It is a Costco much like any other. I used to come here often just for the food. Hot dog, poutine, and chicken strips are all tasty. They have good prices on nice clothes, which don't cost a small fortune like at the mall. Parking lot is busy and unfortunately there is no one directing traffic or enforcing the rules. They put cones out to stop people from parking in the driveway, but all that means is that people now park closer to the center of the driveway to avoid the cones. read more

If you've been to one Costco, you've been to them all. Same applies here. This Costco is mad packed, but then again most are I guess. The parking lot sucks because people doesn't seem to know how to drive and/or park. And if you're an American shopping here, be sure to use a MasterCard because our American Costco Visa does not work here when paying. I love the food court because it's different than what we have in the States. If you're visiting from the US, gotta try them fries with poutine or gravy! Oh and they got chicken wings too! Sayyyy what????? read more

Sadly there's no zero or negative star provided ... As a Costco loyal customer, a member over decade, I'm feeling very sad , disappointed and shocked to experience discrimination and racialism in Richmond Costco! I was treated unfairly, let alone respectfully as a customer , while I came here shopping like usual yesterday here, well before the entrance I showed the staff my Executive Member card, after I already came inside over about 5 meters,the greeter lady ran behind me and rudely ask my id again! --- in the face of lots customers, seemed like I was a thief! I immediately realized it was because of my color, I noticed they seldomly double check the id for Caucasians , afterwards,I called the store manager, he didn't list to me at all and neither showed the slightly respect nor apology for me. So highly recommend, if possible, avoid this store! read more

Pharmacy: often no one answers, even in the AM, and overflow message centre no one ever calls back. Follow through is poor. They lose prescription faxes often. Unreliable! Although they did flag a prescription that could have been dangerous in the dose prescribed. But it still taking over 1 week to get this resolved. While i am in a lot of pain for over 1 week now. Left me hanging. Called many times, diff. hours, to get this going, but no one answers. They need to hire more staff immediately. Peoples' lives could be in danger by how bad the service can be at times.. please get your act together! read more

Let me just say skip what your heard if you want some good authentic Poutine then stop by Costco food court! Parking is underground and yes, you do have to pay for it. The food court is located on the second level (taking the stairs from the parking lot) look to the right and you will see it. The line starts outside close to the entrance of the underground parking. When we arrived the line was not to long which gave us a small chance to look at their menu. Costco Richmond has a better menu then the Costco in Southern California. Of course, you got your Hot Dog, Pizza, and soft serve ice cream. But whoa, wait there is so much more. Turkey and Provolone Sandwich, Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich, Chicken Strips and Fries, French Fries with gravy or plain, Sundaes. We ordered a hot dog and a medium Poutine (what is Poutine you ask well its French fries, topped with a light brown gravy-like sauce and cheese curds) its super delicious and worth a try if you have not had it yet. And if you have then it probably was not from Canada where it was born (actually originating in Quebec) the Poutine here in the states is okay in taste, having both I can now tell the difference between the two! Poutine $4.50 Hot Dog and drink: $1.50 Not bad for a semi light lunch. Since there were not enough tables, we sat away from Costco and enjoyed our food! read more

Costco - Under $5.00 yummy! - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

My visit here to Costco in Richmond, BC is the first time I have visited an international location. Yes, Costco cards do work internationally! The store just happened to be across the street from the hotel I was staying at. So I thought I would check it out since I was curious how US and Canada stores compare. The layout here basically looks like the opposite of the stores in the Seattle area. Food items are on the left hand side. The product selection is pretty similar to what I found in the US. Though there are some things like hockey jerseys and memorabilia that are distinctively Canadian. The food court menu is also a bit different with Canadian items like poutine and smoked meat sandwiches. Though you will find still find pizza and hot dogs available here. The hot dog and a drink for $1.50 deal is in effect here, but the food court prices are generally higher. Higher pricing can be also said for the prices storewide. For example, a rotisserie chicken costs $7.99 compared to $4.99 in the US. I thought the meat and seafood prices were kind of high, even if a different measuring system is used here. Given the Golden Village is nearby, I kind of felt the prices were not all that great. Nothing really piqued my interest to bring back to the US. I would rather shop at the Seattle area Costco locations instead. Seemed like better deals can be found there rather than shopping at this location. read more

Every time I leave Costco, I'm mentally and physically exhausted haha. This location in Richmond is extra manic. It's pretty much always busy, even on the weekdays. Going on the weekend takes real bravery. With that being said, the bargains are awesome. I've noticed that they offer a lot more mainstream brands other than Kirkland now and they also have more organic food options which is awesome. I'd recommend driving in or parking around the back, where the tire service and Enterprise Cars is, so that you can avoid the parking lot as much as possible. Richmond drivers in a Costco parking lot... *shudder* read more

Unlike any Costco in the US, this Costco has Dunn's Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, super crispy fries, and poutine! The fry's here are awesome! Super tasty, huge portion and around $3 with a side of gravy. Poutine is under $5 and there's a ton of cheese curd (at least 2X of the amount at Fritz). The smoked meat sandwich is moist, very satisfying and only $6. read more

Costco - Dunn's smoked meat sandwich - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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Best Costco in the Universe serving up some Lobster Mac & Cheese I almost passed out when I seen this beauty, Seattle Costco's need to step it up! read more

Costco - Lobster Mac - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Gefilte Fish is Jewish Sole Food and I grew up eating it but its and acquired taste. At this Costco about this time last year I saw a very great cross cultural moment. A young Asian Couple were shopping. The Husband saw a display of a large Bottle of Gefilte Fish priced at less then $10 which looked like a great deal. He Picked the Bottle up with no idea what it really was and showed to his wife and smiled (like lets go for it) She looked at him and shook her head with a gentle no. In this case like many cases in life the cooler head of a spouse prevailed. I got a great laugh watching this transpire. Tip: On a Sunday afternoon the store & parking lot outside are insanely busy. Better to shop at this location on non prime time hours. read more

Ok I am a big fan of Costco so yesterday when I flew into Vancouver and had to get a rental car at Enterprise. When I got on the Enterprise shuttle bus the first thing I asked the driver aren't you located next to Costco? He replied yes we are. So than I asked when we pulled up at Enterprise do you think I can leave my rental car here and walk across the street to Costco? He happily obliged I am sure I am not tbe first person to ask that nor the last. So I crossed the street the parking lot literally has zero parking and there is no way I am fighting for a spot. Entered showing my Costco card same as USA. The layout is similar as well. So I head over to items that I can easily fly home with. Men's clothes ok I live in South Florida so naturally the clothes are for a blizzard. So I pass than ladies no pass there too. Actually please note Costco I can now confirm truly carries the ugliest clothes for women. The book section nice nothing caught my eye. Smoked salmon gift pack ok who on my list wants this for Hanukkah. But I am sure it is delicious as that is the best in this region. Ok on to fine jewelry nice but we have nicer at home. They do have a great selection of Swarovski figurines and Pandora bracelets and charms. Ok that's enough for my Costco fix until I get back to South Florida. Thank you Costco Vancouver! read more

This Costco is bananas. And not the fun, Gwen Stefani bananas, like, crazy monkeys fighting over bananas. But in this case, it's all of Richmond fighting over the same Costco products. I'd say come on a day when it's less busy, but with this Costco location, there's never a time when it's not busy. Cray cray. Don't let this detour you from coming by and getting your bulk goods, I'm just giving you fair warning, that this spot is constantly busy. As far as Costco as a business goes, I love them. They offer pretty much everything. I'm also a fan of their food court menu. I mean, have you seen how big their pizzas are? In Canada they also have poutine, which if you haven't tried Costco poutine... you're missing out! I'm also a fan of their churros, which unfortunately are only offered at a few lucky locations. And as always, Costco samples are one of the best things about Costco themselves. I've tried some interesting things from their samples and have found some awesome products through them. I've been a customer at Costco for as long as I remember and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Or ever. read more

I'm not sure Richmond is the busiest Costco in lower mainland or not. I find their parking always full and long line up at the cashier. I like to shop at Costco 1-2 times a month, it offers the best return policy and carries a lot of different special item. Of coz, bulk size of foods, cleaning supplies and etc... They have special off either by Costco or manufacture discount all the time (every 2 weeks). It saves a lot!! read more

Thank you to Jeff the assistant manager of Costco in Richmond BC. His customer service was exceptional. He was able to find us an air conditioning unit on what was the worse hot and smoke filled day when our AC went out. Jeered was phenomenal. This is why we are members of Costco read more

Giant green and black tiger prawns!!! They have them here at Costco. Need some good ideas for a BBQ? I betcha that Costo can fill all your needs from BBQ's to utensils to meats and seafoods and veggies and cookbooks. Of course the usual staples like frozen stuff, coffees and cereals and cans of fruit, veggies and meat galore. Case packs everything can be found here for a great price. TV's and electronics are deals as well, but not everything is priced "that good". If you want deals, you still need to shop around, but here, at Costco, you can pretty much make an experience of it and have fun shopping for your daily neccessities. And of course. Hot Dogs and pop. read more

Costco - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Im personally a fan of costco. Though i know not everyone believes in buying bulk food, Costco offer way more than that. Here u will find the lowest prices on: video games, books, dvds, auto supplies, tires, tv, computers, giftcards, jewelry, vacuums, sporting goods, etc. All of which do not need you to purchase it in bulk. Costco also only carries reputable brands, bc of their amazing return policy (which often gets exploited). The down side: a yearly membership fee. Costco also has a very cheap concession (refer to my pics). Hot dog and drink for $1.50 and they also serve up some awesome Poutine! Tips for this Richmond Costco: DO NOT go on the weekends! It's absolutely ridiculous here. Starting from the parking lot all the way to checkout. read more

Costco - $1.50!!! - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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Quality of beef and fruit are good! But you need to be a paid member first before shopping here. read more

Costco - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

My poutine was a 10, it was full of yummy cheese curds, tons of gravy and piping hot fries. Would order again. My vanilla icecream on the other hand, was more cream than ice, the consistency was of cream cheese, which was a lil weird. Don't think I'm ordering that again, at least not in this location. I'm not sure if it's the fact that I've not had dairy for a week, I didn't feel very well after eating this meal. Hmmmm..... GOD, why was it so busy on a tuesday at noon, I had so many times where I felt like my cart was going to crash into someone else's cart. There was also a time where there were a bunch of charmin toilet paper (wrapped in plastic) on the ground and I saw at least 7 carts almost run over it, and when some did, they got stuck. Definitely not my fav Costco, but it'll do..... it'll do. read more

It's probably the busiest of the bunch, & smaller warehouse inside too, compared to Burnaby. And thank goodness for that, as it's way too congested. Best to go before the dinner rush. don't know that side street where the holiday inn is, or the more south side street between Costco & the casino: enter/exit here folks, guarantee you'll have less stress & happier shopping experience lol. And if you're willing to get some exercise & avoid the mayhem in the parking lots, just park on the side streets. Enjoy buying the electronics here: you get an extra year warranty compared to other places ;) Dont say I didn't warn you. read more

Costco - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Not too pleased with this location as whole, never have been but I tend to suck it up as it is close by... On this particular visit I was looking for some Kirkland brand protein bars, these are always in stock... Anyways I check the couple normal spots they tend to be, they move them around sometimes. I can't find them, I ask an employee she tells me where they should be, no physical check... I tell her I've already looked there. She tells me to go to member services and if they are in stock(they can check) they will get them for me. I go to member services and the computer shows 984 in stock, great. She then tells me(like the other employee) where they should be - no physical check again - and if they aren't there then they didn't restock them yet... I ask if she can get me some and she says she cannot. I actually understand if she can't get me some if they are on a pallet somewhere in the back etc.. but the fact nobody did a physical check if they are elsewhere on the floor, or easily accessible in the back is beyond me. Considering one pays to shop here they should really try and help customers out.... Not impressed. I left without I came for and now I'll have to make a second trip out. The Richmond location is the worst one I've been to in terms of service, and level of how crowded they are at any time of the day. read more

Great products. Staff with sunny dispositions. The customers are what make Costco sometimes annoying, not the staff. read more

You want groceries? Costco. You want electronics? Costco again! If you're talking about a 1 stop shop? Costco is where you'll find it. I usually get about 50% of my shopping completed at this little warehouse of wonders. They have cheap food, friendly staff and the best return policies! The only set back with this location is the damn parking. It's a nightmare during the weekends. read more

They have fries at this Costco! Pretty generous portions too. Need canadian money though. US visitors take note , bring Candian money read more

Costco - Fries at Costco! - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

I went to replace my car tires and they said it would take 2 hours, when we came back they said we needed to wait 20 more minutes. I am a single mom, I have nobody to babysit my child. My daughter was exhausted by waiting so long. I wish they gave me more realistic time estimate. read more

Normally I love Costco, but Costco Canada only accepts Mastercard and not Visa. Costco US switched to Visa a couple years ago, why do the two use mutually exclusive cards. The helpful staff did offer the ATM which charges fees, but I have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. They also took US dollars, but the change would be in Canadian. Unfortunately I only had 100s that day and did not want to be stuck with a bunch of Canadian cash I couldn't use. I was going to buy food for family and coworkers but unfortunately left empty handed. read more

Costco - cold, salty, icy costco canada - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

This Costco is pretty organized/clean. The prepared food here is surprisingly great. The vegetables/fruits are expensive compared to farmer's markets. Overall, I love going here for the food court. $1.99 for a pizza slice/pop. My family loves getting a $10 large whole pizza when we don't feel like cooking. They also have poutine (alright), hot dogs (huge), ice cream, and smoked bacon sandwiches! Oh, and this location is pretty hectic. Even on weekdays. read more

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Who would have thought Canadian Costco accept different credit cards than USA? (MasterCard vs Visa). I was embarrassed at the checkout because all I have is AMEX and visa. Couldn't even use my ATM! Not a good way to keep customers happy. Lucky I found T&T read more

I love Costco but loathe this location. *WARNING* Expletive filled rant ahead. Let's start in this nightmare of a parking lot. I will not judge if a lot of people feel the inclination to back into parking spots, but for the love of god use your fucking signal indicator if you drive by an empty spot and then slam on your brakes and start backing up. This is North America where backing in is not the norm so it is not reasonable to expect others around you to intrinsically understand that this will happen. Also, you are going to be shopping at a warehouse store where I assume you will be buying a lot of stuff. How is backing in going to help you load all of your purchases into the back of your car? Fucktard, that is my car you are scratching when you have to jam the cart between the vehicles to get to your trunk! Following the observation I made earlier at Superstore http://www.yelp.ca/user_details_review_search?userid=fDBybzZAL5UDscd33HCXyA&q=Superstore . Why is it necessary to take the whole extended family to an already overcrowded store? One shopping cart seems to represent about 8 people. Having your parents shuffling slowly down the centre of the aisles is only slightly better than letting them steer your cart. If I manage to come out of this store without heel contusions, I consider it is a good day. If you want to take the family out for an outing, aren't there some more pleasurable options available to you like going out for lunch? No wait, you are taking them out for lunch! Isn't what all those sample tables are for? I gave up waiting for samples after a couple times of being burned by a single person in line bogarting all of the samples. Remember, a single person at Costco in Richmond represents 8 people so if you are second in line, you are actually ninth in line after their family emerges from the shadows to descend like a pack of jackals on the sample tray. I want to punch each and every one of them in the face, small children and elderly included. Shame on Costco sample servers for allowing that incredibly rude behavior to go on. Which leads me to the return desk where this shameful lack of courtesy is also extended. Only once has a sales clerk told the line cutters that she would only serve the person who actually waited in line and the others would have to wait their turn as well. If all of this behavior occurred only one in a while I would endure it, but it is every flippin' time. Paying for parking downtown is infinitely better than enduring the Richmond Costco for one more second. read more

This has to be one of the worst Costco's on the planet. Of course I still go there, but you don't really shop at this Costco; you try to survive. The parking lot is a nightmare at the best of times. If you plan to go to this Costco on a weekend, I will just assume you hate your life. The size of the parking lot is limited so the parking spaces are much smaller than most Costco's. I've never been hit in the parking lot, but I have inside the store. People are running around with carts and paying no attention to anyone. I know the free samples are popular, but I hate them. It just leads to people and carts blocking all the aisles. No one thinks twice about leaving carts in the middle of aisles for a long time. Children sitting in the carts is pretty common here. And I don't mean small children, but 10 years and up. I know Costco is big, but if your 11 year can't walk around, just leave them in the car. Overall, I still like Costco. Many items are good prices. You have to often buy larger sizes. It's a great place to stock up on toilet paper, tissues, diapers etc. Their meat quality is very good and for good prices. You might have to buy 3 steaks, but that's why we have freezers. Costco also has sales. They start every Monday. The food court is nice, although still cash only. They do move quickly there. Somehow I decide to go into Costco to grab some milk and come out $200 poorer and find out I forgot the milk. read more

This review isn't about whats inside this place. They conveniently have everything at any other Costco you go to. They have have some nicer clothes that other Costco's don't offer but that's pretty much it. But god dammit this location is insane.. It's very congested I feel like everytime I go there it's Boxing Day. So many people and parking is horrendous..Yes Costco is super busy everywhere usually, and the line up at the cash are normally long but they move.. Geez at this location the line ups are crazy.. I never seen line ups so bad and so slow until I came to this location. Lines were going into isles... Weekends are battle days, very stressful to find parking and move around inside since everyone is going on the weekend to do there weekend shopping. I suggest if your gonna go, either go early in the morning or later in the evening before closing to avoid the chaos. Even though it may not be a lot better but it's still better instead of going into the wave... read more

Costco: my favourite members-only warehouse club (full disclosure: it may be my favourite because it's the only one that I've ever shopped at in Canada.) I love Costco. The customer service and return policies are exceptional. They usually have the best prices on quality items. It's also the best place to get passport photos done cheaply. If you do your groceries in bulk, Costco is the place to be. Another fun thing about Costco, is that you can sometimes find hidden treasures among the usual bulk toilet paper and flats of Coca-Cola, such as Samsonite luggage, Hunter boots, and, on one occasion a few years ago, Rolex watches. The food court is awesome as well; the price of a hot dog and pop has been $1.50 for as long as I can remember and I love the crispy fries and cheese curds used in their poutine. (I still sometimes miss the days when they also offered teriyaki.) While Costco may indeed be one of my favourite stores, this particular location is perhaps my least favourite. Parking is usually a nightmare (as Kenneth N. suggested, enter from Gage Road on the East side and save yourself a little grief) and the store always seems to be bustling with a never ending crowd of people. (Heck, even the Google Maps satellite image shows a full parking lot https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=costco+richmond+bc&hl=en&ll=49.19286,-123.12195&spn=0.004046,0.006968&sll=54.112352,-126.555646&sspn=21.123612,57.084961&t=h&hq=costco&hnear=Richmond,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia&fll=49.19287,-123.121655&fspn=0.004046,0.006968&z=18) Despite my misgivings, I keep coming back to this Costco because it's closest to where I live and it wouldn't be worthwhile to go to another location. The customer service and prices are still definitely worth it. read more

This is a terrific Costco, despite the fact that it's serving such a huge populace in such a small space. That said, they get in the most up to date quality products every week, and the staff is always helpful. I'd like to give a shout out to Charles, my regular door person. He directed me to the big sales this week and the aisles to head for. Bravo Costco on your hiring practices - keep employing people who care about my time and my money. read more

Once you get through the massive gridlock of bad drivers and get that parking spot, your next challenge is navigating through shopping cart chaos. Get your mindset into: this is just temporary and everyone here is mad. I could be wiped out by a shopping cart but it's just a laser tag game. So I'm stretching this a bit but whatever it takes :) I am very impressed by their bakery selection. There are quite a few the US don't offer: Boston cream cake, assorted dessert tray with brownies and two types of macaroons, cinnamon coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, huge banana loaf cakes, 9 grain ciabatta buns. Even the apple pie looked amazing: glossy pastry strips over the top made the pie look fake. Too good to eat! Highlight is: heart shaped strawberry mousse cake!! Gift certificate offerings: good selection for Whistler resorts, even Lotto tickets. Seafood selection: live mussels! No poke as I'd hoped. Candy: many brands of chocolate not available in the US. Other treats like sesame snaps. Canadian maple chocolates. Food court: fries - freshly fried! They seemed to be lightly coated with something but they were great. Didn't try the poutine, but I did throw in the mixed chocolate vanilla soft serve. No line! The check out person who insisted her name is Julia Roberts had everyone rung up in a few seconds. I've never seen efficiency like this anywhere. Checkout: they do not accept the US Costco American Express. They only accept MasterCard. Leave your Visa at home! Once I'm back in my car after checking out, I've **really** earned my treats. Now I'm in a better place to tackle driving out of Richmond. Traffic is nasty wherever you go. Just be prepared to be sitting for a long time in gridlock. read more

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Wonderful ! That's it. Costco simply beats out everyone else. Superstore, loblaw, no frills, are just an afterthought comparing to Costco. Proud executive membership holder since like... forever! Note! Buy all your lighting fixtures here at Costco! It is 472947272 times cheaper than maple lighting richmond. Trust me! read more

This is the worst Costco in its fleet of stores. It is constantly crowded and there is never any parking available. No one seems capable of forming a line and everyone seems to think bringing their entire family here is somehow a good idea. The only thing you are guaranteed to get out of this experience is a migraine and bruised heels from the number of carts that hit you. Go any where but here. You have been warned. read more

Costco is usually the place where to do my shopping because it has so much of everything and once your done shopping there you can just go and grab some food. One thing is that it is always so crowded and you usually have to wait around 6-15 minuets in line for the cashiers. Well aside from that there is one more thing I love... you can get bottled water from a vending machine for only 25 cents which is so cheep compared to other places. read more

Costco - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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Plus points 'cause I am all about the bulk. Been here a few times when I had a membership from work, however, with shopping across the border and that Costco, the visits at this one have been few and far between. One of my hugest pet peeves is the other customers who don't see where the f*ck they're going or walk too slow. Not everyone wants a thousand things, therefore, an express lane would be appreciated. I wouldn't call the place quality as it is about medium end stuff in bulk. I would rather buy small in quality, however, for party supplies and for entertaining this is a good place to hit up on bulk, just not for every day dietary stuff. I like sampling their items, yet again, due to the low quality of ingredients wouldn't consider buying it. Don't get me started on the low end baked goods in bulk....just don't. Good prices, however, never been motivated to renew membership. I love their cheap low end hot dogs...ironic ain't it. caution the people who are in here cannot walk, drive or operate a cart. Completely clueless. Minus points 'cause they don't have an "express" for those that have less than 10 items. Another minus point 'cause they don't accept Visa or MC. P.S. Customer service is always fantastic every time I go in. read more

Costco Pharmacy, Richmond, B.C. Like other followers of CBC Marketplace, I was flabbergasted to learn of the huge difference in prescription drug prices at Canadian pharmacies even in the same city. As the show revealed, Costco is by far the cheapest. As a result of this discovery, I immediately transferred prescriptions from overpriced, poorly serviced Safeway on West Broadway to Costco, and I've never looked back. This is a can-do pharmacy - no muss, no fuss - staffed by friendly, polite personnel. The transfer was effected immediately by phone. Repeats may also be obtained by phone - soon by Internet, too. The online prescription order system is already in place in Ontario, apparently. B/c of its competitive pricing, the pharmacy is very popular, which means a min. one hour wait time btwn submitting prescription and retrieving it. Pharmacists also insist on providing a gratuitous lecture plus invasive Q and A on why the drug was prescribed and how to use it. I dislike this new assumption that pharmacy sales clerks are somehow on par with medical professionals, an elevation in status exclusively for the purpose of increasing the price for consumers. Can't wait until such transactions are processed exclusively by machines! Bring on the Second Machine Age! Most recently, I had cause to test Costco's very liberal return/refund policy as it pertains to prescription drugs. It struck me as unjust enrichment for consumers to have to undertake all the risk in the transaction. What if we discover we can no longer take a particular medication either because of side effects or because the condition clears up on its own? Safeway on West Broadway had previously declined to accept my return and provide a refund, which I found regressive and rather rude. Before approaching Costco pharmacy, I wrote to Health Canada to see if there was any reason at law why a pharmacy would not be allowed to accept return/s and provide refund/s. The short answer received last month was none - no reason at all. I similarly inquired of Consumer Protection BC, which replied that each retail outlet in B.C. may create its own policy regarding returns/refunds. I then wrote to Costco CEO at head office in Ottawa, Ont. for the store's policy regarding prescription returns/refunds but rather than a written response I received instead a call from head pharmacist Lorraine, who assured me a full refund would be forthcoming. VICTORY! Costco provided FULL refunds for both Symbacourt and Advair, a value of almost $200. Clearly, there is no reason why every B.C. pharmacy couldn't provide the same excellent service! Consumers should demand nothing less. Yes, I was required to provide both the white and yellow receipts for each script, and I was asked to account for both and advised that the walk-in clinic physicians who provided them would be advised of the return. I find this excessive and a breach of privacy particularly when all medical treatment requires informed consent, but to obtain the refund, I complied. One fight at a time. My next initiative is to ascertain whether and how much the makers of these medications might pay for my narrative regarding my experience taking them. I will update my review accordingly as the information is obtained. read more

I go here because it's the only Costco in my area, and I have two boys who eat like horses, so I bulk up on items and this store offers the best value in the area. However, I hate going here. There always seems to be a long wait for a parking spot, with cars stopped directly in the middle of the lanes blocking those who choose to drive around and actually look for a spot, rather than just sit there waiting for someone to come out. Inside the store is worse. I've never been in a store where the traffic flow is as bad as this store. It's probably not the store's fault, however, as the layout seems to be the same as other Costco's I've been to in the past. It could be because you have families of 5 who go shopping, and instead of taking one cart and putting 30 items in it, they take 5 carts and put 6 items in each. You see this time and time again. If you do choose (or need) to go to this store, be prepared for huge groups of people lingering around the sample tables, prepared for some reason to wait for 10 or 15 minutes while the demonstrator heats up the samples. Congestion at its peak. Oh yah... and while waiting at the sample table, leaving their shopping carts at a 90 degree angle blocking the main aisle. I thought the idea of going to a food store was to purchase food to cook at home, but I may be wrong. Last point. Don't be shocked if you're waiting in line to pay and someone simply walks past and attempts to go right to the front of the line. It's happened to me a few times, and the cashiers have told me that it happens all the time. Not sure what it is about this store that makes people feel they can just barge into line, but there is something. Maybe they put something into the sample food that causes people to lose all sense of courtesy and manners. Aargh. My boys will be hungry again soon so I'll have to return, begrudgingly. read more

Note: This is primarily a review about the food court, pretty much the only thing I can afford (to buy or to transport) at Costco. I always forget what country I'm in when I walk into a Costco. It's like a whole 'nother world out (in) there. I mean the prices are a little higher and it hits harder when you realize the US Dollar is more or less accepted at parity. But I don't go to Costco in Richmond to shop for big ticket items. I go there for the food. Like the big bag of M&Ms. I kept the bag just because it was written in kilograms and French. Costco is really where we all become one huge family. The noise, the rush, the running-of-the-carts, the huge trays of meat, the sausages, the iPods, the computers, the over the counter drugs, the candy oh my! This is where I bust out with "Costco transcends space and time" to make myself sound intelligent. Ou qqch. The prices are definitely higher at the food court (are they called food courts?) here than south of the border, but they have a ton of menu items. Chicken bake (at $4.99), ice cream cones and sundaes, your standard pizza (but at $2.99 a slice?), hot dog (no polish? and at $1.99?), fries with or without gravy, chicken strips (Boo on charging extra for dipping sauces! Come on, you're Costco. I thought you saw beyond that.), a teriyaki plate (wow) and even a Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich. Damn. And yes, they have poutine. I'm not a cheese fan but I couldn't help but appreciate that mess. It was huge. I even forgot my bad and horrible 'putain' joke (my French is terrible.) Like at most Canadian establishments, my Washingtons were accepted with ease. The woman behind the counter clearly hated her life, but I didn't blame her. The line was nearly as ridiculously long as the orders some people had, and they had her running ragged. My right shoulder relished in being a sadistic bastard and my left shoulder slapped me silly. I'll be back, and will keep coming back until I finish off the menu. Maybe even all at once. They do have a bathroom, too, you know. read more