We find it more than worth the cost of the membership and these days they are having more sales in the style of the US Costcos

Virgin coconut oil...cheaper than anyplace else I can get it $17 for 1.5 kg
Stagg Chili is the same price as the grocery store loss leaders and I rarely get it cheaper on sale prices at the regular grocery stores.
Coffee...the Folgers is an excellent price
Chocolate chips...they now have their own brand and it is miles above Chipits in quality and are cheaper than the Chipits Costco carries.
Their version of Robaxacet/Robaxicil ...ridiculously cheap 100 caplets for I think 6.99 but it might be less, I can't find a recent receipt
24 pk of V-8 cans is the cheapest unless I find it on sale at Wholesale club
Friskies canned cat food they've actually lowered the price per can significantly and Walmart's sale price doesn't even match it and their sale price was the cheapest in the Hamilton area.
I find their produce satisfactory and some weeks it's very good price/quality wise.
Their higher quality cheese prices can't be beat.
I have no problem making back my membership cost in one trip...3 packages of their Robax and a couple jars of coconut oil, a case of cat food, a couple of packs of Stagg and my husbands dental picks and it has paid for itself.

I, too, love Costco, and my fiancee and I find value in owning a membership.
That said, to get the most from your membership, you absolutely must know your pricing at competing stores. Not everything is cheaper at Costco.

There's also Real Canadain Wholesale, no membership required. But it isn't quite a nice as Costco. I also get stuff at Liquidators for dirt cheep, but be careful. Liquidator stuff is often damaged or near expirery, but with careful examination you can get great steals

The closest one to me is a 2.5 hour drive, and honestly, we simply don't eat the way we'd have to in order to make it worthwhile.

We don't eat commercially processed foods. We don't eat tinned veg or fruit, we don't eat commercially raised meat, and Costco doesn't sell whole grains. I don't buy pickles, or sauces, I don't buy tinned pasta sauce. We eat VERY basic foods, and they don't sell a lot of that at Costco.

I buy my organic grain from a local organic grain farmer. We raise livestock, or barter with neighbours for what they raise. I don't raise beef, but my neighbour does, and I raise pork. It works for us. I have a huge garden and an orchard, what fruit and veg I don't grow, I barter with those who do. Pretty much the only commercial food I buy is baking staples (salt, sugar, vanilla beans, etc.), and I can get better deals on that at Sobey's warehouse.

I've tried shopping at the Real Canadian Wholesale Club in Winnipeg, and I will drop by there if I'm in Winnipeg for something else, but I won't buy grains or anything bagged there. The last time I bought a bag of cornmeal there, I got home and opened it to put it in buckets, and it wasn't a bag of cornmeal, it was a bag of weevils. It was disgusting. I will buy some spices there, in bulk, if I'm already in the city, but I wouldn't make a special trip.

I just don't see the point of "membership" stores, unless you eat a lot of commercial foods -- tinned veg and soups and the like -- and things like chicken nuggets or frozen pizzas. We don't, so it's simply not a good use of resources for us.

My monthly grocery budget, averaged out over the year, is $400, including things like deodorant, toothpaste, tp, etc. I could spend that in one trip to Costco, and not have nearly what I needed to feed my family.

I do an annual shop by order from W H Escott in Winnipeg. They don't deliver, you have to arrange a pickup date, and go in to their warehouse, which is pretty much in downtown Winnipeg (in the industrial area NE of Portage and Main) to pick up, but their prices are awesome, and their staff is helpful and friendly. I go in in the fall each year and stock up on my beans, oatmeal, etc. Don, in their sales department, is more than happy to give you a quote on your order, and I think they have a minimum order of $400 or something, but the guys in the loading bay always load my truck for me, and the quality of their products is really good. For those of you in Manitoba, it's worth the trip into the city.

Between the Exec Membership money back we make every year and the sale items, the costco.ca stuff you cannot get at the warehouse, the one time sale stock of items like bathroom vanity or toilets (if you are renoing) and if you buy chicken or meat by the case it is even cheaper and so on it is a no brainer for our familly of five. I also own a business and the stuff I need for that business is much cheaper then the wholesalers I used to deal with. Do your research yes, becarefull of what you buy yes, but things like brand name security cameras on sale half the price of anywhere else? boo ya baby! Also I have returned many many items in the past with not one issue. Even without a receipt they simply look up your membership and track your purchase that way to give you the refund. Ok that part is a bit scary like big brother and all but still worth it. One thing tho I truly recommend, if you are buying big ticket items or things like vaccum sealers check their web site for customer feedback just in case; there is a reason Champion Generators are so cheap, acient Chineese secret

At costco I buy meat (roasts, about half of which get cut for steaks), batteries, nuts, cat food, cleaning supplies by the case (It may seem silly to buy toilet bowl cleanser in boxes of 4 bottles, but I only have to do it once a year, if that). A group of us buy ketchup, mustard and spices etc from there and split them. We'll also do one time items such as small appliances, pots & pans etc.

I've pondered over getting a membership for a time now. The one thing I keep hearing is meat purchases. Warning bells in my head go off when I hear Costco and meat. All the recalls and such.

Now, I'll be the first to admit I could be just a nitpicker. I buy meat from my local small grocer, and I know where it comes from. Does Costco make that information known?

I'll tell you, getting a membership there has become one of the toughest decisions I've had to dwell on lately. Some things I can get as cheap and sometimes cheaper elsewhere but not in bulk. Some things I couldn't eat so wouldn't bother. I've never thought of meds though. Some things just nag at me. Tough to decide.

Can you order the meds though the website, no membership required and its delivered to your door.. if you can solves both issues..

We raise most of our meat or purchase from local farmers so meat isn't going to be a drawing card for me either. At this point I have a sister and a SIL who are willing to take me along so I've decided to shop on their goodwill for awhile and see if I find enough to make it worthwhile.

We live 10 mins. away from Costco so for gas we save large,tools are all very good,Vitamins-Cough medicine etc,good prices,because we live in the city we try and buy the best food items we can,generator and solar items excellent prices also we always compare with flyers also.

Hello all,

After months of reading I am finally de-lurking. I finally live somewhere where my preps can consist of more than a BOB and I am wondering whether anyone on here can speak to the value of a Costco membership when it comes to stocking up on preps. It's just me, my hubby and our puppy right now, so not a ton of mouths to feed. Do the savings found shopping in costco add up to more than the $50/yr they charge you to shop there?

Thanks for your input!

The answer depends on what and how much you buy; but for the most part I would say yes! yes! yes!

- I have been a member for 2 years now. I buy all my family drugs and medical supplies that I can, as they are the cheapest RX I have ever found! I quit smoking 5 months ago; and the nicorette quick mists I used about 15-20 of to this point; cost me about 25 bucks a piece there as in comparison to walmart at 32 and my local RX at a whooping 45 bucks each. eeks! So in my two trips vs walmart just on the quick mists, I saved more then my membership cost this year!

- oh and baby drapers and formula are also of good savings. Ne ways; I like to stock up on canned foods and toilet paper, not the biggest saving but a saving none the less; and I like filling up on gas while I am in the city. If you live in the city or near a costco you might be able to get your 55 dollar membership back just at the pump.

- The main thing I like is because you pay the little membership, costco's markup on everything is never ne more then 15% and often the best of best deals are drugs, online or in there weekly/monthly flyer. I would not recommend the big 100 dollar membership as those are best suited to higher volume buyers that use the credit card as well for every purchase to maximum gains and savings. Hope this has helped and all, best of luck!

We have been a member for a very long time and a big fan. As said previously the drugs are the best deal anywhere, and the vitamins are made in Canada. On the whole their prices are cheaper then the big box and grocery chains but you are limited to size and quantity choices. This however is how they keep their prices down and the products good.

There are times when sale items elsewhere will beat Costco, but again you need to be an educated shopper.

We have not found very many items that we use on a day to day basis that cannot be found there. My favorite thing about Costco is the ability to buy any quantity. What you can buy is only limited to the stock on the shelf and there are no stupid "You must eat a lot" questions at the check out.

I think they are a good deal and I hope this helps..

HTP

I don't go to Costco but I have not looked at meds there. I found that the food prices are comparable to superstore so why drive so far for the same price? I also find that they don't have the same or good variety of things. Only one kind of granola bar, Super huge boxes of stuff that you will have to repackage to keep it fresh. Its good for the occasional visit for me. And do they price match? Considering they sell in bulk It would be hard to price match for the same size items...

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