Is paying to shop at Costco really worth it?

I don't think that they are telling us anything that we don't already know except that the max mark up price is suppose to be 14%.

I only buy the staples at costco: bread, chicken, milk, tp, paper, juice, vegetables, which I know are cheaper than my local grocery store.

Costco Creep is something to be avoided: make a list and stick to it.

The rebate on the AMEX card pays for the membership, if you really cash in the rebate and use it for the membership.

Buy what you need and leave the rest. Be an informed shopper when it comes to prices.

The Costco guarantee on products is a huge bonus. Where else can you take back you coffee maker that died, two years after you purchased it?

After throwing away so much, I now go 2 times a month. What fits in the frige -2 weeks . What fits in the freezer -1 month. What fits in shelf-1 month. I purchase gas there and shop on-line for everything else, which is delivered to my door. The Kirkland brand is very good quality, and very happy with the prices also customer service.

Nevertheless, there was a curiosity, right? Now, the ability to know what you need vs. what you want....every shopper who is wise in their spending should know this. Remember, when you shop at Costco, you are not just at a grocery store, you save time and money on your clothes, appliances, gasoline, etc. I purchase 4 brand new tires for my car at a $83 savings and Costco also gave me a $60 cash card which I used inside. I share my membership with my sister since you can have 2 people on your account, and we get 2% back at the end of our renewal year, then we use that to renew for free and keep the change......oh, and the hot dog for $1.50 before we go home?.....yummmy

Over the course of the year the membership pays for itself so long as you only buy what you need and/or what you can consume in a reasonable period of time. Definitely refrain from perishable items if you have a small family of 2-4 persons, unless you plan to eat them each day. If you must buy meat at Costco, I would recommend investing in a Food Saver (Costco sells them, too) - this product has really helped me to stretch my costs by allowing me to preserve some foods for a longer period of time. In addition, if you have a specific item in mind (water cooler, electronics, computers, cameras, kitchen items, etc.) it wouldn't hurt to check with Costco to see if it may be cheaper than at a retail store. I've been satisfied with all of my big purchases at Costco (in store and online), and their return policy is great. Last but not least, there is a lot of 'eye candy' at Costco, but only you know your budget and what your needs are - so my advice would just be to shop smart. Besides, most of the items in bulk sitting on the shelf consist mostly of items we should not be eating (snacks and other items loaded with sugar and lots of calories).

Well, if you buy a lot over time, you should be money ahead