Seriously thinking of canceling Costco card

[moneymaker]

I love Costco. But they are getting rid of Amex, no longer have the $1.99 salad mix that I like,the gas is not any cheaper than the local stations. Everything seems to be “organic” there now. I just want plan stuff that is not outrageously priced. Cannot buy jam or preserves there unless it is organic. Seems to me they are really pushing the organic crap, people think GMO is a bad thing, I’m sorry but I disagree. If GMO means more people around the world don’t go hungry then I’m all for it. If it means bigger and better then bring it on. Probably the only good reason for me to cancel is because I buy too much stuff there. Anybody else cancel their membership or thinking about canceling? My dad had been a member there ever since it was Price Club. Maybe I should spend a month shopping the local grocery stores before I make my decision.

[scaredyclassic]

I buy so much cat litter alone there I have no choice but to continue on.

[The-Shoveler]

No Way, the whole roasted chicken can’t be beat IMO.

Plus they have the best prices on some items like Vitamins, Cereals and coffee etc…

And I would not know how to dress anymore, all my clothes come from Costco from my socks, shoes and underwear, to shirts and pants and jackets.

I would be miserable.

I go to best buy, amazon or Fry’s for electronics however.

[Coronita]

I’ve been filling gas there early in the morning, that’s about it.. Last week @the Carlsbad location: $2.28/gallon for 91…(beater cars of course.). That’s a $30cents/gallon difference from others. I figure 15 gallons a week on average, that’s $4.50/week in savings… More than enough to pay for an executive membership. Also doesn’t factor in the cash rebate on the costco amex card (or soon to be visa card)

That in alone is more than an executive membership.

Some have raised concerns about how Costco gas might be crap gas.. I was initially concerned about generally using it for my better cars…But then again, I foung out my buddy has an E92 M3 has been getting costco gas there for about 7 years. No issue with his E92 M3. So I figure if it’s good enough for a tracked M3, it’s probably good enough for my beaters and my X5. Afterall, it’s not like I have a porsche or ferrari. Plus i dump a can of techron cleaner in my tank every 2-3 months or so anyway, regardless of where i go get gas.

Filling up an 21 gallon X5 @ $2.28 is much better than previously filling up a 21 gallon X5 when it was $4.65/gallon, lol.

[XBoxBoy]

Hate Costco. Refuse to go there. Poor selection, long lines. Can’t see what people find so wonderful about the place. The most unpleasant shopping experience there is.

[plm]

Love Costco. Actually like the poor selection. Don’t have to choose and what they have is usually really good. If you don’t like it, you can return it. Recently returned some vitamins I bought over a year ago but never used. No problem at all.

I do think their items have been trending toward organic and higher end but I don’t mind paying more. Like Ballast Point beer. I just get more back in my Amex rebate, just got $260 back this year.

The fresh tilapia and ahi fish are really good besides the rotisserie chicken.

Carmel Mountain gas lines are too long to wait and save only 20 cents/gallon on gas though.

[skerzz]

Costco is great IMO. Excellent prices on beer/wine/alcohol, dog food, organic eggs, meats, bulk household supplies (dish soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, paper towels, TP, etc.) and TVs. Fill up the “nanny” car, a gas-guzzling HD2500 Chevy Suburban, every other week so long as the lines aren’t too long. Last Sunday I saved over $30 dollars shopping at costco on just two purchases — filled the ‘burb up with 35 gallons of fuel ($13) and and picked up a bottle of nice scotch whiskey ($21) vs. purchasing at local retailers.

The gas savings on one vehicle justifies the cost of the executive membership. However, I have found the gas lines not worth the wait/time when filling up my more fuel efficient/smaller fuel capacity vehicles.

[bibsoconner]

Flu, Carlsbad Costco? That’s the one I go to from work. Or should I say, used to go to before they started construction on their gas pump area. Now the long lines are completely unbearable. In general I agree with the original poster: Costco is not the great deal it once was. I’ve noticed that the meats have all gone up (they’ve gone up everywhere, but more so in Costco) and there aren’t as many deals. And the amount of folks that stand in the middle of the aisle thereby blocking all the other shoppers has gone up considerably. Luckily for them, they still have cheap kitty litter so I’m there for now!

[bearishgurl]

I know a lot of the Vons in SD County are gone now but Vons Just4U is wa-a-a-ay cheaper than Costco for a household of 1-3 people. You have to keep adding things (electronically) to your list every week, and actually start to buy some of them before your Just4U selection gets larger and larger as time goes on. The Just4U prices are dirt cheap and I’m a longtime master at bargain grocery shopping and couponer (which aren’t so plentiful anymore).

Also the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred is the best AMEX card out there.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/blue-cash-preferred

I’ve only had it for 18 months (closed my Gold Card Acct and opened it) and already got back ~$300 last year (statement credit). It pays 6% back on standalone grocery store purchases and 3% back on standalone gas station purchases. This does NOT include “big box” stores or their gas stations but includes Safeway gas (northern Cal and OOS) and Fry’s gas (Kroger in AZ).

When you combine the Vons Just4U (deep) discounts and pay with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, your savings are even better than the prices at military commissaries (which I DO visit 2-3 times per year when my youngest kid is present and able to get me in)!

[Coronita]

[quote=bibsoconner]Flu, Carlsbad Costco? That’s the one I go to from work. Or should I say, used to go to before they started construction on their gas pump area. Now the long lines are completely unbearable. In general I agree with the original poster: Costco is not the great deal it once was. I’ve noticed that the meats have all gone up (they’ve gone up everywhere, but more so in Costco) and there aren’t as many deals. And the amount of folks that stand in the middle of the aisle thereby blocking all the other shoppers has gone up considerably. Luckily for them, they still have cheap kitty litter so I’m there for now![/quote]

Yup. I think they are adding an additional row of pumps. It isn’t bad around 830am… Beyond gas, I stopped shopping there. Plus I am boycotting their tire center after they effed.up my wheels last time over at Carmel mountain.

[Coronita]

For all you that insist on organics, trader Joes.. Or Henry’s/Sprout.

[moneymaker]

Ok just made a trip to Costco for cat food and what do you know they actually had a kirkland brand of jam that was not organic, also realized while I was waiting in line that most of my cars have Costco tires so if I cancel my membership I will have to go elsewhere for rotations and flat repair (Discount Tire would be my second choice). So for now I guess I’ll keep it. On the way home stopped at Walmart for the salad and for half as much salad it was almost $1 more than Costco used to charge when they carried it. Salad causes flatulence so I guess I can just stop eating salad I suppose.

[Coronita]

[quote=moneymaker]Ok just made a trip to Costco for cat food and what do you know they actually had a kirkland brand of jam that was not organic, also realized while I was waiting in line that most of my cars have Costco tires so if I cancel my membership I will have to go elsewhere for rotations and flat repair (Discount Tire would be my second choice). So for now I guess I’ll keep it. On the way home stopped at Walmart for the salad and for half as much salad it was almost $1 more than Costco used to charge when they carried it. Salad causes flatulence so I guess I can just stop eating salad I suppose.[/quote]

What I do for tires is I buy them from tirerack.com and have them drop shipped to my installer, C2 Motorsports of Kerny Mesa. I don’t trust Costco as a tire installer and they only stock Michelin tires which IMHO are a ripoff or bridgestone which is so-so. Tirerack usually had a better price than Costco when tirerack has their specials.

Also, most tire places locally will match Costco prices. You just need to ask. Also, if you actually go to a tire place, some places throw in a free alignment.

Getting tires from Costco is a pain for me on a beater car because you have to go there for tires and then go to an alignment shop after that isn’t near the Costco

[bearishgurl]

[quote=moneymaker]. . . On the way home stopped at Walmart for the salad and for half as much salad it was almost $1 more than Costco used to charge when they carried it. . .[/quote]I just got a Von’s Just4U offer this morning on 13 oz Taylor Farms Salad Kits for $2.17 (serves 2-3). I get similar offers all the time. Also, Ralph’s has had BIG heads of iceberg, green leaf, red leaf and romaine lettuce for 99 cents for at least 4 months now. Very fresh. And Vons/Ralph’s alternate 99-cent lb Roma tomatoes and 1.20 to 1.49 lb tomatoes on the vine.

Since you like salads, try putting these stores’ weekly ads on your e-mail list, moneymaker.

[The-Shoveler]

If you’re into greens if you go to Zions or some of the smaller Mexican markets they have astounding deals usually on most vegetables.

We try to go to one down the road from us once a week or so.

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