

[Silver R/T]

they have some good deals on furniture, food, etc. and of course members get gas discount

[bull]

they have some good deals on furniture, food, etc. and of course members get gas discount

Like I said, all of it can be had cheaper elsewhere. Food is less at Winco, furniture is less at Big Lots, gas is cheaper just about anywhere...

[RallyeMike]

Post your address so an intervention squad can be sent over.

[Magnumcharger]

Post your address so an intervention squad can be sent over.

Costco already has your address, and your information....

[6pkrunner]

Watch out - its incredibly easy to walk in wanting a few small items and walk out $500 to $1000 poorer. As ole Stompin' Tom sung "saving lots of money, spending money we don't got."

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

A little advice....its worth it to upgrade to the Premier membership ($100) and get the Costco AMEX card.  The Premier membership gets you 2% cash back at Costco and 1% elsewhere using the AMEX card.  I get 2 rebate checks a year.  One from Costco and one from AMEX.  The Costco rebate pays for the membership (ranges from $105- $120 a year) And the AMEX one usually pays for a month of bills from Costco ($300-$400)

What I am getting at is I now realize I spend waaaayy too much $$$$ to get rebates like that

[6pkrunner]

A little advice....its worth it to upgrade to the Premier membership ($100) and get the Costco AMEX card.  The Premier membership gets you 2% cash back at Costco and 1% elsewhere using the AMEX card.  I get 2 rebate checks a year.  One from Costco and one from AMEX.  The Costco rebate pays for the membership (ranges from $105- $120 a year) And the AMEX one usually pays for a month of bills from Costco ($300-$400)

What I am getting at is I now realize I spend waaaayy too much $$$$ to get rebates like that

Got a 72" Samsung this spring from them - the Premier membership was a free upgrade for purchases over (whatever the dollar amount was) plus the 2% was included on the TV. So it was all good. But its so easy to lose track of the amount you're spending until the ringing of the till wakes you up. How many times do you go in for something simple and come out three paychecks in arrears?

[dodgecharger-fan]

How many times do you go in for something simple and come out three paychecks in arrears?

Every time. 

[Orange_Crush]

I've been a member at Costco for a few months now.  Wife and I usually spend 2-3 bills a month.  We get 2% back with the gold membership.

There is stuff there that I haven't found cheaper anywhere else (and I've looked).  Meats are cheaper as is organic milk and bacon.  Toilet paper is WAY cheaper and paper towels are too.   Razors are also priced very well there. 

SO far, I'm happy with my membership.

[BrianShaughnessy]

As much as I hate to admit it,  I have a Sam's club membership.   There are no costco stores in my immediate area.   I don't think people are happy in those places so much as just walking zombies.

I don't really think the prices are all that great but it's mostly the convenience of buying consumables in bulk.   Maybe there's some special deals on bonus packs of whatever that are pretty good.   I did get a set of Michelin's for Lisa's car at a decent price last year.

The best thing I found was Oregon Trail raisin bread and apple danish bread.    It's almost worth the membership just to buy a couple loaves.


Anyway my bitch at Sam's just happened.    Somebody "cleaned" my mail pile up because some stupid 17 year old was coming over for dinner a few weeks back and misplaced my Sam's bill.   I had converted to a sam's credit card awhile back so they'd stop bothering me.      So when I did find it I sent it in but it was already late a day or 2 but I did pay it in full.   They sent me a $5 late fee bill a week later.    Well... I don't pay late fees so I had to go back to the store and bitch and  I deleted my credit card account.    That's the last $5 they get from me.   They can pay fees for my visa from now on.

[Old Moparz]

Watch out - its incredibly easy to walk in wanting a few small items and walk out $500 to $1000 poorer. As ole Stompin' Tom sung "saving lots of money, spending money we don't got."

Whoa!!            Where've you been hiding?   

[Ponch ®]

I hardly ever actually shop inside Costco, but I'm a big fan of the food court. Hot Dog + Soda = $1.50. Chicken Bake =$3. Pizza=$10.

And, at least the Costco's nearby, they seem to hire consistently cute-to-hot chicks as cashiers.

[Magnumcharger]

Watch out - its incredibly easy to walk in wanting a few small items and walk out $500 to $1000 poorer. As ole Stompin' Tom sung "saving lots of money, spending money we don't got."

Whoa!!            Where've you been hiding?   

I know where!!

[moparstuart]

me too

[6pkrunner]

    Where've you been hiding?   

Been hiding in this since May. Get a "get out of boat free" card in November

[Finn]

I hardly ever actually shop inside Costco, but I'm a big fan of the food court. Hot Dog + Soda = $1.50. Chicken Bake =$3. Pizza=$10.

Hell yes!

And, at least the Costco's nearby, they seem to hire consistently cute-to-hot chicks as cashiers.

Hell no!

[Ponch ®]

I hardly ever actually shop inside Costco, but I'm a big fan of the food court. Hot Dog + Soda = $1.50. Chicken Bake =$3. Pizza=$10.

Hell yes!

And, at least the Costco's nearby, they seem to hire consistently cute-to-hot chicks as cashiers.

Hell no!

Hell no? You need to venture west of the 405....

[Brock Samson]

I've been buying my printer's toner and photopaper cause there's quite a saving on those pricey items just got the exec membership and I read that the HD TV's are comming way down soon, there's a 46" Samsung in my future. 

[TK73]

I got a "free" $50 membership from my apartments when I renewed my lease at $60 more per month...  $720 a year for a "free" card... 

Did go to a nice store today... addicted for sure... can I have my robes and head shave now??

[triple_green]

Chris,

Don't cut your hair any shorter. 

Mark

[Silver R/T]

I got a "free" $50 membership from my apartments when I renewed my lease at $60 more per month...  $720 a year for a "free" card... 

Did go to a nice store today... addicted for sure... can I have my robes and head shave now??

whatever happened to you moving to East side man?