I joined Costco

[kc7jty]

Did a tour of the store today:

Jarlsburg $4.49/lb
Cambozola $9.99/lb
Pecorino Romano $5.79/lb
Columbus dry Italian salami $15.99 for 3lb stick.

I'm getting a $10 coupon bringing the membership cost to $40. I'm going to have to eat a lot of freebie lunches (samples) there to break even Steven.

A lot of their prices suck. I can do much better milking the supermarket specials.

I have over 110 bottles of wine in my stash and most of them were half price.

The supermarkets will put an $11 bottle of wine on sale for $8.
Buy 6, get 10% off = $7.20
Get $3 per bottle mail in rebate = $4.20
It starts adding up, at least one store does it every week.

Latest acquisition was 6 bottles of Toasted Head Cabernet. Heard it was decent stuff (I never had it before).

http://www.winesalesonline.com/labels/B10491.jpg

[W3MIV]

Costco is not a good substitute for a supermarket unless you have a battalion to feed.

It is, however, best for bulk kitchen commodities and staples (rice, flour, sugar, oils, coffee, canned tomatoes and beans, etc) and for items such as toilet paper (if you eat, you'll need it), paper towels, laundry and cleaning supplies.

Here in MD, we don't have wine and beer available in other than "package goods" stores, unlike many other states. If you have a freezer chest, buying meats and poultry in Costco can result in a substantial "savings" over most supermarkets, but the cash outlay does not make sense for most people -- better to pay a little more and do so over a longer time (and not have to amortize the cost of the freezer chest).

The Costco I use does, however, have an excellent butcher department, including lots of prime selections as well as the more usual supermarket choice grades. I must buy four to six large steaks, or two loin roasts, etc, at a time -- which does not always make it practical.

The Costco gas station here is priced under market by a dime or so on average, but you must use either a debit card (a "no-no" in gas stations so far as I am concerned, even when patrolled) or AMEX -- the only credit card they take.

[W1GUH]

"Here in MD, we don't have wine and beer available in other than "package goods" stores, ...."

When I was there in '01 that was a county-by-county thing. That change? Tried to find a liquor store and all I could find were "Beer....Wine....snacks/pizza/sandwiches...", but no Liquor. Finally bought a bottle of wine at one of those & asked where the heck the liquor was...he directed me to the county package store. Also said right across the county line there were liquore stores on every block. Location was somewhere around Greenbelt.


'jty has bottles of "Toasted Head Cabernet...". How do they come up with those names. Personally, I'd rather have a "Baked Head." :cool2::-D

[WØTKX]

Toasted Head. That's funny!

http://youtu.be/jqKZEoY1rgU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqKZEoY1rgU

[ka4dpo]

Costco is like the hardware store, I can't walk out the door without dropping at least $120.00 minimum on stuff I probably don't need.

[NA4BH]

Buy you a decent vacuum sealer and buy dry goods in bulk. Pre-measure everything out, so when you need 1 or 2 cups of rice/beans/sugar all you have to do is cut open the pack and cook.

[W3WN]

< snip >
Here in MD, we don't have wine and beer available in other than "package goods" stores, unlike many other states.
< snip >It could be worse. You could be in Pennsylvania, land of the State Store, and the Temporary Johnstown Flood Tax on booze... which was enacted after the 1936 flood as a 10% tax, and still exists today as an 18% tax.

[kc7jty]

@Paul:
The heads or oak barrel covers on both ends of the wood barrel are toasted on the inside to impart a unique flavor characteristic to the wine. I won't touch a big Cabernet unless it's at least 3 years old, so it'll be another year before I taste a bottle of it.

@Albi:
There is a very famous beer (I think they have wine too) store just over the line from Delaware in Cecil County, MD. Many go there from PA, NJ, DE for their enormous selection. Looks like they have wine and booze too.
http://www.statelineliquors.com/
M (http://www.statelineliquors.com/)ust be a package goods place.

[kc7jty]

It could be worse. You could be in Pennsylvania, land of the State Store, and the Temporary Johnstown Flood Tax on booze... which was enacted after the 1936 flood as a 10% tax, and still exists today as an 18% tax.

PA is one of the worst states for corruption and graft. Remember when vehicle inspections were bi annual? At least Thornburgh (I think it was) got it changed to once annual.

PA (and CT too I believe) also have some antiquated requirement for all baked goods sold in the state too.

[NQ6U]

Costco is not a good substitute for a supermarket unless you have a battalion to feed.

I dunno, Albi; doesn't everybody need a 55-gallon drum of vanilla extract?

[W3MIV]

@Albi:
There is a very famous beer (I think they have wine too) store just over the line from Delaware in Cecil County, MD. Many go there from PA, NJ, DE for their enormous selection. Looks like they have wine and booze too.
http://www.statelineliquors.com/
M (http://www.statelineliquors.com/)ust be a package goods place.

We have a large number of very good "package goods" stores here that carry very large numbers of wines and beers as well as distilled stuff. I usually buy wines in case lots at one in Laurel, MD, that offers a large selection and usually a fifteen-percent discount on case lots. One store nearer to my home is the best source I have found for single malts of distinction and really good rums.


I dunno, Albi; doesn't everybody need a 55-gallon drum of vanilla extract?

You can get an even better deal on pallets of anchovies.

[kc7jty]

I can't get a decent price on the cheeses & salami I mentioned anywhere else and my friends are getting tired of me asking if they'll take me to Costco.

[W1GUH]

"You can get an even better deal on pallets of anchovies. "

Aw...the poor, mis-treated and neglected anchovy. One of the very delicious fruits from the sea. With pimento and olive oil...on a salad...or even straight from the can.....mmmmm.....mmmmmm.....good!

[W3MIV]

I can't get a decent price on the cheeses & salami I mentioned anywhere else and my friends are getting tired of me asking if they'll take me to Costco.

I understand about the cheeses and the salami. The Costco here also has a good selection of andouille sausages.

[kc7jty]

I saw a bunch of pre packaged sausages but they looked like the outfit that makes them all from chicken.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1091/536392298_b9be19e88c.jpg

[kc7jty]

you must use either a debit card (a "no-no" in gas stations so far as I am concerned, even when patrolled)

Please explain "no-no" on debit at Costco gas station.

[W3MIV]

Bogus card readers can be attached to pumps (and to ATMs) that read your card's data.

See this article as an example: SNOPES (http://www.snopes.com/fraud/atm/atmcamera.asp).

Here is another article (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/credit-loan/debit-cards/debit-card-scams/overview/debit-card-scams.htm).

Credit cards usually have a mechanism whereby you can dispute bogus charges; with a debit card, once the money is gone, it is gone.

[KC2UGV]

Bogus card readers can be attached to pumps (and to ATMs) that read your card's data.

See this article as an example: SNOPES (http://www.snopes.com/fraud/atm/atmcamera.asp).

Here is another article (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/credit-loan/debit-cards/debit-card-scams/overview/debit-card-scams.htm).


This is true, and it's very easy to built one DIY for anyone who is even remotely handy with a soldering iron and a hot glue gun.



Credit cards usually have a mechanism whereby you can dispute bogus charges; with a debit card, once the money is gone, it is gone.

Yep. Plus, Debit card cost (generally) $0.50 for every purchase.

[W1GUH]

You guys need fo find a different bank. There is never a charge from my bank for me to use my debit card, and their security is first-rate. They've been really, really good about reporting suspected fraudelent charges (both times it turnd out they were, in a way, "too good"...the charges were legit). Once when I called them because an ATM went offline while I was making a deposit and the money didn't appear in my account, after explaining what happened they immediately credited my account for the amount (small - $100) while investigating.

But it IS a good idea to use the "credit" option even when using a debit card. That way your PIN doesn't get involved.

[VE7MGF]

bank fees to the merchant run about 10 to 25 cents per transaction in canada
credit card fees from 3 to 6 % per sale amount that also includes the sales tax
high volume retailers pay huge fees
costco has an agreement with American express to get reduced fees

[W3MIV]

I saw a bunch of pre packaged sausages but they looked like the outfit that makes them all from chicken.

Yup. This morning as I did my periodic Costco run I checked them out, and most of the ones I saw were chicken.

[NQ6U]

Yup. This morning as I did my periodic Costco run I checked them out, and most of the ones I saw were chicken.

No katzenwurst?

[KG4CGC]

I noticed the title reads, "I joined Costco" but isn't really, Costco joined you?

[kc7jty]

Coitus?



tnx for the debit card info. The Costco here only charges 3c less for gasolina. I'll just stick with my Mobile or Chevron.

[W3MIV]

tnx for the debit card info. The Costco here only charges 3c less for gasolina. I'll just stick with my Mobile or Chevron.

The key is to avoid using the debit card for ANY gasoline pump purchases. Gas companies still give out credit cards at the drip of a dipstick.

There are websites selling card readers that add a fraction of an inch to the real slot and steal the debit account information, especially the PIN right at the pump.

[kc7jty]

No katzenwurst?

I prefer the cat jerky made from young toms best myself.

[KG4CGC]

I prefer the cat jerky made from young toms best myself.Too gamey.

[kc7jty]

The key is to avoid using the debit card for ANY gasoline pump purchases. Gas companies still give out credit cards at the drip of a dipstick.

There are websites selling card readers that add a fraction of an inch to the real slot and steal the debit account information, especially the PIN right at the pump.

I get a 4c/gal discount for cash. Only time I use the debit card is to get $$$ from the ATM.

[kc7jty]

Too gamey.

Nonsense!
Try it, it's quite good.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4478901911_78999be41b.jpg

[kc7jty]

http://t0ak.roblox.com/f24ac2e446d37625f1045b5fc01b6b68

[kc7jty]

Those PER-ICKS!
I join, now they hardly have any freebie samples anymore. Got gasolina today for $3.52/gal though.

[KG4CGC]

Those PER-ICKS!
I join, now they hardly have any freebie samples anymore. Got gasolina today for $3.52/gal though.
It's your fault too.

[kc7jty]

I know it. They got fed up with me asking for a look around (years) before I finally joined.

[KG4CGC]

I know it. They got fed up with me asking for a look around (years) before I finally joined.
Yep. Everything is a take it or leave it deal. Don't like it? Expletive yourself.
That's pretty much the sense I get from large chains these days.