Costco.

[Caran]

There is a possibility Costco is coming to Gloucester. What do you have to do to be able to shop there?

[cupid04]

Money?

[Caran]

Sorry, I meant it's like a cash and carry isn't it, how do you become a member?

[nungate]

We're members of the one here in the Edinburgh area, membership depended on the sort of work or profession you do. You also have to pay an annual fee, but we always seem to recoup the annual fee on the things we buy. Does that help?

[Caran]

We are retired now, where do we stand on that?

[craft1948]

From wiki..............

In the United Kingdom, membership is restricted to certain groups only. Trade membership is available to the owners or managers of businesses for £20.00 (plus VAT). Trade members receive a complimentary spouse/partner card, and can purchase additional cards (at a cost of £12+VAT each) for employees. Qualified professionals, such as solicitors, magistrates, accountants and engineers, as well as employees in certain specific sectors (such as medical services, education, local government, the civil service, airlines and banking) may apply for individual membership, which costs £25 including a spouse/partner card. While these restrictions are posted in the store they are not applied rigorously; in reality any individual may apply for, and receive, a membership card.[31] A Costco card issued in another country is valid in the U.K.,[32] and as such, it would be possible for a U.K. resident to sign up elsewhere and use their card at home without meeting U.K. membership requirements

[Jeza]

I think jj uses costco a lot. The only costco where I live is at the garage and boy are they expensive.

[237SJ]

You have to be self employed or work for certain companies. To be honest, I don`t think Costco is all that impressive. If you have an Aldi or Lidl near you, then you will make the same savings that you would make at Costco.

[Caran]

I do most of my shopping at Lidl, just wondered if it would be cheaper at Costco.

[237SJ]

Costco is cheap if you have a business (for example a B&B) and you need to buy in bulk. If you don`t, it`s not cheap

[Caran]

Okay I think I will stick with Lidl. It does look as if we are a step nearer to getting an Asda, Home Secretary or someone like that has approved it. Just waiting for Coop to object again for 99th time.

[nungate]

My husband retired from the job that qualified him for membership but we are still members - it seems to carry on after retirement. Costco (and Makro) work well if you buy things in bulk, that's where you can make some savings. It is also a good place to buy things for the house and garden and there are some good buys in clothes, and books. I get a quite a few cleaning materials there huge boxes of soap powders and such. If you are having a party they are a good source of ready prepared sandwiches and canapés and nice platters - my daughter loves their birthday cakes!

[Caran]

Thanks Nungate.

[nungate]

You're very welcome Caran. We just happen to like Costco, but I'm a bit of a shopping tart, I shop around for most things to get the best deal. I use Costco for the bigger household things like toilet rolls, kitchen paper and soap powder and stuff like that - when I'm not raiding the shelves of Poundstretcher for similar things! Besides there are things you can buy in Costco that can't often be found elswhere

[237SJ]

One of the good buys at Costco is their chicken breasts. They are not pumped full of water so they cook well. I had a look at the lablels on the meat and a lot of it came from the US and in the US they pump their livestock full of antibiotiics. You have to balance the price of the product against the way the meat is farmed. You get what you pay for, I guess.

[Caran]

I shop on line for soap powder and toilet rolls to get the best value. I use Bold blue crystal rain and Andrex white so really have to find best value.

[nungate]

The meat in our Costco is marked as being Scottish