Costco vs Sams

[LuFins Dad]

@copper said in Costco vs Sams:

Is that a Virginia Costco?

I wish… They do sell liquor in DC.

[Copper]

@lufins-dad said in Costco vs Sams:

@copper said in Costco vs Sams:

Is that a Virginia Costco?

I wish… They do sell liquor in DC.

When I saw the liquor room in a Florida Costco, I told my wife to go back to Virginia and sell the house, I'll wait here.

She wouldn't do it.

[LuFins Dad]

@copper said in Costco vs Sams:

@lufins-dad said in Costco vs Sams:

@copper said in Costco vs Sams:

Is that a Virginia Costco?

I wish… They do sell liquor in DC.

When I saw the liquor room in a Florida Costco, I told my wife to go back to Virginia and sell the house, I'll wait here.

She wouldn't do it.

Costco Liquor runs on a 14 point margin, far lower than liquor stores.

[brenda]

Minnesoooooota makes Costco sell liquor to nonmembers at the same price as the members. Check your state law.

[89th]

@george-k said in Costco vs Sams:

@friday said in Costco vs Sams:

use Costco mainly for gas.

Is it worth it?

If you ask my wife? Yes

If you ask me? No. It saves maybe $2.50 per fill up, which isn't worth my time sitting in the line. Y(G)MMV

[LuFins Dad]

Going back to @George-K ‘s chart, there’s also the “Costco Effect”. You’ll typically find that gas stations close to Costco will have prices that are within 10-15 cents of Costco’s price.

For instance, the Costco that is a mile away from me is currently selling at $3.21 a gallon. The Exxon across the street from Costco is at $3.36. The Exxon 2 blocks from my house? $3.68. Now, if Costco wasn’t near that other Exxon do you think their price would be $3.36 or closer to the $3.68?

[George K]

@brenda said in Costco vs Sams:

Minnesoooooota makes Costco sell liquor to nonmembers at the same price as the members. Check your state law.

Not here in Illinois.

https://www.consumerreports.org/consumerist/hey-you-can-buy-alcohol-at-costco-and-sams-club-without-a-membership/

[LuFins Dad]

@george-k said in Costco vs Sams:

@brenda said in Costco vs Sams:

Minnesoooooota makes Costco sell liquor to nonmembers at the same price as the members. Check your state law.

Not here in Illinois.

https://www.consumerreports.org/consumerist/hey-you-can-buy-alcohol-at-costco-and-sams-club-without-a-membership/

But you can have it delivered to your house…

https://news.yahoo.com/8-things-know-buying-booze-194917337.html

[George K]

@lufins-dad said in Costco vs Sams:

But you can have it delivered to your house…

Indeed. I'd forgotten about that. However, to make it worthwhile, you have to buy in bulk - there's an $8.00 alcohol surcharge on top of other instacart fees. Plus the tip.

I'm gonna try some of their Kirkland blended Scotch one of these days.

I saw they have a 12 year old Glenlivet for about $40 as well. I'm not a fan, of Glenlivet, but that's certainly a good price.

https://blacktailnyc.com/who-makes-kirkland-scotch-whiskey/#1

[jon-nyc]

I get wine delivered by the guy who owns the local store. He doesn't even charge for it, at least if you buy by the case.

[George K]

OK, I'm placing an order with Costco.

"As long as the hood is up...."

I'm going to try some of their steaks as well. Price seems similar to Wild Fork.

Thoughts?

[LuFins Dad]

@george-k said in Costco vs Sams:

OK, I'm placing an order with Costco.

"As long as the hood is up...."

I'm going to try some of their steaks as well. Price seems similar to Wild Fork.

Thoughts?

Their steaks are excellent but I can’t compare to Wild Fork. As for the whiskey, they normally have a good selection of the Japanese whiskey and they normally have an 18 year Speyside under the Kirkland Brand for $60.

[Improviso]

@george-k said in Costco vs Sams:

I'm going to try some of their steaks as well. Price seems similar to Wild Fork.
Thoughts?

Their ribeyes were fine. Only problem I had with them is they are 2 inches thick. I would normally cut them to 1 inch thick which I like better.

[taiwan_girl]

@89th said in Costco vs Sams:

@lufins-dad said in Costco vs Sams:

Here’s the thing about Costco speaking as a vendor… There is no other business out there that works harder on getting their members the highest level of value and service. The steps they take to make sure you are satisfied are astounding. You are always assured of a minimum level of quality and value as well as after sales service.

Good to know. Usually store-brand items are not the best, but Kirkland (Costco's brand) is usually a really great product (food or not).

How Kirkland Brand started (https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/05/business/costco-kirkland-signature/index.html)

[89th]

@taiwan_girl said in Costco vs Sams:

@89th said in Costco vs Sams:

@lufins-dad said in Costco vs Sams:

Here’s the thing about Costco speaking as a vendor… There is no other business out there that works harder on getting their members the highest level of value and service. The steps they take to make sure you are satisfied are astounding. You are always assured of a minimum level of quality and value as well as after sales service.

Good to know. Usually store-brand items are not the best, but Kirkland (Costco's brand) is usually a really great product (food or not).

How Kirkland Brand started (https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/05/business/costco-kirkland-signature/index.html)

Cool thanks!

[Friday]

@89th said in Costco vs Sams:

@george-k said in Costco vs Sams:

@friday said in Costco vs Sams:

use Costco mainly for gas.

Is it worth it?

If you ask my wife? Yes

If you ask me? No. It saves maybe $2.50 per fill up, which isn't worth my time sitting in the line. Y(G)MMV

Even with the gas stations nearby, Costco is 30-40 cents cheaper. There was one that tried to keep up with Costco's prices but couldn't do it.

We always fill up at night, just before closing. The lines during the day are usually long.

[George K]

I made a Costco strip steak today.

Well, that was interesting.

I did it sous-vide. cooking to about 120 degrees, and then pan-searing in canola oil with butter.

The sear was perfect.

However, here's the interesting part.

In the past, with thinner-cut steaks, this ended up being a perfect medium-rare after the sear.

However, the Costco steak is noticeably thicker (as @Horace commented). So, it came out just a bit under-done to my taste. The quality of the cut was fine, and it was tasty. I just would have liked it cooked a bit more.

Lesson learned: Thick steak will NOT cook through when you sear. Thinner steak will.

[taiwan_girl]

For me, closest Costco - 1500 miles (BKK to Taiwan)
closest Sam Club - 1400 miles (BKK to Guandong)

555

From what I read, three of the top ten biggest revenue Costco's are in Taiwan (Two in Taipei and one in Taichung)

In taiwan, they have a very good reputation among the people who work there. Alot of people recommend them to work there.

[89th]

@george-k said in Costco vs Sams:

I made a Costco strip steak today.

Well, that was interesting.

I did it sous-vide. cooking to about 120 degrees, and then pan-searing in canola oil with butter.

The sear was perfect.

However, here's the interesting part.

In the past, with thinner-cut steaks, this ended up being a perfect medium-rare after the sear.

However, the Costco steak is noticeably thicker (as @Horace commented). So, it came out just a bit under-done to my taste. The quality of the cut was fine, and it was tasty. I just would have liked it cooked a bit more.

Lesson learned: Thick steak will NOT cook through when you sear. Thinner steak will.

I grilled 4 NY steaks last night, bought from costco. They were about 1.25" thick and used a formula my FIL gave me to get the rareness just right. Costco's meat didn't disappoint, once again.

[Mik]

I always though their strips were a little tough. The filets are less expensive, but they are mostly butt end, not center cut.

Just got a Wild Fork flat iron steak yesterday, and a prime tri-tip. I really like their beef.