Costco is it worth the joining fee

Been a member for about three years I think. And yes, I reckon I've easily recouped the $60 PA about ten times over. It would be even better if we still had the kids. I use them mainly for things like laundry and kitchen products, but there are other things as well. There are some things only they stock. They have a line of riggers type gloves, which I used when I was driving the B Double with the curtains. A pack of 3 pairs, around $25, would outlast a dozen of the crap sold at Bunnings for $8-10 a pair. And, if you like a beer, and Stella is one you like, you can get a slab of the real, genuine Belgian ( not the so called 'imported' stuff that everyone else sells ) for $38 or so. Not to mention the great prices for spirits and wine. That alone is worth the membership.
Then, there's the cheese and other deli stuff, and the freezers.......
The meat I'm not so keen on, only because they trim the American way, and the cuts of things like pork belly would feed a dozen people, and there's only two of us; but the quality is far superior to what you get from the "big two". If you have a few bods in your family then I recommend having a look. If you don't like it, you get your $60 back no questions asked.
Oh, the next time 'er indoors needs new tyres on the Ford, which is soon, Costco beats everyone else for Michelins. They do BFG's too, but I'm happy with the Maxxis.

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Originally Posted by Tote

I'm less convinced that they are a competitor for the main supermarket chains though, we don't buy many groceries there.

Regards,
Tote

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I agree. I usually only pop in when I want to stock up on the stuff they do so well, which would be every 2-3 months ( Stella Artois excluded ), but it is worth it all the same. If they were nearer I would go far more often.

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Originally Posted by LandyAndy

I had a look at an ALDI store the other week.
WHY BOTHER???????
Andrew

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That's easy. When I go to the big two, I always spend between $100 and $200, or more. When I go to Aldi I spend usually about 60% of that, and wind up with the same amount of stuff.

I find Aldi is a useful guide for how much money I waste at the other places.

Used to get toiletries, kitchen stuff, and pretty much anything you could store... and it was well worth it.

If you have a big family, I'd say it's also worth it. I haven't been there for a year or so, but they generally stocked quality meat and veg... The meat was always cut really well too. Nothing like the junk the big supermarkets churn out.

In the end, it depends what you're buying. Do some research and use it to your advantage.

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Originally Posted by Homestar

Can you imagine if Bunnings or Woolies did this?

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Easily. Then they might bring their prices down to match Costco and Aldi.

I can't find it now, but there was an article in the papers in the last month saying even Bunnings were considering Aldi as a rival to be worried about. Coles is worried, and Woolies is in trouble. They are both seriously worried about Aldi, and to a lesser extent Costco. Good, I say. Those two have been gouging us for years and years. They have forced all the local shops out of business, they have been price fixing, they charge suppliers big bucks to get products at 'eye level'; in fact, their market practices have been appalling.
Bunnings is Coles ( Wesfarmers ), so is First Choice. Masters is Woolies, as is Dan Murphy's.
Sure, there was IGA, but they are Metcash, so just the same only smaller.

I, for one, applaud Aldi and Costco for taking them on and offering a real choice.

Hope I'm not falling foul of the "name and shame" policy, but the tenor of other comments suggest I should be ok. Happy to change the names to "protect the innocent", as they say.

As we are local have saved more than our memberships over the time we have been members. Fuel is a great bonus to fill the Freelander with 98 for the price most pay for E10. Occasional specials for clothes and the like have been a bonus.

just out of interest johntins , do you know where Aldi is from?

do you think its Australian?

do you think it's profits (which are huge) stay here and are reinvested back into Australia?

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

just out of interest johntins , do you know where Aldi is from?

do you think its Australian?

do you think it's profits (which are huge) stay here and are reinvested back into Australia?

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Excluding your second question, that might be why I've never seen anything other than a Mercedes pulling their trailers.
In saying that,a comparison on the percentage of locally sourced products / produce on Aldi's shelves as opposed to the other two would be a good read.

We covered the cost of membership with the saving on a set of tyres.
The other day, we had about 23 cents difference in fuel!
We did find ourselves buying too much stuff we didn't need, in the early days. Less now.
We user Costco for fuel, tyres and bulk special, also for the rest.
As to Aldi being German and profits going overseas; the guarantee 80% (I think) Aussie content. Were do people think Coles and woolies profits go?? Share holders are not majority Aussie mums and dads.

Coles and Woolies only in Cairns, being at the end of the road some times has its disadvantages.