I love the Kirkland brand! Who doesn't want to save money? Costco is doing the hard work for its consumers, I appreciate that! Helps us get in n out quickly, well unless I stop for a sample or 5! Lol Thank you Costco n HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I worked for Costco about 30 years ago, and back then the philosophy for pricing was that the profit margins on the products sold were just enough to cover costs, including salaries, shipping, warehouses, utilities, etc. The net profit for the company came from the membership fees.
Yeah, I'm guessing the difference in profit margins between Walmart/Target vs Costco is because Costco's margins are supplemented by the membership fees.
@@WinnieDPue they got greedy I shouldn't have to pay a membership fee to shop. Single people don't need 100x packages. It's a waste 🗑 😪 They don't help single people Variety is LACKING
@@WinnieDPue Costco's prices are 15% over, while Walmart charges 32% over and Target 46% over for their profits. I have no idea of Sam's Club markup but as a member of both, I know the prices at the two Sam's Club's I shop are always higher than those at Costco unless Sam's Club puts them on clearance. I have been a member of Costco since 1993 and Sam's Club when Costco stopped using Discover Card. Discover Card gave me a free membership for a year a I was hooked. I really like both clubs, but can't stand BJ's.
I worked at Costco from 1984 - 1997, starting as a stocker, then forklift driver, then vault clerk counting the money, and last few years as Inventory Auditor. It was called Price Club for the first 7-8 years few years I was there until the name change (long story there.) I can attest that EVERYTHING you said is accurate. When the Kirkland brand was introduced, they actually bussed us to a local hotel with a large banquet hall to tell us all about the creation of Kirkland and the philosophy behind. I distantly remember they really stressed that this brand was NOT going to be like the crappy store brands known up until that point. The mandate was Kirkland Signature was going to be at a MINIMUM as good as the brand name the goal was to be better. I was impressed that they wanted to impress this upon the employees. The free lunch and time away from work didn't hurt either... 25 years since I left and I still go to Costco weekly and still see many of my coworkers from that day still happily working there, and some are close to retirement. I can tell you that it was tough to leave my supposed "College" job. I was still there seven years after I got my BA as I honestly did not want to leave as the pay was good and I had six weeks vacation every year. I might never have tbh if my good buddy had not dragged me to a job fair in 97. If/when I do retire from my analytical office job, I might just go back. It's a great company. Side note: You forgot about the $1.50 Hot Dog and soda. That price has not changed since introduced in the 90's. Same philosophy as the $4.99 rotisserie chicken.
We always get the Executive Membership, but we buy almost everything at Costco, so we get more than the cost of the membership fee back in our refund check every single year since our first membership!
There's only my husband and I in our household but we are executive members. We get most of that fee back every year bc we buy most of our needs at Costco. It's a win-win when you know that you get organic/quality merchandise for the lowest prices and when you have all the space for extra toilet papers!😁
I've been a Costco member since December of 1983, and you can land your eyes virtually ANYWHERE in my house and see one or ten items I bought there. With respect to Kirkland Signature items, I have always been satisfied with their quality- KS compromises little, if any, in quality IMO and are sometimes in fact superior!
As a single 72 year old woman in Hawai’i living lean, I mainly just buy gas and only a few other things every now and then … and get the rest at a health food store. This biz model of buying in bulk does not apply to me as nowhere to put it all. I don’t even hava a pantry or a storage room. But buying the cheapest gas on island it worth the membership.
You can save money on things like their rotisserie chicken, butter, yogurt, frozen foods, and even their olive oil and balsamic vinegar are all at great prices. Not everything they have is necessarily super bulk. For my two person family I shop at Aldi and Costco. Super cheap!!
I never buy anything from Costco. I go straight to the food court. Whole pizza for $9.99 and slices for $1.99. Hot dog for $1.50. When i do shop the clothes are ridiculously cheap. There are not a large variety and you might find the same items year after year but when you need them, they're there. When you do need snacks and such, the bulk prices are quite good. I just don't have a large fridge. Thats when i go to Walmart. Every time i go to another major chain, i look at their prices and just leave the store empty handed. $8 for box of cereal. $6 for 12 eggs. $40 for a lb of steak. You can go to a regular steak restaurant chain and get the steak for the same price and cook it yourself. You can get a whole platter of steak at Costco for half the price. Most retail grocers are betting that people don't shop around. My go to chains are Aldi, Walmart, and most alot of Mexican or Asian super markets. Those guys aren't paid by greedy stock market shareholders and aren't incentivized to rip you off to pay their shareholders. As such their prices are almost always cheaper than 90% of the retail grocers known nationwide.
Also wanted to add that the customer service at Costco is A+ but the customer service at my Sams club is usually understaffed and they are unusually unpleasant to deal with.
Agree that Costco staff are the best. I have seen such kindness extended to older and/or disabled customers that need extra attention. It is the norm. Very heartwarming.
Pro tip, if you have a Costco business center in your area they take returns for regular warehouse locations and they rarely have a line since most business don't return products like consumers do
@@rswow I have a family and a business. I buy everything there, including gas and pharmacy. I can easily drop $300 to $ 400 a week. But I save a substantial amount of money shopping at Costco. Allowing me to be well prepared for any coming shortages.
Did you know you can even buy a new car through Costco’s car buying service? I bought my Toyota at a savings of a couple thousand over the “best” offer I could get from a dealer.
Dealer prices are on top of MSRP. MSRP is suggested manufacturer prices meaning these are already discounted prices that dealers make. That means you're already overpaying. Then they add another $12-55k more on top of MSRP due to "low inventory" or "chip shortage" or some other bull.
I heard when your majority of clothing come from Costco, you don’t give a s**t of so called fashion any more. Another day when I was shopping at Costco, I realized all my clothes from top to bottom came from Costco. I’m a walking Costco manikin 😅
Honestly, they have such timeless styles. My dad still wears shirts from Costco 10 years ago! Some of their footwear tends to be more trend focused, but a lot of their clothing is just good basics. Dress pants, jackets, plain shirts, socks... Those are things that don't go out of style. If I didn't sew it myself, most of my pants are from Costco.
The fresh off the boat scenes were funny. I'm surprised this video didn't cover the samples they used to have on Sundays. Pre-covid, those drew people in every week!!
It’s all about the membership. It’s all profit. They need to print a card and send you a couple mailers a month. Membership is 90% profit. THEN it’s psychology of sunken cost that now that I have a membership I’m “losing money” by not shopping at Costco. Then because of that they’re way more lax on returns, employees are hard worked but treated well. Every store is also logistically efficient and laid out in a big horseshoe to make forklift refills of pallets easy. Was interesting the Xmas season I worked there.
Costco gas pays for the membership long term. In areas where Costco is located you won't find a gas station for miles. Costco gas has never given me any problems using it. If you find a gas station they're usually $0.30 to $0.50 higher than Costco. That might not sound like a lot but after 20 gallons that's a net loss of $6 dollars per fill minimum. You can use that $6 dollars and get yourself a slice of Costco pizza or just save it for rainy days.
Love my Costco 😂. Also I signed up for Costco Citi Credit Card to get cash rewards at the end of the year and it’s worth it. I use it for buying everything not just at Costco and the first year I received $550. 2nd year $700+ this year will be $1059. So it paid for my membership fee. I pay my credit card as I get paid. Plus in addition you get for Executive Members earn an annual 2% cash Reward. It’s a win win for me.
I use the Venmo Visa at Costco and get 3% back. And I don't have to wait until the end of the year for the cash back. It comes every month with my statement.
@@marilynhill6358 no annual fee 4 percent in gas 3 percent travel and restaurant 2 percent at costco so with the executive membership combined that's 4 percent every time you shop at costco and no foreign transaction fee. great cc as long as you pay a balance each month. also you can cash the citi visa rewards check as cash.
The membership fees are offset annual member dividends based on purchases. Last year I received a $56 dividend against my $120 membership fee. I'm single - a family would have received a higher dividend due to more purchases.
Good advertising. I have never been into a Costco but my former boss used to buy stuff there and sometimes shared with me, everything was top quality. And the role it played in "Idiocracy" has made me like that company since many years ago.
The savings in gas pay for our basic membership and the cash back pays for our executive membership. If they have it, it is is usually less expensive except for loss-leader sales.
Alot of it is supply chain issue. The ships bringing goods to the ports are delayed by port workers and overloaded port docking areas. Even smaller grocers send out their workers to buy from competiting markets to buy outright the items at retail just to meet their own demands. This in turn cause some chains to overcharge for items that they lack. Toilet paper is the least of my worries. But before you can get 4 rolls for $3.50. Now you get the same rolls for $6.50. Thats FOUR whole rolls or almost $2 per roll. But not everything is expensive. Chicken leg is $1 per lb. Yet beef is $12-$40 for steaks. Thus i shop based on needs instead. Certain items are "luxury" that before was already "luxury". Steaks used to be $8-$20 per lb. Sometimes i find it funny that you can go to eat at a restaurant and pay LESS than you would to grocery shop. Why pay $40 for steak when you can go to a restaurant and get it cooked for you for less.
One trick i learned is to buy always at discount and i am deep in groceries with self care and for the true value i saved 50$ of a 150 purchases. If you micro handle your products it helps a ton! Trust me!
I am a single woman and really don't need to buy things in bulk so I'm always on the fence about renewing my Costco membership. I just like the products that I can only find there including things I give as Christmas gifts.
Would love to shop there. Wish Costco would come to the Tri-cities region of East TN and Southwest VA! (Bristol VA/TN, Kingsport and Johnson City TN). Easy access via I-81
Supermarkets were first created in the United States in 1944, a big thing about driving and shopping big time. All supermarket products can be said to be generic, except for the fresh produce, as long as it's fresh.
This is true. Customers do not like too many choices. It will turn them off. Also, there is evidence that when a customer like company they will even allow the employee/company to choose for them.
Costco is a great store, hands down, we all agree. And from what I heard, Costco treats their employees well. Their Kirkland Signature brand designates quality. The gas is often the lowest cost in the area. And you can't beat the 100% beef hotdog and soda (with refill) for $1.50. However, Costco is not the least expensive. Stores like Grocery Outlet, the 99 Cent Store, the Dollar Store and so on are less expensive, though limited in items available. Also, buying bulk sizes or quantities at Costco does not work well for single people who don't have the space. But Costco membership if split with someone is definitely worth it. It's a fun place to shop. And unlike another commenter, I enjoy the food samples.
Costco also is able to keep their floor prices lower because their Costco Business delivery centers sell their products at a marked up price. For instance, their Kirkland paper towel in Canada is 23.99 on the floor. On the business website, it’s 29.99. It’s an interesting strategy.
I have been buying at Costco since they opened. I buy for my 4 business and my home. I have not found anything wrong with anything I bought there and I try to buy Kirkland products. I switched from Mobile 1 oil to the Costco auto oil and am very happy with it. I used to raise our own beef and pigs and I am picky about meat, I think Costco has very good meat and seafood.
I've been shopping at Costco since 1986, and most Kirkland Signature products are amazing in quality. But their worst quality Kirkland Signature product that doesn't last for a long time are their Kirkland Signature Mens Outdoor Trail wool socks. You will be lucky if you get one year of wear with these hiking socks because all of the socks developed huge holes in less than on year of wear. I didn't have the original packaging, so I didn't ask for a refund. As a result, I refuse to buy Kirkland Signature socks that are made out of wool.
Recently went and prices have skyrocketed. Covid, inflation, recession as well as distribution interruptions... the PRICES seem crazy expensive!!! Prices seem similar as regular grocery stores, has the model changed recently? Or in Canada? Or are some stores matching Costco's pricing?
What I don't understand especially with inflation. KS Organic ground beef 3 pack was $19.98 before the pandemic back in 2018, it is still the same price post pandemic. Oddly Costco business center locations sell the exact same thing for $5 more dollars.
i remember once in the late 90's my grampa took me to the costco off stockton blvd. while he was busy somewhere else, I went to the place where they kept the cartons of ciggarettes. opened a box and stuffed a few newports in my puffed jacket. I walked out with him super paranoid, but got away with it, lol.... sorry price club, i was young and stupid.
Smart move! "The Tyranny of Choice" is why many people abandon a purchase! Studies prove it...more than 3 choices makes the customer think too much...they say: "Do I really need this?"
It's funny because in Canada, No Name, the Loblaw store brand, has been on the rise as well, and has become a meme. Those are the two store labels I often go for over brands.
I have both a Sams and Costco memberships. Our Sams didn’t have a gas station until recently so I was stopping at Costco frequently for gas and running in the store. I love Costco and I have enjoyed all of the Kirkland brand items except the toilet paper it was horrible. I have the Sams Plus membership and it pays for itself as we have most of the non perishable items shipped or occasionally a curbside pickup. If Costco had the same perks as the Sams Plus membership I’d probably drop the Sams club membership.
This is correct. Bose has nearly 50% markup on its products and they are UMRP priced (price locked). Costco has a Bose speaker bundle that includes speaker stands that are normally sold for $100, but we're included with the Costco version. Bose didn't reduce the near 50% mark-up by throwing in $100 stands.
Live 70 miles away from a Costco store no can do but Kirkland brand olive oil from Amazon arrived in a plastic bottle. I am horrified. Should I be worried?
Is mashed doing infomercial promotionals now? What about the cheaper ingredients? That's the biggest factor generics are usually lower quality. Look at the ingredients and compare for yourself, The cheaper the more ingredients with names no one knows. Like maltodextrine, It's basically sugar but since it's in a different form they don't have to add it to the sugar content listed along with another or 2 similar ingredients that are basically sugar too, We can thank corruption for allowing such loopholes. Dangerous for diabetics because they don't realize there may actually be twice the amount of sugar.
The biggest problem is large portions with a very short shelf life, especially dairy products. Store made caesar salad contains the butt of the romaine, which is unclean & inedible.
Somebody said that they only allow good products to be there I bought an American kennel club pin from them and it was a piece of garbage and I had no way to return it so I was stuck with a $500 bin it was probably worth a hundred and seventy-five bucks so last time I went to Costco.
Good, but you forgot one important fact - Costco pays its employees so well that they can buy the products the store sells. Just common sense, ignored by most big box stores
What pisses me off is that 90% of the organic products shown in this video are NOT available in Canadian Costcos which is especially frustrating since most of them were Kirkland brand. I would imagine that more Canadians would choose organic over chemical products more often than US customers and the market it smaller so the supply shouldn’t be a problem... WTF? Grrr!
Most of those are scams BTW, I know in America at least the "organic" stuff isn't what people think it is. They mantipualte people to think it healthier when in all reality it pretty much the same as the normal products. They do this with vegan products as well like the impossible meat it just a bunch of chemically made goods yet so many people they can like eating plants. Being form a farming family and and seeing how things are done. I just shake my head at some of these scams they offer in the US, its probably why they aren't in canda cause the laws are different. So many of the ograinc stuff still has chemicals they are just hidden behind the marketing
I have a lot of Kirkland labeled products in my pantry and cabinets........even in my freezer, but they didn't think through those sardines shown at the beginning of the vid.
@@lauriceday5976 I've not really been a sardine fan as an adult. 🤮 But I did run across truly skinless and boneless sardine fillets from King Oscar recently and I'm dabbling trying to reacquire the taste for them I had as a kid. I've preferred the kippered herring snacks over the years as they are skinless & boneless. I hate having to fight with my food when I'm hungry.
Tesco is the Cosco in the UK. Only smaller. Interestingly, they sell the same items as our double priced Waitrose only Waitrose use different/ better packaging and up the prices.
It’s a business method. You pick your top Products with the best profit margin. It’s dumb to sell Tons of products or offer it when you may sell little of it. It takes up space etc. some places may need tons of random products to drive people or because it’s the culture of the store like a quilting store but big businesses tend to squeeze out profits especially when they get debt for super cheap so their returns and ceo returns are even better. Look up was it Moderna??? The company got two billion from the benevolent and altruistic Uncle Sam and Moderna was so altruistic they gave fifty percent like a billion to the ceo for him being so nice. Gotta love that revolving door between the altruistic government and the benevolent corporations
