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insegnante
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 10:29am | IP Logged
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We are strongly considering joining. We wondered if it has those yucky magazines at the checkout aisle like so many other stores do? If it doesn't that would certainly be a point in its favor.
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Theresa
mommy to three boys, 3/02, 8/04, and 9/10, and a girl, 8/08
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guitarnan
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 10:44am | IP Logged
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Nope. They sell magazines (no National Enquirer!), but on a special rack at the end of one aisle. None by the registers...at least at the several stores I've visited.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 10:51am | IP Logged
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None at the one in Pgh, thats where we shop!
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mama251ders
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 10:51am | IP Logged
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No, I have found that store to be very appropriate and useful. The clothes they sell there are even appropriate! We used to belong to Sam's Club and then we watched a Dateline that had a whole segment on Costco and how the business is run, how the workers are treated and how the prices are determined. The founder only takes a 300,000 per year salary instead of getting the profits of the company. That in itself impressed me. The workers are actually given fair wages and have access to adequate health insurance and the company only has a 15% profit margin. I was highly impressed with all of that and so we switched our membership. Since we switched, I have been very happy with the selection and the customer service. If they don't have something that I used to buy there, I put in a request and most of the time, they start carrying it again (I think I usually request pretty popular items). They also have a very large selection of organic and fair trade items, which is important to our family. Oh! You can also split a membership with a friend. My friend and I went together and I renewed my membership. When they asked if I wanted anyone else to have a card, I told them I wanted Sue to have one. It worked! Since we are the main Costco shoppers in our families, this works for us. Anyway, I think that is probably way more than you wanted to know, but I am so happy with them that I had to tell you!
Blessings,
Betsie
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folklaur
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 11:14am | IP Logged
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We like our Costco too - a lot! No magazines, except at the end of one aisle as was mentioned.
We have even seen them carry books from Catholic Publishing houses. Their food selections are good, there are a few things we always get there.
I usually go there for my photos, and my vision appointments / eyeglasses, too. And gas is usually cheaper there.
I just try hard to avoid it on Saturdays  . And a lot of times, if we see something that they don't always carry, like a seasonal item, and we know it is a special or good deal, but we decide to "think about it" - they have run out if we come back a few days later (especially if there was a Saturday during those few days.)
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Nina
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 5:31pm | IP Logged
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We also like Costco.(Maybe too much  )The mag section is by the books at the store that we visit.So you could avoid them and not be forced to stand there and turn some to the back cover.The gas is usually cheaper there also.We have the Executive Membership,so they pay us a % back for the entire yr.,which can almost pay for your membership.This yr.we got about $80 back.Can you tell that we go often? 
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insegnante
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 7:16pm | IP Logged
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I welcome all input on Costco, just didn't want to be redundant after other threads. And didn't think anyone had the time to find Costco prices for me on all the stuff we would probably buy there so I could compare them to our other stores' prices  But I can think of plenty of staple purchases that are the type of things I know they have there. I don't think there's a high risk for us of losing the benefit of membership through impulse buys or buying large quantities of stuff we don't need or won't end up using up in time. So it's just a matter of waiting till we have the money available for the initial investment.
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Theresa
mommy to three boys, 3/02, 8/04, and 9/10, and a girl, 8/08
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Anne McD
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| Posted: April 16 2008 at 7:28pm | IP Logged
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Ah, yes, the magazine rack.
If you don't mind, I have a little story. About a week or so ago I was unloading my cart while my just five year old was staring at a magazine, sounding out a word he saw.
"S-E-X. Ssss, iiii, xxx, six. That spells six, Mommy, that spells, no wait a minute, I says "ih" E says "eh", ssss, eeeehh, xxxx . . . " well, you know how this one ended!
I concluded with a "yes it does, did you see the pretty yellow flowers over here?" While I'm rather proud of him and his reading proweress, esp since I've never really "taught" him, why couldn't Better Homes and Garden be at his eye level, rather than that one! 
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Anne
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: April 17 2008 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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I did a search and found out there is a Costco about 60 miles from me.
Is Costco just like Sams?
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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Carole N.
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| Posted: April 17 2008 at 1:13pm | IP Logged
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We recently visited the Costco in Bristol. It reminded me immensely of Sam's ... much the same layout and set-up. Even though it is a fair drive for us, I think that we may join.
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Carole ... in Wales
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5athome
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| Posted: April 17 2008 at 1:25pm | IP Logged
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Similar to Sams in that it is a warehouse club. However, I think the brands might be considered more on the higher end. They have lots of organics and their house brand is great.
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RenB
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| Posted: April 17 2008 at 3:30pm | IP Logged
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We have a Costco membership and think it's been invaluable for us through the years. There are magazines, though no where near the cashiers, in fact you really have to look for them if you want one. It's very nice to shop in a store and see NOTHING near the cash register, that's a great advantage.
Since our move east, our nearest store is over an hour each way, but when my hubby has to get to the hospital in the same location twice weekly for his chest rehabilitation program, he gets a list to shop afterwards. hee hee
We buy much there, have the premier club membership (can't remember what it's called but it's 100.00 per year in Canada), which gives you a return percentage on your purchases after one year. We just received the bill for the next year with a check return enclosed in the amount of 98.39. So, membership is basically free.
Besides many savings on food items (you have to know your prices girls to find bargains there!), it has a GREAT book aisle which i peruse OFTEN to the delight of my husband while he waits for me...grin. Many bargains do await a large family, food wise, but I understand a place like Sam's Club can offer similar products, though not sure myself on that because I never shop there as there are none around me.
Nothing beats the pricing on clothing, ice hockey tape/sock tape, computer printer refills, art/office supplies, gift items, and off season items of interest. We've even purchased our tires there in the past, because they have a great guarantee, plus a huge discount on your subsequent set if you purchased the first set there. It's a guy thing you know, they pull them in with money savings for them, and then the woman can buy more BOOKS! with the savings. javascript:AddSmileyIcon(' ')
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Renee
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"Go East," they said
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teachingmom
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| Posted: April 17 2008 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
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Theresa,
As you can probably tell from some of my posts here, Costco really ought to pay me for all the free advertising I give them.
I am there each week, and I'd be glad to have you and your family join me for a shopping trip to check it out. You can come in the door with someone with a membership, but just not buy anything. PM me if you're interested.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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mama251ders
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| Posted: April 18 2008 at 7:18am | IP Logged
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We are heading to Costco this morning because I got a tip that they are selling real Crocs for $19 a pair! Very nice!
Blessings,
Betsie
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: April 18 2008 at 9:00am | IP Logged
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Ooh, ooh - I'll be sure to look for the Crocs when we go tonight! Thanks for the *heads up*.
Peace,
Nancy
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insegnante
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| Posted: June 10 2008 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
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We joined. Just in case anyone is interested in our experience, we've been there twice in the past 8 days. I'm sure we spent more money than we would have spent on those types of items in that time but I'm pretty sure we will see savings over time -- there hasn't been anything closer to frivolous than maybe more Papermate pens than we needed in a relatively inexpensive package (but we always have trouble finding pens that still work) and a gigantic package of construction paper, but we were low on construction paper and it's not like it won't be used eventually. I have become pretty good at ignoring most things we don't need/can't afford when we shop (like the incredibly wonderful-smelling cookies.)
I was so pleased to find those Coleman nitrite-free hot dogs are just as enjoyable as the ones we used to get from TJ's. I have had other "natural" hot dogs that I would really rather not eat at all. I can't guarantee the math I did in my head but they seemed to be about 75% the cost of TJ's per hot dog by buying the three bundled 8-packs, and I'm sure we can use the two yet unopened packs before they expire in August.
And we had their frozen stuffed shells last night, I think they were $8.something for a 4 pound bag? They were with sauce from TJ's, but yummy.
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Theresa
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chrisv664
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| Posted: June 10 2008 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
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This has really helped me save money at Costco... I typed up a master list on the computer. I really only buy cetain things there, so to avoid wandering around and impulse buying I listed the 25 or so items I always get there. On the day I go to Costco, I print out my list and check off the items I need . I spend much less time and money there, now. I have to say at Christmas, the list goes out the window... I get lots of Christmas shopping done there!
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Chris
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Costco question
