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Skipped the Membership

May 4th, 2011 at 02:15 am

I had been contemplating a Costco membership recently after an offer arrived in my inbox. A basic membership costs $50. The offer was for points through MyPoints. There are definitely things I could buy there, specifically, generic zyrtec. For a years supply it would cost me about $16!

However, Costco is on the other side of town. I find pretty good deals at regular stores and don't have to store the bulky items.

Today, I found the same generic zyrtec on Amazon for the same price. No shipping either (not sure why). I decided to skip that Costco membership, save the $50 and avoid buying large bulk items just because they are a good deal.

Do you have a club membership? Do you think it is worth it? Can you find the same deals in other places?

14 Responses to “Skipped the Membership”

  1. crazyliblady Says:
    1304473563

    I don't have a club membership. It seems kind of weird to pay for something like that.

    However, I do order stuff through mrrebates dot com with a free membership. You can find all kinds of rebates, coupons, free shipping, etc. that will save you money. If you want to try it, go to my profile and click on the mrrebates link on the left side of the screen and I will get a small bonus for referring someone. I think it is under links or something like that.

    Good luck.

  2. My English Castle Says:
    1304475660

    I sometimes go with friends, and we had a membership when DD was a baby, purely for the diapers. But not now.
    I know I'm weak in those type of stores, and it's better for me to stay away. I really don't like huge quantities of things either.

  3. MonkeyMama Says:
    1304476213

    I think the #1 strike against Costco is inconvenience. For me. I've been told I should get the membership for the gas, many times, but the grocery store down the street has cheaper gas (15 cents per gallon cheaper, at the moment). So, that's two strikes against Costco.

    I was literally looking for a Costco once (had my mom and her membership in my car) and we couldn't find it. I still don't know where it is. LOL. I believe there is a newer one closer to our house but it is still a LONG drive.

    I keep saying it might make more sense when my kids are teenage boys. When I maybe will REALLY need to buy some serious bulk...

  4. snafu Says:
    1304476420

    We've had Costco membership since the 1st store opened in our city and split membership with a friend, each of us with our own card and splitting the fee. The store is convenient but huge and parking is ghastly. We like their good quality meat, vegetables, paper goods and casual clothes. Their prices for meds, quality coffee, tires and gas is often best in the region.

    I almost always go with a neighbor who loves to try all the new products and buys the restaurant quality, frozen, convenience foods.

    Costco is not for everyone. If the location is not convenient, if you like the deals at the stores you currently use, if you prefer not to store bulk items, you may not shop at Costco enough to make the $50. fee worthwhile. I don't view wholesale membership as 'weird.'

  5. LuckyRobin Says:
    1304479466

    I always more than make back my membership fee with their cash back program. We don't have anywhere that is cheaper for gas here. I pick and choose what I buy, but it's mostly toilet paper, tissues, boneless skinless chicken, batteries, printer ink, flour, sugar, baking soda, spices, organic canned goods, peanut butter and cheese. Everything else I can find cheaper elsewhere, but that's certainly enough for me. Of course, our Costco is close by and easy to find.

  6. CampFrugal Says:
    1304512750

    I used to have a Costco, now a Sam's, but I find that Costco offers more. My Sam's membership is about to be done and I have been comtemplating whether or not to get another membership.

    I do get certain items there, like Jiff Peanut Butter, which is a really good deal for the large jars, and we eat a lot of PB in our home, and water softener salt. We also will eat out there. Their pizza is really inexpensive.

    I have never used it for their clothing, tvs, or anything like that, because I feel I can find those items cheaper somewhere else.

    It came in handy last year, because of my daughter's Graduation Open House, but I am trying to decide if it as good a deal for me to spend $50 again for another year.

  7. debtfreeme Says:
    1304529989

    I had a Costco membership for a few years mainly to buy my contacts. I could buy a years supply for $100 cheaper than any where else and they ship right to my po box for no extra cost. Once in a while I would buy gas but you can only charge it on Amex and I pay for gas with cash. And the Arco accross the street is usually cheaper.

    I will need to buy contacts again in November/December and will investigate prices for the style I want before I buy a membership. If I really need something I will go shopping with my sister.

  8. frugalgirl Says:
    1304530106

    I love Costco. There is one 5 minutes' drive from my house making it very convenient. I, too, more than make up for the cost of membership from the rewards from the card.

    The gas there is always cheaper by around 5 cents per gallon. It is close to the WalMart and Sam's Club so the crowds and traffic are split between these mega-stores. Costco is much less crowded and has more interesting stuff.

    I do get a select amount of food there and enjoy not only better prices but some unique things that the regular grocery store does not have.

    I have found lots of great deals there as well as good quality items for less money. Examples include:
    1) a sturdy basketball hoop for my two DSs that was half the price of all the sports stores.
    2) a ping pong table of fantastic quality and lower price than those in the sports stores
    3) Clothes, underwear and socks of good quality and closeout type prices.
    4) Kids' toys around Christmas at much lower cost than in regular stores. I have gotten many bargains there.

    I love my Costco!

  9. Looking Forward Says:
    1304536520

    We have a Costco memebership and it almost pays for itself with the 2% cash back. It's easy to get to for me and the gas prices are the lowest for our area. As far as what we buy it's all about the same as above. Plus Costco has great customer service.

  10. patientsaver Says:
    1304679159

    It depends what your shopping habits are and how big your household. I have a membership, and am just buying for me. However, there are certain items I regularly buy which I believe pays for my membership.

    For example, Costco's cat litter is the cheapest you can find anywhere. 44 pound box for $6.99. Compare that to what you'd get at a supermarket.

    While many specialty items at Costco can be just as pricey as elsewhere, Costco has the best prices on staples, especially milk and bananas, I've noticed. They also sell a 2-pound loaf of bread for the same cost as the usual size bread at supermarkets. their spices are also a good buy.

    We don't have Costco gas here.

    I always try to bring a calculator with me, because, as in a regular supermarket, you should be looking at the unit price, and with Costco's extra large containers and bulk packaging, unit price doesn't mean much. As I said, there are many items there that don't beat prices I could find elsewhere.

    The worst thing about Costco, in my opinion, is the hassle of finding a parking place and waiting in line at checkout. If I start working f/t again, I doubt I'll renew my membership. Just too much hassle and eats up my precious free time; weekends are the worst. Even on weekdays, it's super busy.

  11. SnoopyCool Says:
    1304718536

    DH's former employer bought him a membership to Costco. I know that it has it's positive sides (not the least of which is Clark Howard visiting to sign his books), but I feel I can do better without it.

  12. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1304731601

    I don't currently have a Costco's membership ... but I would love to. I go through a lot of raisins (oatmeal) and they have a number of really delicious vegetarian products that can't be found anywhere else. The MyPoints offer *is* very tempting. Smile

  13. crazyliblady Says:
    1306541443

    @Frugaltexan. Try www dot vitacost dot com for vegetarian foods.

  14. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1306546570

    @crazyliblady - Thanks! I'll check it out!

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