There are some things here that are great, other things not impressive at all. Most of their everyday, shelf items are nothing special. They make you buy in bulk but you don't really save any money at all. We compared prices on a few bulk items at Costco to the bulk section at Lucky (when it was still around) and they were the same price. So you're forced to buy huge quantities of stuff but don't benefit in price compared to other stores--I always that that was the whole point of Costco but it appears they've digressed from that marketing strategy.
They do have seasonal specials that are awesome. Massive, extra-large dog beds for $20! I've bought close to a dozen of these over the years. Though I've noticed that the prices have crept up. I still consider Costco the go-to place for dog beds though.
Their return policy is probably the most incredible one in the world. I bought a memory foam bed once and while it was great for the first couple of months, a few months after that it started hurting my back, so I returned it for a full refund. Costco online is also a great place to buy a bed because they'll pick it up for free if you want to return it -- although I'm sure the price is increased a bit to compensate for that.
Their produce is surprisingly visually appealing. By that I mean they look fresh and huge and perfect. But taste-wise, sometimes it's hit or miss. I've had fabulous produce from them, as well as produce that didn't compare even close to the Farmer's Market. I was shocked at how cheap some of their produce is every day (ie. clamshell of prewashed organic salad greens), yet a lot of things seemed pricey.
Seafood always looks fabulous. I always wonder about where they get their meats & produce though. I mean, do they care about how the meat is raised, what hormones or genetically modifying chemicals are used? I suspect not but then, I suspect most supermarkets don't either. Which is why I prefer to buy my fresh foods from places like Trader Joe's and Raleys.
I like their selection of prepared foods. Clam chowder, chinese chicken salad, so yum! And all those sample tables are awesome. Who doesn't like free samples, but they really do get me to buy things I would've never considered buying so it's great to be able to try new things.
I love their pharmacy. Prices are so much cheaper than anywhere else if you don't have insurance. I get my dogs' meds here (or at Costco online).
I think they need to have a separate checkout counter for those paying checks. Because those checkbook people take FOREVER, plus ten minutes. It was actually one particularly long wait in a line behind several check writers that made me give up Costco. 20 minutes in line for 5 items didn't seem worth it. And I am always unhappily surprised at how much my bill ends up being for just a few items.
I used to have a child-like delight in their fast food stand, but now I think their hot dogs, pizza, and wraps are actually pretty disgusting so that's no longer a draw. But the cheap sodas still are.
Overall, the primary reason we ever go here now to pick up something from the pharmacy or on the very rare occasion when there is something very specific that we can only get from Costco. While we're there, we'll shop for other stuff but we no longer make it a point to go to Costco in general. Lines too long (unless you happen to go when it's less crowded), and most products are not particularly a good enough deal to make it worth it. But sometimes they'll have something that does make it worth it. read more