Costco Wholesale

My first experience with Costco was back home in Canada in the food court. They used to sell poutines dirt cheap because (a) it was back in the day and (b) it was in Canadian dollars LOL. I didn't have a membership then because I didn't have a business and I was single.

We finally got a Costco membership when we were stationed in Hawaii, at out necessity and ever since, this relationship is going strong. I'm sure you know most of the benefits, but these are things I love about Costco:

Executive Membership - the fee is a steep $120, but you get 2% cash back and most years, I almost make it all back rewards. If you don't want to dish out the $120, start with the basic and if you want to upgrade later on, I believe they will prorate it.

Gas - as a general rule of thumb, they are usually the cheapest. If you shop there often like I do, I usually fill up there once a week.

Kirkland Brand - I love their house brand and you'll usually find things like their TP, paper towels, seaweed, their liquor, EVOO, nuts (to name a few) in our cart. The unofficial word on the street is that their suppliers are usually the same well known brands, like vodka and Grey Goose (the bottles resemble each other). They source the best

Asian products - Costo buyers know what's up! They have a great selection of Asian products. One thing we buy in bulk is their seaweed, the Kirkland brand. The biggest container filled with lots of sheets and the cheapest you will find! I hate that they have been running out lately and replace it with another brand that isn't the same in value and quantity. I've seen things like citrone (yu-ja - Korean citrus fruit) jam for tea, pear juice, boba mochi, instant noodle bowls, Bachan sauce etc.

So many great products, from produce to meat, ready made meals, drinks, frozen products, spices in bulk. The list goes on.

Samples - you can practically have a small meal making your rounds on a weekend day. That's how they also get ya. I don't know how many times I have bought an item because I sampled it first.

Online shopping - if you order items in the grocery category, with a minimum order of $75, you can have it shipped for free. Other items like clothes or products, are usually free shipping. But beware, most items online are marked up, hence the free shipping.

Food court - solid items. Who can beat their decent pizza for that size and price? But Dear Costo, can ya bring back the Supreme?! And have you had their newest item, the chocolate chip cookie? It the size of my kids' face.

Only con is, there are only two Costos in the entire area. The one here in Norfolk is BUSY. ALL. THE. TIME. Like from opening til close.

You can find the best stuff during the holidays too. One of the things I regret not getting is the darn Hexclad set when it was on sale during the holidays. The lowest I've ever seen it. Maybe this year....

One thing I have yet to take advantage of is Costco Travel!

Enjoy, Friends, and never stop exploring!

Would you believe me if I said I've only been to Costco twice, ever?

The first time it was so crowded, I believe it was payday for the military and I was overwhelmed and stressed with the kids. We didn't look at everything and promptly left.

Today was my second time thanks to my brother. He got a membership and brought us. He raves about all sorts of items and figured we'd grab some for ourselves to test the water again.

They're super similar to Sam's Club. They did have a better selection of goodies, but I don't think it swayed me enough to get my own membership.

We came pretty close to opening and the staff today was rude and attitudinal. The only kind person we encountered was the woman greeting us when entering. The self check out woman was snooty and down right nasty. I wish I got her name. The ladies sampling items didn't say a word to us and looked annoyed, and honestly I just really didn't enjoy the vibes here. I wouldn't get my own membership, but if I like any of the items we got today, I'll hustle my brother into getting it again for me.

Figured I would update my review now since I am actually a member now...(whoopsy!).

So first off, I would HIGHLY recommend not coming here on a weekend. It is unbelievably busy and super crowded - avoid at all costs to come during peak hours. With that said, I did come on a Wednesday morning one time and it was still surprisingly a bit crowded but not as bad as a weekend. Their selection of food here is very seasonal and or limited in quantity. Bring back more ASIAN snacks and food items please!!! Especially referencing those huge back of shrimp chips.

I will say though that their selection of frozen foods and snack items appeal to us a bit more than Sam's club. Especially during the recent Chinese New Year celebration, we were able to score some really delicious Asian branded food items, like the fly by jing chili oil!

The store location here feels a bit more cramped, but it's maybe due to the amount of people that are normally here and it feels smaller? They usually have samples which is awesome to try while food shopping.

SN: had their $10 pepperoni pizza for the first time and it SLAPS. Get it, it's a good deal and tastes great!

We stopped by Costco this morning to get some gasoline. They have some of the best prices in the area. Right now, regular gasoline is $2.66 per gallon.

While we were there, we went inside to pick up a few things for dinner tonight. We really enjoy the Chilean Sea Bass and we found a nice filet.

Their fresh produce is value priced, fresh and delicious. They also offer competitive prices for meats like chicken, pork, steak and turkey during the holidays.

I love love love Costco! I have been a member here since forever.

It is always so easy to down the Rabbit hole when here there is so much to discover. They just recently remodeled the layout and I love the new layout you can go in between the aisles in the middle now instead of going to the very end to get to the next aisle where there canned goods, spices, condiments, cleaning products, etc...

Everyone is so nice. It's always so busy but that's always that and their gas prices are always on point! Currently today (11/27/2023) gas $2.85/gallon for regular.

Came by just for gas and had a good experience. The line moved quick, the prices are hard to beat, and everything seemed to be in working order. It's also not far from the airport (10-12 mins), so it was handy for filling up the rental car before returning it.

I'm not going to lie - the parking lot situation here is not good. It's difficult to get in, difficult to get out and even worse trying to walk through all the traffic to get in and out of the store.
Once you're inside, it's a good medium sized Costco. They have all the usual products you'd expect although aisles are a little tight. Lines tend to be long at checkout, especially on the weekend. Gas lines are also long, pretty much any time and the gas station line winds through the parking lot. I'm there more often for gas than groceries and never found a less than twenty minute wait. Staff both in store and at the gas station are friendly and helpful and gas prices are usually the cheapest around.

Good deals if you like to buy in bulk. The hot dog and soda can't be beat for $1.50. It gets horribly crowded so be prepared. They have self checkout which is nice but the employees really are pushy and want to scan your stuff. They have been doing construction for a while.

Costco has saved me since the Pandemic began. It has also helped me eat healthier since my breathing problems got worse.

At least once a week I have deliveries made. I buy wonderful entrees prepared in the store that only require cooking in the oven. Their fruits are fabulous. I've eaten some of the best & sweetest cantaloupe ever that were delivered by Costco. You name it. They have it.

Thank you Costco for being my saving grace!!

Update:
Visited the Norfolk store today with my concerns regarding the recall.
I ask for a manager and they sent her right over.
She could not have been nicer or more accommodating!
She immediately gave me a visitors pass and allowed me to use the credit in-store.
When I arrived at the register to pay- she appeared again, and very professionally and seamlessly processed my transaction.
In addition - they were swamped as usual- but the warehouse was very organized, clean and the associates were very friendly.
I don't see how they could have made my experience better!
Bravo!


Ok Costco!, thanks for nothing!
After purchasing a set of phone chargers from Costco, I received a recall letter letting me know they could explode in my face. The letter instructed me to return the chargers to the Warehouse for a refund credit. After waiting on hold for an hour for someone to explain to me, if I was no longer a member and wouldn't be able to use a credit voucher- they would mail me a check. After packing the explosives in a lead package and taking the time to drive to ship them- Costco sends me a credit voucher from their store as a refund??? Pretty sure we cleared that trainwreck up on the hour long conversation with customer service. Total waste of valuable time and money! Where is my cash refund Costco. It's things like this that convince me I did the right thing by not rejoining.