Costco Food

I feel the same way Robin and only joined because I knew I had some big ticket items I would be needing to buy soon. That coupled with the guarantee Costco offers to reimburse you your membership fees if you don't save the equivalent within your first year membership made it a no lose situation for me. Since joining (and it's just me here) I've saved on buying organics for freezing, parties, or preserving. Also their spinach salads while not organic, are quite tasty and 1 will last me in the fridge for 3 days. I've stocked up on non-perishables, bought the big ticket stuff I needed, so whether or not I renew the membership is still iffy.

[Robin Garr]

the guarantee Costco offers to reimburse you your membership fees if you don't save the equivalent within your first year membership made it a no lose situation for me.

Good point, Carla! For us it was really mostly that we just don't often get out that far in that particular direction.

I would surely shop there sometimes if I didn't have to be a member. It seems like, to make it worth the money, you have to go all-in and give up your other places. I still like TJs, sometimes Whole and Paul's, Old Town, and the farmer's markets. Kroger is conveniently close. It would be tough to give up that ecosystem.

[Robin Garr]

I would surely shop there sometimes if I didn't have to be a member. It seems like, to make it worth the money, you have to go all-in and give up your other places. I still like TJs, sometimes Whole and Paul's, Old Town, and the farmer's markets. Kroger is conveniently close. It would be tough to give up that ecosystem.

This, plus Lotsa Pasta, Rainbow Blossom and The Wine Rack.

If you are a fan of Kirkland brands found at Costco I understand you can sometimes order them on line via Jet.Com and their shipping is free. I've never done it but some friends are big fans of the site.

After testing my patience by maneuvering through the madhouse for an hour this morning, I got to the lines to check-out only to find that my MasterCards and Discover were useless because Costco only accepts Visa. We dumped our basket and left, so thrilled with our wasted morning. I guess I'll look into getting a refund back on my membership fee.

[Robin Garr]

my MasterCards and Discover were useless because Costco only accepts Visa.

Seriously? That's insane!

[Robin Garr]

Hmm, it gets even more crazy. For years they accepted only American Express. The switch to Visa occurred this year, amid wailing and gnashing of teeth.
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card- ... y-1433.php

That and the "We think our customers are all crooks" inspection at the exit are now two reasons why I'm not excited about Costco. It's a shame, though. Politically, I would instinctively prefer them to Sam's Club. But I have a short fuse when it comes to intentional incompetence.

Hmm, it gets even more crazy. For years they accepted only American Express. The switch to Visa occurred this year, amid wailing and gnashing of teeth.
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card- ... y-1433.php

That and the "We think our customers are all crooks" inspection at the exit are now two reasons why I'm not excited about Costco. It's a shame, though. Politically, I would instinctively prefer them to Sam's Club. But I have a short fuse when it comes to intentional incompetence.

Remember, they are a "wholesale club." In essence,one thing they sell is transaction services; if you sign up with them to use their clearing services for your business, they can save you a lot of money, but you are required to use their clearing banking system (formerly American Express; now VISA). In other words, the use of only one card traces back to their corporate clearing business. You can always use cash or debit cards!

my MasterCards and Discover were useless because Costco only accepts Visa.

Seriously? That's insane!

Not really. They are able to pit the various card services against one another and by doing so get a lower cost by using one only. Also there is a Costco visa credit card that is advantageous to have especially if you do a lot of shopping at Costco.

[Robin Garr]

Remember, they are a "wholesale club." In essence,one thing they sell is transaction services; if you sign up with them to use their clearing services for your business, they can save you a lot of money, but you are required to use their clearing banking system (formerly American Express; now VISA). In other words, the use of only one card traces back to their corporate clearing business. You can always use cash or debit cards!

I understand that from a theoretical standpoint, Andrew, but it's not customer-friendly, and that's ultimately a fail in a consumer business. Their priorities are askew.

[Robin Garr]

Not really. They are able to pit the various card services against one another and by doing so get a lower cost by using one only. Also there is a Costco visa credit card that is advantageous to have especially if you do a lot of shopping at Costco.

It still seems like a good way to drive away business, as Alanna's response suggests. It just doesn't seem like a good business practice for a consumer business to behave in an anti-consumer way in the pursuit of a short-term gain.

Using the Costco credit card at Costco is no big deal. It's unfortunate that they signed up Alanna without those restrictions being made clear. Perhaps that was part of the organized chaos of opening a new store?

I do understand that requiring their own credit card and and the exit cart check can be offputting. And I can see where some folks would not wish to endure it. But apparently there's a good sized market for their services and products.

It seems that Costco earns praises for their employee pay and benefits. The funds to do this have to come from somewhere. In my mind, they have earned praises for building a new store at a backfill site in a struggling, and dare I say, minority neighborhood. These are good jobs for the locals there, within walking distance for many.

[Robin Garr]

It seems that Costco earns praises for their employee pay and benefits. The funds to do this have to come from somewhere. In my mind, they have earned praises for building a new store at a backfill site in a struggling, and dare I say, minority neighborhood. These are good jobs for the locals there, within walking distance for many.

Okay, I agree with all that.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-06-06/costco-ceo-craig-jelinek-leads-the-cheapest-happiest-company-in-the-world

http://www.costco.com/benefits.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/reasons-love-costco_n_4275774.html

https://www.glassdoor.com/Benefits/Costco-Wholesale-US-Benefits-EI_IE2590.0,16_IL.17,19_IN1.htm

http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Costco-Wholesale/reviews

I don't think there is any doubt that Costco is the most socially conscious major retailer in the US (2nd largest behind Wal-Mart). I feel good shopping at Costco.