Costco

[medhead]

I think it is mandatory to purchase the 60 rolls of toilet paper on your first visit!!

what do these work out to be per roll or per 100 sheets?

 

[alemdohorizonte]

While it's cheap, beware some of the products are lesser quality. Some brands have separate lines (eg Levi's) which are made cheaper and sold in Costco only, Wal Mart does the same. So it would appear you're buying a brand name product but they not of the same quality.

A good book to get up to speed on this type of retailing - The Wal Mart Effect. The Wal-Mart Effect | Charles Fishman

Matt

i have been a costco member for more than a decade (starting in the usa, now melbourne) and shop costco in both countries quite frequently. in both business ethics and product quality, costco is very different than walmart. while i have seen levis for sale at low prices at costco many times, they were always the same levis 5-x-x models that were available in other stores for considerably more money. and while they do have their own brand (kirkland) that is manufactured for them, to their specifications, i have never seen a specially created, sub-standard, name brand item of anything for sale at any costco store.

on top of great quality and great prices, costco have a "satisfaction guarantee" that is unparalleled. with rare exception (i.e. software and some electronics), you can bring anything back at any time, for any reason, for a full refund if you are not 100% satisfied. this includes your annual membership fee, even after it has expired.

they want you to be happy with what you purchase in their stores and while a warehouse-like environment and exceptional customer service may seem incongruous, it's part of their business culture. they stand fully behind everything they sell and will gladly refund your money if you are not happy.

 

[cove]

Last night we talked about Costco and we decided they had the best offering for what we want out of al the retail offerings in the world. I think my annual membership is $50 and I seem to spend $400 to $600 on my Amex card. I have never had a product fail quality wise so it doesn't matter whether it is jewellery or cherries,peaches or champagne or shirts and shorts. Their range is good fun stuff.

 

[Aggi]

We have been members since Costco opened in Melbourne and shop there every couple of weeks. Have found their products to be consistently of a higher quality (their meat is excellent) and lower price compared to other stores. They get really busy on weekends so best to go weeknights. What I most love about Costco are their non-food products, they always have new products every few weeks and while their range of is not as good as their US stores, you can find items typically not available elsewhere, for example just bought a queen size 80% cashmere quilt for $97 which is beautiful. The Sydney and Canberra stores are due to open end of July and I highly recommend you check them out.

 

[marki]

Very interesting thread thanks everyone for the contributions. I had decided to fork out some cash 55 AUD last night. I visited the Melbourne Costco store and from my limited perspective there were good and some bad points. I had noticed that for the limited time I was there and being a first time member the fresh produce can be much better stocked than an ALDI store. The fresh produce was generally cheaper meaning bigger in size for the same price you would find at Wollies. The electronic was a fail why? A canon printer with networking (last years model) was 287 dollars. Even officeworks had a better value printer! MX885 Pixma model with better specifications and Fax for 224. I did buy those 60 rolls of toilet paper for a cheap 20 bucks! The Hersey chocolate collection was very modest. They had no marshmallow fluff in a jar a typical made in the USA food. Some staff were helpful others were not by comparison. What's with the idea with checking everyone on the way out? after checking out they double check every trolly make sure that nothing has been taken without paying.
Seems a bit of waste of time to me and makes it a bit of a bottle neck for through put, in that people queue up here more than not.

will i be going back.

Yes I think so, I only had time to go through some of the store. BTW parking was free!

cheers

:mrgreen:

 

[BAM1748]

Check and double check.....the average Coles or Woollies has around $10K per month walk out the door. :shock: Nappies are a choice one, keep an eye on people pushing prams with no baby, if that gets spotted often a staff member goes and starts stacking a nearby shelf.

 

[oz_mark]

Check and double check.....the average Coles or Woollies has around $10K per month walk out the door. :shock: Nappies are a choice one, keep an eye on people pushing prams with no baby, if that gets spotted often a staff member goes and starts stacking a nearby shelf.

I read once that razor blades were a big problem. Reasonable costly but small item that can be slipped into pockets.

I don't actually recall seeing anyone pushing a pram and not having a baby in tow somewhere. I might keep an eye out!

 

[mini2]

Check and double check.....the average Coles or Woollies has around $10K per month walk out the door. :shock: Nappies are a choice one, keep an eye on people pushing prams with no baby, if that gets spotted often a staff member goes and starts stacking a nearby shelf.

Probably baby formula too as I've seen at various Toys r us they're now slapping a security tag sort of thing on the top of the can.

 

[cove]

Ouch we end up paying for theft out of the big retailers as they margin up for "shrinkage". I hope the door security is working for Costco as they are still needing more stores to open to start making profits in Australia.

 

[pyffii]

Just finished a quick shop in the Costco store in Nanimo,Vancouver Island for provisions for our 4 days in Tofino...Talk about cheap and the quality of the fresh produce was absolutely superb...Other than the pharmac_ the layout and range was similar to the melbourne store...Wish we had room in our suitcases for more !!!

 

[pauly7]

While it's cheap, beware some of the products are lesser quality. Some brands have separate lines (eg Levi's) which are made cheaper and sold in Costco only, Wal Mart does the same. So it would appear you're buying a brand name product but they not of the same quality.

A good book to get up to speed on this type of retailing - The Wal Mart Effect. The Wal-Mart Effect | Charles Fishman

Matt

Can confirm this was the case with my previous employer. They made some 'tweaks' to the product offering, not huge but enough to reduce unit costs and require a slightly different on pack claim.

But in general the people who shop at Costco aren't exactly the ones who are going to pick that sort of thing up / care about it even if they noticed. And Costco know it

 

[zzzhobbes]

Don't know why this is on the AMEX blog but I love Costco and can't wait to attend the preopening at the Sydney store 6pm this Wednesday night

 

[cove]

From Central is there a train that goes close to this new Sydney Costco?

 

[medhead]

From Central is there a train that goes close to this new Sydney Costco?

It days the shop is at Auburn, parramatta road. There is a train station at Auburn. But they also list the address as lidcombe. Based on google maps I'd say lidcombe train station would be best and get a taxi from there. Use the taxi rank on the north side of the station, Church St. Train from the airport is about $16.40

 

[Sprucegoose]

From Central is there a train that goes close to this new Sydney Costco?

I wouldnt go there by Train Cove, its a bulk buy shop and you could well cripple City Rail if you freighted everything home!!!

 

[cove]

I have a small 2 wheel shopping trolley to shovel the booty in from Costco seeing there are no bags. Then without a car I need to get back to Circular Quay. I am missing the opening tomorrow so enjoy the new store opening and the bargains.

 

[auriga]

The Sydney store closes at 5pm daily according to their website. That is a bit....

 

[mini2]

Don't know why this is on the AMEX blog but I love Costco and can't wait to attend the preopening at the Sydney store 6pm this Wednesday night

I've just called them and they said it's the "VIP night" and it's invitation only. Far out I got my hopes up :evil:

 

[BAM1748]

I've just called them and they said it's the "VIP night" and it's invitation only. Far out I got my hopes up :evil:

There is an interesting thought, Costco and VIP's.

 

[mini2]

Tell me about it. I might give the concierge a call and see if they can get me an invite as I'm too keen on becoming broke tonight