Costco

[Tommy Boomfiger]

anyone here have a costco membership? im thinking of getting one because they sell sprint pcs phones withouth the activation fee of $35 each. well im buying 4 phones which adds up 140 bones. the $45 membership is definately worth that.

anyone have experience with them? they seem to have an awesome return policy and good prices. the business and gold star memberships look the same to me except that the business membership has more hours. i dont really plan on using it for business, but i may in the future, but are there any benifits to getting a gold star membership?

also if anyone has any positive or negative experience to share that would be appreciated,

thanks, tommy

[Kim]

I've had the regular memebership for about a year now, and I haven't had any problems.

[psycho-]

Lessee....member since 1998, our family has had membership since 1986. Did anyone mention that the stuff bought in 1986 can still be returned..at any costco location in the world (my parents have a costco location closeby in Taipei)?

Everything is a fixed 12-15% markup over their lowest negotiated wholesale price that they can get from the manufacturer.

They are considered one of the best and most professional wine stores in the world.

http://www.time.com/time/globalbusiness/article/0,9171,1101021028-366290,00.html

Nothing but top notched stuff


Here's an article about costco's founder and CEO
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_02/b3815631.htm

[GraingerGuy]

Not to mention all the great free samples you get too! :D Yum!

[ramazank2]

Costco is great. A few days ago I saw a guy returning a Nokia 5190 that still had PacBell writen on it. So it had to be at least 2-3 yrs old. HE GOT ALL HIS MONEY BACK!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention he was missing some the printed materials it came with. Thats what I call a return policy.

Con: Kirkland products are taking over.

[Burzhui]

I LOVE COSTCO :)

The kirkland stuff is most of the time much better then the leading brands

[Jeffbx]

Another thumbs up for Costco - I go there all the time. They have great stuff at great prices.

[Speedfreak]

Well, I have worked for costco for just over 2 years now.

Yes, the return policy is great. If you have your receipt, there is definately no problems. If you don't have your receipt, we will still take it as long as we sold the item at one point. We will give you the amount that it last sold for. There is no time limit on returns except for car batteries, car tires, and computer systems (laptops, desktop computers). Computers have a 6 month return policy as of October. If you bought it before then, you are still good for the unlimited warrenty. The reason for the change with the computers is because MANY MANY people took advantage of it. They would bring back a 2 year old computer and get another one and pay $1000 less for a computer that is 4 times as fast.

Kirkland products are excellent. I thought they were just "store brand" until I decided to try some of the Kirkland badged specialty foods they have. That stuff is damn good.

For everyone who gets the samples: "Throw your trash in the trash can, please. That is what they are for."


Oh, BTW:

If you buy something fron Costco.com you can return to any store for a refund. You will also get your shipping refunded!!

[Pinkgirl36]

I like costco...we are going to get a membership thru dopey's work which means I will be able to shop there!!!!

My dad wouldn't take me there when he went shopping because he would end up buying me a few books and stuff...

I had a friend in high school that her dad would seriously make a day trip out of going to costco...and well we always went along because of the free samples ;)

[Speedfreak]

Oh, Tommy... to answer your questions. The Gold and Business memberships are both $45.

The Gold membership is just for general membership and includes a second card for spouse or partner for free.

The Business membership is for businesses and can include your resale number on the card. You can also add up to six people to your account for only $35 each. These additions also come with a free spouse card.

The membership has the same policy as the items that are sold. If you are not completely satisfied at anytime, your membership cost will be refunded.


"In 1983, the first Costco warehouse location was opened in Seattle. Costco became the first company ever to grow from zero to $3 billion in sales in less than six years."

[NuTs62]

If you shop there alot, you may want to consider Executive Membership, which gives you 2% cashback. My sister and I purchase 'nuf stuff at Costco within a year to makeup for the difference in cost of membership, and get extra cashback. A CON of Costco is that they only accept AMEX for credit card purchases, so you don't have all your other options.

Hmmm, question regarding the returns. What form of payment do they return it to you? The way you purchased? What if the credit card has been cancelled, or changed?


Hmmm, and a question for ya Speedy. I've heard of people or employees purchasing some of the returns at discounted prices (like the laptops, etc.). Is that available to the public to purchase the returns? And what kind of markdowns are on those?

[Speedfreak]

Originally posted by NuTs62
A CON of Costco is that they only accept AMEX for credit card purchases, so you don't have all your other options.

Hmmm, question regarding the returns. What form of payment do they return it to you? The way you purchased? What if the credit card has been cancelled, or changed?


Hmmm, and a question for ya Speedy. I've heard of people or employees purchasing some of the returns at discounted prices (like the laptops, etc.). Is that available to the public to purchase the returns? And what kind of markdowns are on those?


Yes, the stores only take Amex, ATM, Checks and cash, but online you can use any credit card. Remember if you have to return an online purchase to the store, you will get your shipping back.


You will receive money back in the way it was given. If you used a credit card, they will credit it back to you. If the credit card is gone, you will get cash. We don't actually do exchanges at the returns counter. You will always get your money back and then you can go buy another one, or not.

Yes, the discounted items are available to anyone if it makes it to the shelf. If it is a really good discount, employess will buy it first. I work in Major sales so if I want it, it won't be on the floor. :D At one time we had like 10 laptops in lockup that were returns that worked fine. We got them over time, but they were building up in the lockup. The manager wanted to get rid of them so we put them our for 50% off. I think the best was like a 1.8Ghz Compaq for $700. I have gotten a couple of things that way. Ipaq for $250 ($500 reg price at the time) and a Gamecube (With Game and players guide, stuff wasn't even taken out of the box.) for $150 when it was $219 reg price.

You will also see "last one" items marked down if we cannot send it back to the Manufacturer and get a refund.

All the markdowns will vary by store. There is no standard. It is the manager's discretion.

[brainsmile]

business member since 1986

[Speedfreak]

Originally posted by brainsmile
business member since 1986

Not enough spending to make Executive worth while?

[NuTs62]

i don't think i've ever seen any items that were used or discounted at Costco.. is there usually a special place to look?

[Speedfreak]

Nope. They will be in their normal areas. ie, discounted laptops would would be where all the new laptops are usually.

This is not an everyday occurance.

[TERRIBLETOM]

I've had a costo membership for about five years now, Its great if you like buying in bulk as I do, you can save big time. They have everything ranging from soup to nuts. Also as far as the electronics department they will always beat the competitor.

[TERRIBLETOM]

Originally posted by NuTs62
i don't think i've ever seen any items that were used or discounted at Costco.. is there usually a special place to look? Once in a while I will see discounted floor items, but this is usually in the electronics department and displayed in there related area's.

[Joshua]

Thumbs up for Costco.

I have been a regular member for about 4 years.

Did you know that they take returns on opened software?

Boing!!

[Speedfreak]

We have had some interesting reasons for returns. I will look over some of the return tags sometimes just to see this. Some examples are:


A DVD was returned as "defective" because the sound was not working.
A cake was returned with one piece left because it tasted bad.
A whole computer was returned because the speakers were not working. I checked it out and the sound was muted in sound properties
A wheelbarrow was returned after 15 years. The guy had his original receipt and we gave him a full refund. The wheelbarrow was all rusted and the handles were cracked. It is now hanging in our office as a momento of how good our return policy is.

[Showtime]

I like the Costco's etc.

My only gripe is that it seems to perpetuate waste. Many times we've bought a ton more of some perishable item cuz it was a "good price."
Than we endup trying to prolong it (freezing), give it away or throw it away.

Even items like boxes of tissue sit gathering dust. They get thrashed when other things from Price Club get piled onto them.

I think people end up consuming (eating/ using) more than they normally would. Essentially not saving much overall.

Still, very hard to find better prices.

-jel:halo:

[TERRIBLETOM]

Originally posted by the jello is jigglin
I like the Costco's etc.

My only gripe is that it seems to perpetuate waste. Many times we've bought a ton more of some perishable item cuz it was a "good price."
Than we endup trying to prolong it (freezing), give it away or throw it away.

Even items like boxes of tissue sit gathering dust. They get thrashed when other things from Price Club get piled onto them.

I think people end up consuming (eating/ using) more than they normally would. Essentially not saving much overall.

Still, very hard to find better prices.

-jel:halo: I think that's a very good point on waste, I do only purchase items that I know I'll be consuming in a few months time, tooth paste, deodorant and things of that nature. I do not purchase food there because of the fact that it will go to waste, unless its in the frozen section to start with.

[Tommy Boomfiger]

thanks for all the feedback everyone, sounds like you almost cant lose with costco. i dont expect to do much grocery shopping there, i just figured as long as im going to buy these phones i should check out the rest of the store. definately going to go to costco this week and sign up. thanks again :cheers: