Costco was nothing like I expected.
What I was expecting was an outsized version of Aldi, full of cheap generic goods imported from random Eastern European countries, rather than name-brand products. I was expecting it to be large, but not the size of a football field. I was expecting an eclectic assortment of items, but not jerry cans of Chupa Chups or a giant 9kg Toblerone.
What can I say? It was fun having my expectations put aside by the Costco experience.
My friend Kimberley is possibly the only person I know who lives alone in an apartment in the inner city yet has a membership to Costco. Most of the clientele I can safely say live in suburbia with a couple of kids and a station wagon/people-mover/ute in tow. So I think it’s slightly bizarre that Kimberley’s become a Costco evangelist. I was convinced to go with her the day after I moved into my new house and was faced with no muesli, toilet paper, laundry powder or butter. I didn’t take much convincing to be honest, because I’ve been a bargain-hunter and bulk-buyer from way back.
You know that everything is going to be big, big, BIG as soon as you grab one of the double-width supermarket trolleys. Being my first trip to Costco, Kimberley patiently wheeled me through almost every aisle in the aircraft hanger as I squealed at the baby grand piano, an outdoor patio and giant apple pies. It was quite mad to be honest – I kept on having to say to myself ‘put that DOWN, Joyce, you do not need a tissue cashmere scarf or that copy of David Thompson’s Thai Food’. It was like an amusement park for bargain shoppers.
After 2 hours, my very successful haul included an Epsom printer, a set of Pyrex dishes and more mundane things like a mop and a large supply of toothpaste, toothbrushes and AAA batteries. Everything = bargain and a month later I’m still working my way through most of the items. Book me in for another Costco trip in 6 months, Kimberley!
- Costco Wholesale, 381 Footscray Rd, Docklands +61 3 8602 0300
It was so much fun and such a pleasure shopping with you – even more so because you bought heaps of stuff! More than I could purchase in one go due to my living alone in an inner city apartment…but I DO have the storage space
Glad you were delighted by this somewhat upmarket version of Aldi where you can pick up diamonds, TVs, lounge suites, fresh fruit & veg, frozen goods, baked good, toiletries, commercial size ovens and even some storage for housing your Costco purchases!
Let me know when you’ve worked your way through the toilet paper and butter and we’ll book in another trip.
x
Twitter: KimberleyL
| June 10, 2010, 9:27 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kimberley Lee, Jetsetting Joyce. Jetsetting Joyce said: My first Costco experience with @KimberleyL HOT: Costco Wholesale, Docklands http://bit.ly/buUTnL [...]
I want to go to there
I went to Costco a while back and found it a fascinating and fun experience… from a sociological perspective, but I can’t actually imagine wanting to buy any of the food there. Mostly packaged, junky crap. It’s like the antithesis of sustainable/local/whole food movement.
Maybe if you had to cater a large function or something, but really: how many giant pre-made pizzas and boxes of doughnuts to people need?
Still: it’s a fun place for people watching, an it is a good place for cheap electronics.
Twitter: rbbrown
| June 12, 2010, 2:56 pm
Hi Ruth
Yes you’re right, it is the other end of the spectrum of the food movement, and I guess there’s room for both in our society. I was boggled by the size of some of the items (eg giant toblerone) but I guess if you’re having a party or have a large family then buying everything in one place cheaply is a good option. I restricted my bulk-buying to household goods or say 18 eggs rather than the usual dozen (I couldn’t even buy 5 litre milk, as I’d never get through it). Oh, and the fish was very fresh and available in small portions.
Jetsetting Joyce
Oh, I am a fan too!! Although I do have 3 kids that just hoover through the washing powder, mega-bags of dried cranberries, 12-pack of canned tuna, etc. I actually find the gigantic pack sizes deter me from buying crap I don’t need. I mean, I want to try their knock-off of Kettle chips, but I don’t want 3 kg of them. Ditto the chocolate – no sneaky bar at the checkout here, unless you want to be saddled with a 24-pack of Toblerone… although I acknowledge this may not be a problem for some!
Twitter: msbaklover
| June 12, 2010, 3:17 pm
Hi Ms Baklover
Haha yes that’s true, the impulse buying is only for large amounts of impulse buying (‘yes, I will be able to get through 9kg of oats on my own!’). I definitely think it’s worth a membership if you have a family which, as you say, just go through large amounts of day-to-day items.
Jetsetting Joyce
OMG. looks like you need a van when buying stuff there. so huge. i’d love to visit one of these stores. i’d go mental stocking up on anything that isn’t perishable.
Twitter: simonleong
| June 18, 2010, 11:45 pm
I have been to Costco quite a few times, BUT really its not that cheap. why by 10 of an item when you can buy one at only a few cents more from the likes ofAldi. the laptops are much more expensive. costco $799.00, dick smith $649.00 exactly the same laptop, no extras. the drinks use to be good value but the likes of coles sell slabs for $10.00-$15.00 bucks, Costco $18.00 for 30 330ml cans. We buy some stuff from Costco not because they are cheaper than anywhere else but for the convenience. Sorry Costco you are going to have to be quite a bit sharper with your knife to make me want to shop regularly.
Twitter: glowgolf_oz
| June 24, 2010, 1:48 pm
Costco is not really cheap,I can say the only cheap is their hotdog snack w/ drinks, huge pizza, & rice. And it is far to my place, so I din’t save actually. It’s just fun to shop 1 or 2 times because of the bulk packaging sorroundings.
Hi Nicole
I think it depends on what you’re buying. Personally, I wouldn’t be going to Costco for the junk food they serve at the cafeteria personally, but 4 months later we are still using the washing powder and toilet paper we bought there. For us it’s a once every 6 month trip but I can imagine if you were catering a party or had a large family the cost savings of bulk buying would add up.
Jetsetting Joyce
Very true Jetsetting, same here my children takes costco as an amusement park and we and many people like also do not visit such super stores because they don’t usually buy things in the bulk the small store at the corner of the street is enough for us, but to buy something genuine and good quality I prefer costco on all other super stores.
Twitter: WholesalePages
| March 22, 2011, 3:32 pm