Society & Culture Costco

[hamohawk1]

There seemed to be a huge issue made about Costco originally coming to Australia, but now after being here for a few years i hear less and less about the stores. Seeing this US giant now coming to suburban Melbourne it questions if we really need this americanised form of shopping in Australia. The first time i went to costco i was intrigued by the vast array of products and their relatively cheap prices, although see it as a means for us to simply consume more.

 

[kfc1]

Great for the suburban lifestyle - i.e. large family, lots of storage and freezer space.

Not much use to me in an apartment as I have nowhere to store the bulk purchases.

 

[Cleavy]

it would be nice to not have to commit to a 12 month membership, instead maybe a month here and there.

 

[little graham]

I have no idea what you lot are talking about.

 

[Roobs321]

Great for the suburban lifestyle - i.e. large family, lots of storage and freezer space.

Not much use to me in an apartment as I have nowhere to store the bulk purchases.

Exactly. I tag along with a friend every 6 months or so who has membership. But being single, there really isn't much point in buying a lot of the products. I really just go for some of the awesome American brands, but only get several items.

Most of the bulk items will go off before I finish them, and big enticing things like American apple pie just aren't practical for a single person living by oneself (unless you don't mind being fat).

If I was a suburban working class family though, I'd be a regular.

 

[Caesar]

I have a group of friends who share a membership. They do a joint shop every so often and divvy up the purchases between them.

 

[BALKAN]

i'm perth and what is this?

 

[Roobs321]

Canberra got it a little over 2 years ago from memory.

 

[Caesar]

I have no idea what you lot are talking about.

i'm perth and what is this?

Costco is basically a massive warehouse where they sell goods in bulk at close to wholesale prices. Everything from toilet paper and washing up liquid to televisions and vacuum cleaners.

The catch is the quantities (hope you have somewhere to store 20L of olive oil) and that you can only shop there if you buy a 12 month membership (which means you have to shop there reasonably regularly to get the value).

 

[dales.girl38]

My family gets pretty good value out of it - my dad often stops by on his way home from work to pick up a few things, and then he'll do a few big shops throughout the year. Some of the things are more expensive than you'd pay at the supermarket, especially things that you can easily get discounted at supermarkets, but there are some good buys.

 

[BALKAN]

Are the products the same brands they sell at Coles/Woolies or are they some el cheapo homebrands?

 

[BotsMaster]

Looking forward to the Ringwood Costco opening next Wednesday.

 

[JuddsABlue]

when me and my girl brought a house she insisted on signing up

ive never gone there, but she goes once every couple of months and gets staples in bulk like toilet roles etc

I debate whether its worth it but whatever, id never bother with it but she enjoys walking around it

 

[JuddsABlue]

Are the products the same brands they sell at Coles/Woolies or are they some el cheapo homebrands?

same products but they have sizes that woolies etc dont have

theres a bag of kettle chips you could park your car in

 

[Smoooothy]

We generally do a monthly shop there. Good for families

 

[Julius Seizure]

My parents don't even live in Melbourne but have a membership, as my dad is down regularly for work and they optometrist is far cheaper than a normal one, as is their hearing aids they sell, for the same product. A few years back for my 21st, which I had at home, we loaded up on costco chicken wings, pizzas and vodka. Was good.

 

[BACCS]

They are bloody everywhere in the US, the stores over there even have their own petrol stations for members...

 

[checkraiseulite]

i stupidly bought a membership when it started. yeah you save a few dollars on staple items but the experience itself is as close to hell on earth as i can imagine.

i suppose it'd be ok if you could go between 9-5 on a weekday, but i've only been on weekdays and it's not uncommon to see family groups of 10+ people just entirely clogging an aisle with like 5 trolleys and kids everywhere. i wanted to kill myself at the end of it.

bought a few funny things from there though. went to buy toilet paper etc and came back with a magnum of grey goose.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Great for the suburban lifestyle - i.e. large family, lots of storage and freezer space.

Not much use to me in an apartment as I have nowhere to store the bulk purchases.

It seems strange where they build that moster store right around inner a city apartments seems too me.

 

[Smoooothy]

They are bloody everywhere in the US, the stores over there even have their own petrol stations for members...

coming to sydney next year i beleive

also, i love to see all the mega sized things to buy. around last xmas, they did a 5kg jar of nutella (took the kids about 8 months to get through) and not that long ago, they were doing 10kg blocks of cadbury chocolate

 

[Paul Kersey]

What sort of booze selection do they have?

 

[Scotland]

Looking forward to the Ringwood Costco opening next Wednesday.

Looking forward to the Perth Costco opening in 2025.

 

[JuddsABlue]

What sort of booze selection do they have?

Again I've never been but my girl got me a bottle of single barrel jack daniels from there and its cheaper than the stores

I assume they have all the range a little cheaper than usual

 

[Paul Kersey]

Again I've never been but my girl got me a bottle of single barrel jack daniels from there and its cheaper than the stores

I assume they have all the range a little cheaper than usual

Hoping they carry some USA whiskey that we don't get here currently.

 

[TassieEagle]

Looking forward to the Perth Costco opening in 2025.

And Tasmanian Costco in 3025.