midigod: stpauler: I'm gonna piss off a bunch of CostCo fanboys here.... So I got the bonus of all the savings and much more including the membership fee back.

Doesn't piss me off, but it should piss you off that you acknowledge you saved money, yet you refused to continue being a member.

Not really, I moved a month later and there's not a convenient CostCo Nearby (St Louis Park, MN's Costco is a planned nightmare). I still have garbage bags and ziplocs over a year later.

stevenvictx: Bad thing about warehouse stores is all they sell is the the high dollar name brand items .
Looking for a store brand corn? Forget it, your buying the high dollar green giant. Which even by the case, is still more expensive than the store brand.

Kirkland brand is Costco's store brand. You are very wrong on this point.

Sbdolan: stevenvictx: Bad thing about warehouse stores is all they sell is the the high dollar name brand items .
Looking for a store brand corn? Forget it, your buying the high dollar green giant. Which even by the case, is still more expensive than the store brand.

Kirkland brand is Costco's store brand. You are very wrong on this point.

And look at me not refreshing and being very late in this point.

Smeggy Smurf: Autumn Moone: Locally, Costco has better meat and produce - you just got to buy lots of it.

We had a Sams Club. It was located right next door to a WalMart SuperCenter. Several times I did a price comparison, and the prices at Sams Club were the exact same as at Walmart, you just had to buy in bulk. It was ridiculous that you could go next door and buy 1 or 2 items (without the membership) for the same price per unit.

That Sams Club closed a couple of years ago - it wasn't even in business a year. The Costco here is packed all the time.

Even better are all the WinCos around the area. All the prices of the club stores without the membership fees. Too bad they have made it quite clear that they will never sell gas.

Winco for the, uh, win?

SumoJeb HoneyDog: The Costco dog food is actually very highly rated. Why do you say it's crap?

Way too many fillers! More garbage in, the more garbage out.

For info: Pros & Cons of Kirkland Dog Food

your link says it is a really good brand? Dogs do need some fiber unless you let them eat horse poo, and beet pulp is far superior to most grains for dogs. You find me a brand that is as good, or better than Kirkland that costs no more than $20/ 20lbs and I would buy it.

I think you better read more carefully:

Based on consumer reviews, perhaps the best aspects of this particular dog food are first, their reasonable prices, which are considerably less than premium and mid-grade brands, and second, the fact that no varieties of Kirkland dog food products contain corn, a common filler found in many brands of commercial foods for dogs.

However, despite the lack of corn in any of their dog food products, critics point out the use of another questionable filler, beet pulp, which is a byproduct made from the dry residue of sugar beets. The controversy behind beet pulp as a filler for dog food derives from the fact that while manufacturers claim it's a good source of fiber, others say that it is merely used to slow down the metabolism of animal fats, which leads to added stress on both the liver and kidneys. Beet pulp has also been linked to both allergies and ear infections and those against its usage in dog foods note that other vegetables and fruits could be used as sources of fiber. Yet others still point out that beet pulp contains "good" bacteria which promotes a healthy digestive tract.

Also, although barley and brown rice, two common ingredients in Kirkland Signature foods for dogs, aren't totally digestible by dogs, they are a far better source of plant proteins than corn or wheat, which should be reserved for animals like cows, goats, or sheep.

You want fiber, you can get better fiber than the beet crap in the Kirkland dog foods. Also the link just said it was one of the better CHEAP dog foods, not one of the over all best ones.

You want to feed your dog the cheap crap, then by all means feel free. But I want to feed my guys the really good stuff. Maybe that's one of the reasons why my extra large 100 lb + dogs live to be 15 and 16 years old instead of 10 or 12 years.

Cluckity: evaned:
Eh, it's like gym memberships. People who get it and don't use it subsidize part of the cost of the people who do. So even assuming you're right in the large, that doesn't mean that it's true for everyone.

Costco doesn't need the memberships at all. It's a marketing gimmick to make you feel loyal and special, and make you feel like you need to purchase enough product to justify the membership. The savings come from the fact Costco buys large quantities of a few products from a limited number of suppliers, not from the membership fees.

Costco's membership fees account for about 80% of their operating profit (this pattern has held for at least a decade). They basically mark their products up enough to cover their overhead and variable costs + about 1%.

JackieRabbit: Costco: no
Sam's Club: no
BJ's: no
Any other membership-based warehouse "discount" store: no

People who shop at these only think they are saving money. They never consider how much of the bulk foods they buy go to waste. Buying a years' worth of toilet paper, paper towels, sanitary pads, etc. and storing it your basement or garage? You're storing a major fire hazard.

Also, these places can sell pet food cheaper because they sell cheap, poorly formulated brands, which are usually corn-based. Corn is very bad for both cats and dogs. Unless they sell premium brands at discount prices, get your pet food elsewhere. Almost none of the pet foods sold in groceries are good for cats and dog (some of Purina's premium brands are pretty good, though).

A shiatty troll like this can really only make it if you got in on page one.

0/10 for lateness.

HoneyDog: others say that it is merely used to slow down the metabolism of animal fats, which leads to added stress on both the liver and kidneys.

Slowing down digestion is generally better on the liver and the kidneys, unless the digestive process would normally shiat out a bunch of stuff before it ever reached the liver/kidneys, and the slowing of the process allows it to break down further than the animal may be used to.

You then follow up the bolded part by saying dogs still need fiber. Well, what kind are you going to give them that isn't going to slow down digestion, because that is pretty much what all fiber is: a filler for your poop chute.

/not a vet, so if fiber functions quite differently in animals, then I stand corrected.

kenwastinger: I shop at clubs. I live alone and travel 4 days a week. It saves me a shiat ton of time and money on the following:

Cleaning supplies like Windex, Clorox wipes, detergents and Pledge.
Simple electronic replacements parts like toner, and batteries.
All toiletries like shampoo, soap, shaving cream and deodorant.
Protein shakes and powder.
Nuts.
Household disposables like, storage bags, foil, dish towels, paper products, light bulbs and plastic ware.
Socks, and even some clothes. I really don't care if my cargo shorts I wear for chore day are designer. That said, my socks are gold toe and from time to time I find Lucky jeans.
That leaves my grocery shopping simple. I only need shop the perimeter. Fresh stuff :)


I don't get it, you're single and away from home 4 out of 7 days and you still need all that stuff THAT often?

Cleaning supplies: You must do a LOT more cleaning than I do (probably not that hard).
Household disposables: Quit using so much disposable crap. Most kitchens come with sinks, if not dishwashers, where you can wash and re-use stuff like flatware and plates.
Toiletries: One can of shaving cream, bottle of shampoo, or a stick of deodorant last me for months. A bar of soap goes for a couple weeks (yes, I shower daily).
Batteries: Get NimH rechargeables, there's a Low Self Discharge type with a good shelf-life if you don't use them often.

zato_ichi: [seedebtrun.com image 640x480]
[4.bp.blogspot.com image 512x384]

Boom.

Agreed. As a single guy, there's no reason at all to hit Sam's Club (no Costco here). Wal-Mart itself is good for certain purchases as their sheer size means some things will always be cheaper there. Everything else is shopped for at the two stores in your post.

Hy-Vee has really good quality and selection on meat, liquor, and produce, and you can't beat Aldi for most everything else.

You then follow up the bolded part by saying dogs still need fiber. Well, what kind are you going to give them that isn't going to slow down digestion, because that is pretty much what all fiber is: a filler for your poop chute.

Of course they need fiber. But not the wrong kind. Just as with humans, dogs can get fiber from fruits and vegetables. Give your dog an apple as a treat. This will clean his teeth while adding fiber to his diet.

Many dogs like carrots, peas or green beans for snacks. Fresh vegetables are preferable, but if you feed canned vegetables to your dog, make sure they are low sodium. Grind up vegetables when adding them to food because dogs often can't digest whole vegetables.

A small spoonful of canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix, added to your dog's food offers additional health benefits. It's a good fiber source that also soothes a dog's stomach. Always add a small spoonful to your dog's food when he is suffering from diarrhea or when changing from a different brand of kibble. My guys love when I carve pumpkins at Halloween, they want the chunks of pumpkin I'm carving out.

All this is why when initially asked I said too much filler, more garbage in, more garbage out. By the way, your dog starts farting too much........cut down on the fiber.

MythDragon: [reportyourcomplaint.com image 500x371]

Who doesn't like B-Js?

They're closer to me than Costco or Sam's Club, and I love the fact that they take supermarket coupons as well as their own store brand coupons. I tend to save between $10-15 just in coupons alone when I shop there.

Costco stuff is actually fantastic. Fresh portobello mushrooms, good quality meat, in large quantities and very cheap. Their olive oil (Kirkland brand) is 100%, the best I've ever tasted. I refill the fancy bottle that this $20 imported EVOO came in (and it was terrible in comparison!) with $1/pint kirkland brand.

Costco stuff is actually fantastic. Fresh portobello mushrooms, good quality meat, in large quantities and very cheap. Their olive oil (Kirkland brand) is 100%, the best I've ever tasted. I refill the fancy bottle that this $20 imported EVOO came in (and it was terrible in comparison!) with $1/pint kirkland brand.

Yeah, their olive oil is great. We weren't impressed with the Kirkland Balsamic Vinegar though.

We also like their shampoos, their bakery is great, the eggs are a real buy. Their brand toilet paper is pretty darn decent too. Oh and if you want prints of photos, you can't beat their prices.

AeAe: HoneyDog: I love Costco. Of course you can spend a ton of money in there. But if you aren't a moron and do a lot of impulse shopping, you are going to save money. For example, gasoline prices are 10-20 cents cheaper than the stations in the same area. I can stock up on meat for the month and pay a lot less than the local grocery stores. Butter is way cheaper. So are things like vitamins, milk, eggs etc. The auto buyers program is great; and so is the program where you can get a central air and a furnace...........this last one saved me a ton of money.

There are certain things I won't buy there. Dog food............crap dog food in there or any big box store. I only buy my dogs the best and you can only get that in regular pet stores.

.

The Costco dog food is actually very highly rated. Why do you say it's crap?

For me, it's because I took my dog to the vet for an allergic reaction. He said that he wasn't very impressed with Costco dog food. Switched the mutt to Royal Canin, and he is responding very well.

FWIW, he also didn't do well on Blue Buffalo limited ingredient food.

I'm sure Costco is better than Ol' Roy, but I'm moving on.

For me, it's because I took my dog to the vet for an allergic reaction. He said that he wasn't very impressed with Costco dog food. Switched the mutt to Royal Canin, and he is responding very well.

Is it one of the prescription varieties of Royal Canin?


I'm sure Costco is better than Ol' Roy, but I'm moving on.

Oh heck, anything is better than Ol' Roy.

wingnut396: RogermcAllen: wing

So when you walk into the store you are overly burdened by pulling out a card? You have to pull out your credit card to pay at the checkout anyway, just pull out both cards when you walk into the store and put them in your pocket for easy access when you check out.

A huge burden, no? A pain in the ass when someone yapping on the phone is surprised when they have to do it, put down their phone, dig through their shiat and fine their card and the octagenarian checking the codes want to wait for them rather than look at your card? Yes. Let me in the damn store. Can't they check your membership at checkout?



Sam's sells thing that are a lot more expensive than the grocery store. Stealing a $1 candy bar isn't a big deal, but small consumer electronics can get expensive quickly.



And so do many other stores. Hell Wal-Mart and Target do and I don't show my receipt to them. On occasion they may ask, but I don't have to do it. In my experience with an shop that check receipts, I've never seen them dig through the bags to verify what I have in them. They just glance at the paper and the buggy and hit the receipt with a marker. If you've somehow countered the buzzer tags, they'd never know. The only time I can see it helping is with large, very obvious items, like the TV mentioned. If you've stashed an iPod in a buggy full stuff, they'd never see it.


I have never seen separate lanes for membership type. If the line in front is too long, just check out at the cigarettes, bakery, or pharmacy.

The last time I was in a Sam's was over ten years ago. It was the first time I saw such a thing there and the last time I was in the store. Maybe it was short lived trial thing. I really didn't care any more at that point.

Check your codes? At Costco? Every Costco I've ever been to you just flash your card in their general direction as you walk past them from 10 feet away and they just nod.

Costco has Kirkland brand Frontline, $20 for a 6 month supply. That right there pays for my membership.

I love Costco. I'm smart enough to only buy things that don't spoil or that we will use/eat before they do.There's only two of us, so I don't buy a lot of fresh stuff. If you're not saving money by shopping at Costco, you're doing it wrong.

Also, they have the best rotisserie chicken, only $5.

Smeggy Smurf: More like "keep shopping at WinCo so they can keep growing so I can keep my job designing new stores"

I'm selfish that way. But yeah, WinCo FTW price wise. They kick everybody's ass. The only bad thing is going there on Welfare Day (1st of the month).

Disclaimer: I only design their stores but since they're our bread and butter client, shop there or I'll lose my job. Plus you'll save a lot of money to buy more and better booze with.

Since you design the stores, CAN YOU PUT IN WIDER AISLES??!!! I like nearly everything about WinCo, but the narrow aisles make me crazy. The aisles in our local store are barely wide enough for two carts. If someone stops to check out one section, everything grinds to a halt.

/Plus, what you said about welfare checks (pay day and student loan payments, as well)....

Rules

1) Only get things that are cheaper than the other places you shop.
2) Only get bulk stuff that won't spoil or that can be stored for a long time (frozen foods, pasta, rice, canned goods, paper products)
3) Have enough room in your home for storage

For the folks saying 'I don't need X it would take a year to use all of it' if it lasts as year and you can store it who cares?

Buying cheaply of goods in bulk that you use is the same as having money in the bank. The money is more flexible but if you don't need that flexibility buy the goods.

// Has a whole closet of the canned goods I use
/// Got them from Aldis which is cheaper than the clubs

HoneyDog: You then follow up the bolded part by saying dogs still need fiber. Well, what kind are you going to give them that isn't going to slow down digestion, because that is pretty much what all fiber is: a filler for your poop chute.

Of course they need fiber. But not the wrong kind. Just as with humans, dogs can get fiber from fruits and vegetables. Give your dog an apple as a treat. This will clean his teeth while adding fiber to his diet.

Many dogs like carrots, peas or green beans for snacks. Fresh vegetables are preferable, but if you feed canned vegetables to your dog, make sure they are low sodium. Grind up vegetables when adding them to food because dogs often can't digest whole vegetables.

A small spoonful of canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix, added to your dog's food offers additional health benefits. It's a good fiber source that also soothes a dog's stomach. Always add a small spoonful to your dog's food when he is suffering from diarrhea or when changing from a different brand of kibble. My guys love when I carve pumpkins at Halloween, they want the chunks of pumpkin I'm carving out.

All this is why when initially asked I said too much filler, more garbage in, more garbage out. By the way, your dog starts farting too much........cut down on the fiber.

well when I get off the dole I will look at better foods. I usually feed my redbone dry kibbles mixed with baked bear and moose with sweet potatoes or other veggies in the garden. mostly dry though, since its far easier when I am working in camp.

Smeggy Smurf: Gough: Smeggy Smurf: More like "keep shopping at WinCo so they can keep growing so I can keep my job designing new stores"

I'm selfish that way. But yeah, WinCo FTW price wise. They kick everybody's ass. The only bad thing is going there on Welfare Day (1st of the month).

Disclaimer: I only design their stores but since they're our bread and butter client, shop there or I'll lose my job. Plus you'll save a lot of money to buy more and better booze with.

Since you design the stores, CAN YOU PUT IN WIDER AISLES??!!! I like nearly everything about WinCo, but the narrow aisles make me crazy. The aisles in our local store are barely wide enough for two carts. If someone stops to check out one section, everything grinds to a halt.

/Plus, what you said about welfare checks (pay day and student loan payments, as well)....

I have you tagged as to your general location so I know the particular store you're talking about. That store is one of two that are absolutely and utter shiat for layout. They were done years before I started with my current firm.

It is known that your store needs to be replaced ever since the re-roofing and deli remodel was done two years ago. I wouldn't expect that to happen for at least 2-5 years from now. Right now the focus is on a strong expansion into the Phoenix area. Rest assured though, it will happen.

Thanks. I wonder if they might speed it up a bit. Their refrigeration unit died yesterday....

well when I get off the dole I will look at better foods. I usually feed my redbone dry kibbles mixed with baked bear and moose with sweet potatoes or other veggies in the garden. mostly dry though, since its far easier when I am working in camp.

I'm not familiar with the redbone kibble, but the bear/moose and fresh veggies doesn't sound bad as long as you are getting the right nutritional mix.

shortymac: Fiancée hates going to Costco though, it's always insane. I think we will start hitting the suburban one instead of their north York location.

They're all crazy. Realistically, the only time to go is before noon.

HoneyDog: For me, it's because I took my dog to the vet for an allergic reaction. He said that he wasn't very impressed with Costco dog food. Switched the mutt to Royal Canin, and he is responding very well.

Is it one of the prescription varieties of Royal Canin?

Yes, for now he's on the Royal Canin prescription. I'd like to find something a bit cheaper that he can handle, and switch the other 2 dogs as well. For now, he'll stay on the RC until he improves, then we'll probably start with a Royal Canin from the pet store.