[winter-rabbit]

It is $52/year but it is actually free.

If 2% refund at the year's end is not enough to pay for your membership, they send you a check for the difference.

Costco is awesome.

Originally Posted by forestgump99

But a person needs a Costco card which costs money.

So if the card costs $52 a year and you get gas once a week, say a 10 gallon tank of gas...

You are paying $1.00 a week for the privilege of gassing up at at 4¢ per gallon savings, multiplied by your 10 gallon tank in your car is 40¢ total savings, but you are paying $1.00 for that, so you are overpaying by 60¢..so you are in effect paying $3.05 a gallon. Circle K on Eastern is $3.03...

[winter-rabbit]

Correct, and USDA Prime beef at costco is amazing price.

Originally Posted by f.2

you're computations don't include the discount savings you get with membership when you buy the 650 tp value pack. or self scoop aspirin.

[winter-rabbit]

Costco will save you big money.

Costco unlike Walmart or Sam's club actually lower their prices when supply chain goes down. They make around 2% net profit according to their annual stockholder report.

Originally Posted by forestgump99

I never been in a Costco or a Sams....I dont feel that I need to pay for a card for the privilege of shopping there. They should be handing me the card.
But the fuel-gas savings is one benefit, I guess and if you're in the area when you need to gas up.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by forestgump99

I should just get a card out of spite and shop, roll my cart in front of you. How is Sams or Costco gas any better than other gases from Chevron? What fuel additive is best?

If that's the kind of person you are....

I don't buy gasoline at Costco because my truck doesn't use gasoline. My wife sometimes buys gas at Costco. But usually she gets gas at Smith's. We shop at Costco for the savings on food, LED light bulbs, the occasional big-ticket electronics item and similar. We look at the Costco card as an asset, not a liability.

[Tek_Freek]

Costco (since it's the sub topic) is great for reading glasses, computers, TVs, etc because they add an extended warranty on items. We just got the best deal we found anywhere on Directv there. The jury is still out on Directv, however.

In addition to the foodstuff mentioned earlier raw almonds are a great deal.

Before moving here we checked pricing on the items we buy from them and the card pays for itself in less than a year, every year.

[MSchu]

I just paid $2.94 gal at smith's market...

[von949]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Good! Because it's already too crowded.

I think the membership system help keep the riff raff out. It does get crowded at times.

[qingguy]

The reason we buy gas at Costco is not that it ALWAYS has the cheapest prices, sometimes I can drive a few blocks to the AMPM and find it a couple of cents cheaper. We buy at Costco because it more often than not has the cheapest gas, it's convenient location to our home AND I can pay with my Costco AMEX and get 3% back in Costco dollars. Most other locations credit price is more than their cash price. Or if you pay with debit they charge you a .50 fee which bumps the per gallon cost up a few cents more and suddenly it's not the cheapest. I figure per car we probably get a rebate of about $100 a year for in town travel. Not bad for purchasing something we would anyway. BTW, just paid $3.14 at the Costco on 215 and Decatur

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by von949

I think the membership system help keep the riff raff out. It does get crowded at times.

Much of Costco's revenue comes from those membership cards. Their margins are razor thin (which is good for the customer, after all). I agree about riff raff. But all those free samples must more than offset the riff raff factor, no?

[von949]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Much of Costco's revenue comes from those membership cards. Their margins are razor thin (which is good for the customer, after all). I agree about riff raff. But all those free samples must more than offset the riff raff factor, no?

From the looks of things, I bet some people plan their meals around those free samples. I often see shoppers going back for seconds and thirds, then send their kids to go get more. Could you imagine if Costco didn't have a membership program?