Costco

[Sojourner]

So Costco are opening up their first warehouse in South Australia. They have some stores in the eastern states but are now entering the market here for the first time. I have looked into some of their advertising and it seems that you have to pay an annual membership fee of $60 to shop there, yet then are entitled to receive discounts on items that competitors might sell.

I was not all that interested in the idea until I noticed that at the same site they are building a petrol station which is exclusively for the use of Costco members, the impression that I got was that the servo is going to be fully automated with pay at the pump. They have one of these in New South Wales and its suggested that the price has remained 10-15c per litre (around 45-60c a gallon) less than the regular price around town even at the top of the discount cycle. This suggests to me that you could make up the $60 membership in a few months if you wished to assuming that the prices remained at that loss leader price.

So I am aware that this company Costco operate in various countries overseas and I wondered if any of you guys are members of it or have shopped there in the past and if you think their system is worthwhile and good value or not? Positive - Negative comments welcomed!

[phkrause]

From the "Big Three" Costco, BJs, and Sams Club, I've always liked Costco the best. Unfortunately it has always been the farthest to travel to, especially when I lived in Massachusetts. So I have been a member of BJs for the most part. There gas prices were pretty much the best around. When I moved back to Massachusetts and lived in the Worcester area, the BJs there didn't have a gas station so we became members of Sams Club which was within 5 miles and there prices were always lower than other gas stations. To compete with Sams, BJs other stations in the area usually were within a few pennies in price, never 40 to 50 cents difference. Here in Florida the BJs is about 15 to 20 cents cheaper than in the Deltona, FL area. So is Walmart. Not sure about Sams Club, which is very close to BJs, but I have not been there as of yet. As far as Costco, is a little farther to travel to than the others. Not sure of there prices compared to the other local stations in the area. I'm thinking of maybe dropping my membership to Sams in favor of Costco, since BJs and Sams are pretty much in the same area.

[Sojourner]

SOJOUNER

the nearest SAM CLUB OR BJ'S si about 40 miles from were i live

it would not be worth my time to drive that far to save gas

dgrimm60

Have you thought about shifting house? You could always drive back for church each Sabbath if none of the local churches there proved to be suitable?