I truly enjoy many things about Costco BUT the fact that every time I buy Prime Filet that's already been processed and package by a meat worker and get home I have the worst cut steaks and have to trim off so much silver skin and hard fat that inedible. I would say butcher but they clearly have none of those working in the meat department. Heaven forbid you ask them a question because your going to get a look like you've stopped the whole assembly line and ruined their day. I'm tired of paying Prime prices and getting botched meat. This is at least the 3rd time I've had bad cut steaks from Costco and I'm finally pissed off enough to post a Yelp review about it. I'll buy a whole trimmed filet like I've done in the past because all your buying when they package them is off cut meat and a ton of silver skin. The employees need to go through training because customers pay a lot of money for the meat that's inside those coolers. I hope this review finds upper management and this gets resolved. read more

I've been a member at Sam's for some time, and I recently picked up a membership at Costco just to have an option between the two depending on what I was needing to buy. I made my first trip to Costco today and was pretty impressed. The store in Hoover seems a bit cleaner and brighter than a lot of the Sam's Clubs I've been in. The prices were great (as expected) and the variety/selection was above my expectations. They had all the normal stuff you'd expect from a wholesale warehouse store, but I was surprised to find things like golf clubs, tennis balls, etc. there, too. The only drawback I really see is that the payment options seem to be limited. I wasn't able to use my regular credit card like I do at Sam's. I wouldn't mind seeing that change. read more

Last year my wife and I were trying to decide which wholesale store we were going to become members at (Costco vs Sam's Club). Almost across the board, Sam's Club came across a few cents cheaper on many of the items we would be purchasing in bulk. Yet we still went with Costco. Why? Quality. Costco's own brand Kirkland has many foods and other items that are high quality and priced low. Being a dietitian, I was drawn to Costco's wide selection of specialty health foods. I often buy spinach and berries in bulk here. So much cheaper than buying them at Walmart or Publix. I drink a gallon of milk a week, which is consistently priced more than a dollar less per gallon than other stores (I make my money from my membership back on milk savings alone). The bakery is phenomenal, with high quality sheet cakes that serve 40 people for $19.99. I don't even like cake that much and I eat this cake. The examples could go on and on. I love Costco! read more

My husband and I went to Costco to get a bunch of items and when we got home & unpacked we realized we had left 2 items at the self check out! I called and talked to the manager, Carlos, and he understood and told me to come back later that day and he would let us get the 2 items and help us out the door! He was very polite and understanding! Thank you Carlos! read more

For those of you who have followed me on Yelp, I've often compared Sams to Costco. Both stores are amazing, but this Costo has Sams beat when it comes to selection, change and price. The only negative if you live in Birmingham is the drive and that's where Sams has this store beat. I must admit, I haven't been a Costco member for long, however I've made quite a few purchases since the switch. If you're looking to try something new, then this is the place for you to be. Ideally I've love it if this store moved a bit closer, but hey, beggars can't choosers right? And besides, it gets me out of my comfort zone. Lastly, the staff actually seems to enjoy working there which is odd these days. That breath of fresh air is what keeps me coming back, that of course and the great deals. Happy Yelping! read more

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Costco is best place for lowest prices on gas. With prices going up about .20 Costco still falls as lowest price in Birmingham. Their liquor store has also one of the lowest prices on hard liquor. They have a nice variety of hard liquor and prices are hard to beat. Moving on into the main store Costco has great prices and quality of meat and produce. Best place to shop when you have a large family or entertaining friends for a weekend. I have always been pleased with customer service. They are by far more friendly than their competitors. Costco carries great prices on name brand clothing for the entire family. The return policy is amazing as well. If you are not satisfied with a purchase they will take it back and give you full refund. If your hungry, their pizza and hot dogs are great and you won't walk away spending more than a couple bucks for a quick lunch. read more

Everything is stocked. Lot of vegetarian options to pick from. Samples galore! I'm easily sold with samples. Prices reasonable. I get my gas here. Great customer service! It can get hectic around the holidays, so prepare yourself! Make sure you have your Costco card on you! If not, customer service will help ya:) read more

Really good products, very nice people & great to do business with. It's not alwasy the cheapest price but it's close. Great return policy -- I had purchased an item and had it for 3 years and took it back without any problems. Customer service on the floor is a little difficult to find at times but always helpful when you do. We always shop there first when looking for anything. The biggest reason is the fact we can return on our schedule if we need to. read more

My sweet grandmother offered to pay for a membership for my baby girl and I so I can get good deals on diapers and wipes. I went into the store to get my membership and was already dealt with an attitude from the lady assisting me. She kept making it very clear that once she was done with me she was going on break, so I am assuming I came right when she was about to leave and that ticked her off. Anyway, my grandmother payed for the gold membership and the girl looks at the card in disgust and goes, "so why are you not getting the executive membership?" I explained to her that I wasn't the one paying for it and I wasn't going to ask my grandmother to pay more. She kept saying that my grandma could pay the $60 and I'll pay the other half and I kept saying no, I'll upgrade later. She would not stop making little comments about it in front of me. I got my card and went to get my picture made and the lady taking my picture asks why I am not getting the executive. I almost lost my mind. I told her that it was not in mine or my grandmothers budget right now and kindly asked her to just take the freaking picture. I understand there are great benefits with an executive membership, but I should not have to explain my finances to someone or feel guilted into doing something. My parents have had Costco memberships for years, I am aware of what you get with each card. I really almost took my business else where, but I'm not going to let employees who probably won't be there in a couple of months due to their attitudes ruin the experience for me. read more

This Costco location has really gone down in the recent year, specifically in two areas: customer service and item availability. I have experienced more rude interactions here than other locations. I usually have a good food court experience but this one tall scrawny white man is so, so, so rude. Rude to customers and blatantly rude to the other staff there. I went to return an item that I was charged more for than the sign at the store said. Called ahead to check the price of the item and was hung up on by a young man. Went to the store and was ignored while the staff joked around with each other, and then when she finally helped me she kept stopping while processing my return to chat with her coworker. Rude. And relating to item availability, I can understand with the pandemic why basic items such as toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies are always empty but generally when I come here they have low stock or are in the process of stocking, which gets annoying after a while because I don't want to spend a long time here waiting for items to restock and then waiting in the long lines. Which, they also should really have more than 2-3 lines open when its busy considering lines are backed up into the isles. So between this Costco never having items I need to having extremely rude customer service I don't believe this $60 membership is worth having, at least until they improve. It's really a shame because it used to be nice to shop here. read more

Dear Costco....I have had one of the worst experiences of the hundreds of times I have been at Costco. My wife has the membership card technically in her name....I have used her card to buy groceries and stuff like a good husband would dozens of times. But today I got rejected at the register because my wife wasn't the exact person who brought the card in and got everything....do you realize how stupid of a policy that is? If a wife or husband has a card, the spouse should be able to use it. I was not allowed to check out after spending 30 minutes in the store...my wife who was sitting out in our car with our 3 week old BABY had to go back inside... You need to change this policy so that spouses can use the card. Good luck if you see me back at your store... read more

Costco is a BIG box store. The store is big but the boxes are bigger. So the idea is buy in bulk and save $$$. that works if it doesn't go bad. Honestly I go here because the meat and produce are outstanding. I was really surprised. I assumed I could buy 50lbs. of steaks for a good price but I was shocked and the great cuts I could get and I could buy 1 at a time if I wanted. Of course you can still buy 10lbs jar of mayo if you want but don't write this place off without checking out the produce and meat. read more

Big box store. Yes, they are mostly the same, but somehow, this seems different. Seems to have better quality items, great pricing and good variety. The fresh seafood is beautiful and reliably, well, fresh. Meat is very nice and they even have a decent selection of artisanal cheeses. Their wine section has an interesting selection ranging from "generic brand" to high end labels. Staff are friendly, helpful and efficient. They don't change up the layout often, so you always know where to find what. There are basic staples and exotic ethnic foods. TV's and cell phones. Gutter guards and garage doors. Paper towels and garbage bags. The list goes on and on, but I am sure the picture is painted. Go here. You won't regret it. Well, maybe you will because the temptation is always there to spend your whole paycheck on all the great stuff. read more

Huge fan of Costco. They are a growing company who understands their customer base. Hats off to this company from all aspects!

Very unique place. I used to be a Sam's Club member until I discovered Costco. Had no clue one place could offer such a variety of good things. A lot of the stuff they offer is needed and not a big waste of space. I enjoy how they don't over saturate with any particular product like most stores. They only allow so much of every item! Makes the store more relevant and I've yet to encounter an unhappy Costco employee. I hear they pay well and the shelves are always stocked. The store is always clean and pleasant to visit. I'm not a Costco fanatic but I like to patronize a store that pays there workers well! read more

I joined for the Pet Food. Kirkland brand get 4 out of 5 stars at Dog Food Advisor and both the dog and cat food are chicken and brown & white rice. Even stray cats prefer it to canned or expensive brands. At 74¢ per pound, I stock up when I go. Look at those pictures. The pizza is my favorite in Birmingham. I save money on medicines, Organic eggs and butter, and all the other things I find. Never a problem if you have to return something. Same price if you buy one of an item or a pallet. Woohoo ! As good as it gets. Member since 2008. read more

Pete the gas pump attendant was very nice. He greeted people while pumping. He helped a lady with her car. He smiled at everyone. Keep up the great work!!! read more

Great customer service, scheduled me in on short notice, worked fast. Witnessed a customer blow up on staff for not agreeing to place new tires on the front of the car (safety regulation requires them to install on rear) in which they handled the situation very well and were completely professional despite how inappropriate the customer was acting. read more

So glad we have this Costco nearby. Easy to stop in, get our favorite items. The gas discount alone more than pays for the membership. Cheap, quick lunch, if you don't fill up on the free samples. Increasingly, lots of organic food choices. Checkout lines can get long at peak times, but the staff is fast and friendly. read more

Very disappointed standing in line tuesday afternoon there at least 5 people in each line and there's only 3 check outs open. why only 3 registers open. why are the managers not checking people out? very disappointed that it takes more time to check outt han shop! read more

I joined Costco for the first time yesterday. As a long time Sam's Club member I wanted to check out the difference. Lots of healthier options but the biggest thing was the customer service! Joanne at the service counter helped me sign up and the young gentleman next to her was very respectful and helpful as well. The check out experience was also excellent. It's a bit of a drive for me but I'll be making the trip! read more

Love Costco so much. The yearly membership pays for itself pretty quickly -- one trip through the pharmacy section is usually enough to make back the cost. Lots of great products at super cheap prices, and nothing's better than a trip through the vegetable cooler on a hot day. Weekends are great for samples but terrible for crowds, so go early or late if you don't like traffic. The one thing I wish they'd copy from Sam's Club is the self-checkout option for 10 items or less; that would drastically increase the number of visits I make. (And by extrapolation, the number of delicious, delicious churros I would eat.) read more

We love Costco!! But need one on the north side of Birmingham in the Gardendale area.

Costco has been my choice for about 30 years my first card was paper like a Social Security card. It is now second to wal-Mart bout best service products and value I get paid over $400.00 year on average on my two percent reward on my deluxe card Yes sometimes someone offers s loss leader and beats one price but the steaks are the best the veggies fresh and everything with the Cosyco brand can not be equaled anywhere else. Sumner read more

Never ever ever ever ever get anything at the food place unless you like standing in a long line while the employees visit with each other. I've literally paid for something at the register and then walked out without getting served due to the long wait that happens. It's awful. I don't think this costco is as good as others I've been to or even Sam's club. read more

Been a Costco member since its opening in Birmingham. Love the store, however, it appears Costco is pushing their Kirkland brand wines. Brands that have been at Costco for years all of a sudden, in the last year, dissappeared. Costco says they "Change" accordong to their "Buyers". Perhaps they should replace their buyers instead of wine! read more

This store is for members only and it was not clear at all. I spent an hour shopping and then got to the register and was not allowed to purchase my items without a membership. They asked if anyone stopped me from coming in the store and I replied, "no". No one stopped me and there was NO ONE at the entrance. I had to buy a $60 membership. I am a college student, so I am on a strict budget. I am not going to be able to buy groceries for weeks now. Now that I have the membership I am still very reluctant to go back into the store. In addition to having to pay $60 to buy my groceries I also had to wait in line for 45 min to get my membership card. Everyone was very nice but it took way too long. I am very busy with midterms coming up and I did not expect to have to spend 2 plus hours in a grocery store. This policy is stupid. You should not need to purchase a membership card to buy groceries. read more

Love Costco, so does the wife. When relocating to Birmingham from another state, whether there was a Costco locally was factored in to the decision. read more

This is only for the Tire Department - I love everything else about Costco. What a great company - why on earth would they have this joke of a tire department? It's so awful there should be a class action lawsuit for people that buy the tires online believing they can get them installed at Costco in a reasonable amount of time! Absolute sham! The phone rings and rings because they only have two people working the desk and they are constantly talking to customers that think they are going to be able to get their new tires! If you aren't there by 11am forget getting your tires installed and even if you are there early expect to wait HOURS for it to happen if it happens at all. Set an appointment? Sure, if you want to get them installed in 4 weeks! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN FROM THE TIRE DEPARTMENT! I don't care how much more it costs to get tires elsewhere - do it! The experience was so bad I thought about dumping my 10+ year Executive Membership. read more

It's a Costco which, truth be told, is my personalized hell. Stacks and stacks of buyable goods, a gazillion people, long lines, and endless pitches for you to buy more, subscribe, or sign up now. I have to take a deep breath before entering and usually shut down mentally and go into flight or fight mode somewhere between paper products for army and the condiments by the gallon aisle. All that being said, if you are strategic, there are deals to be had. The Eco laundry detergent is boss, the TP doesn't get cheaper (while still being soft) and the booze is ABC store prices. The gas is always a separate kind of hell but it is dirt cheap if you are willing to patiently wait in line and endure folks who their their gas needs are *so much more* pressing than yours. All together, I can't fault this place for being what it is and this location at least has nice, solution-minded folks working (see my review for the Nola store for an example of a location that fails at everything customer service). Just remember to take your anti-anxiety pill or pregame this errand stop heavily with some meditation: The crazy goes hand in hand with opening hours. read more

The Costco here in Hoover has gotten better, with very few bad employees now. I would recommend this Costco to anyone.

Everything about the store is great. However at closing time (that we weren't aware of) we were grabbing one last thing and standing directly in front of it. When a cashier says no it's closing time and grabs our buggy and forces us to check out. After driving an hour one way. We threatened to cancel our membership, they didn't care. I've never in my life seen something like that. read more

Very unscientific, but Costco beats everyone (it seems) by a considerable margin. Ceiling fans were $159 at Costco, and cheapest price on Amazon was $220 for same product. Said ceiling fines were advertised to arrive in 10 to 15 working days - they arrived in three days. Same (cost comparison) with bird seed, cat food. And the Costco price does not include the kickbacks from Costco and Amex on credit card purchases. read more