I think that history is a bit outdated. Costco is inveterately retail. And it’s not bulk, in any normal sense of the word. I would wager that the majority of items Costco offes are singles. Fresh and frozen food items just tend to be outsized–packed in sizes for larger families and/or short-term storage.
‘Wholesale’ works in the name because it makes people believe it’s worth paying the membership.
Yay for the rainbow medley micro greens. Around $8 for a 9 oz package. Nice and peppery
A yay as the organic spinach in tubs is back. The tubs seem to stay fresh longer
Eggs were all gone
Costco does the minimum when stocking items, as in open warehouse shelving, not a supermarket. They seem to be looking to make their margins with bulk, i.e., make more off a percentage of higher price due to volume. They make most of their overhead with membership. This model doesn’t work for everyone. But if have the executive membership and credit card, you can make the cost of membership back.
Not in my experience.
As has been discussed here previously, most of their profit comes from the membership fees, not product markup. So yes, for most people who are members, it is worth it, they’re not being duped.
Jury’s still out on that one. It’s a little like Prime…
Actually it’s not at all, but I’m out.
That’s good. I’ve been a Costco member for decades, and I don’t feel especially duped. But other than a few loss leaders, e.g., gas and roasted chickens and pizza, the prices aren’t rock bottom when you figure the fee, and the refund float. I find that Grocery Outlet and USChefs are better priced.
I’m happy with Costco not for the bargains, but for: (a) the 1-stop-shop aspect; and (b) how the items are curated. They make it easy for a lot of consumers to do most of their household shopping there. They mix in enough impulse buys to keep them coming back.
There’s this, comparing what $100 bucks gets you at Costco vs. Walmart.
TL;DR - $103 at Costco, $172 at Walmart.
Another huge perk with Costco IME: Generous return policy. I returned a set of tires five weeks after purchase because I didn’t like them, and the tire shop manager not only gave me a full refund but also applied a substantial discount to a replacement set of tires. I still think I made a little money on that transaction!
Outside of food, most items are singles. In food/groceries, they’re often singles , but big singles (a giant pail of laundry detergent, a year’s supply of toilet paper), or more multiple than is usual (a case of Starbucks Frappuccino rather than a six-pack).
When we started at (the then) Price Club, we were recording a lot of audiocassettes, and what we saved on audiocassettes (bought in boxes of ten) more than paid for the membership on its own. Kirkland AA batteries are also a big saver, though now we’re using mostly rechargeable.
If you’re not a family, but only one or two people, the food can be a problem, particularly if it’s one large amount, rather than a case of small or individual packages (e.g. hummus). And if you are in an apartment, storing that year’s worth of toilet paper can be a problem.
One item not mentioned where the savings are truly substantial are their Kirkland brand over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Yes, you have to buy a years’ worth of multivitamins, but they don’t take that much space and they won’t go bad in a year.
We’re a household of 2 and even regular-grocery sized packages of almost everything get split up, ziplock bagged and frozen. Costco croissants freeze/thaw just fine. If I make most of the package into almond croissants, those also get frozen and later thawed/eaten one at a time. All proteins get frozen day-of-purchase ( rather than sitting in the fridge until almost at the use-by dates), and thaw overnight 1-2 days prior to planned cooking. However Costco’s raw chicken 10 pound or more packaging (of 1.5 pound portions) takes too much freezer space. And the stew meat, which I used to buy often and split into 1.5 pound bags for freezing, seems to no longer be the high-quality trimmings we once got (or perhaps my last purchase was an off batch?).
Definitely, although they’ve tightened up the electronics return policy.
I think a distressing number of people were buying big screen TVs to watch, e.g., the Superbowl and then returning them. It used to be videocameras right before graduation.
Yeah, I’m not one to abuse the policy, but I do like the security of knowing that if I buy something that turns out to be a real disappointment, I can return it without a lot of hassle. When we debate whether or not to buy something, what is sometimes the tipping point is that we can always return it.
Yay for the pecorino romano at half the price at other stores.
Nay, for the huge wedge I’d have to buy. It would take me several months to get through it.
It takes me a long time to get through the huge wedge of parmigiano reggiano, but hard cheeses like that last well.
Best deal for Parm/Regg in town!! I buy a chunk for myself(no membership, but shop with my sisters) and the shelf life is excellent. The trick is to put it on everything! 
Cut up, vac seal, and freeze.
We’re fortunate to have our grown children and their families close by. All of us shop at Costco, me about every three weeks or less, they more often. We share larger packaged items when the price is reduced or if something looks good and is easily dividable. 'Cados, fresh produce in bulk, dairy, once in awhile, ciabatta, bagels and other fresh baked breads. I will share a tray of croissants with them and freeze what I don’t use of my share. Sometimes one of us will pick up an extra rotisserie chicken for another. It works with us. I know of neighbors who do this, too.
Does it keep enough of its solidity to allow grating? I thought freezing makes it crumbly.
