Costco: is it too onerous to be worth it?

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The Costco model is pretty simple, please don't scam us with a membership card that's not yours, please be the person paying that has the membedrship, so we don't get scammed by your friend or neighbor shopping with you, please let us check you have things in your cart you PAID for on the way out, or possibly didn't get overcharged at the checkout and not notice. It may help them keep prices competitive. Find the place crowded? don't go at peak shopping times. Notice not ALL the prices aren't cheap, gosh I guess sometimes you have to pay attention while you shop.
If you went to a movie, would you get all bent when they asked for a ticket to enter the theatre? Just look at all those idiots lining up for popcorn........ don't they know you can pop it at home and fill your girlfriends purse?
Wow, Costco will be an even better experience for me when some of you guys stay home.
 
GateKeeper said:
Lucky you...

next time tell them your not the actual member and see what happens, or don't have you wife pull out her cash or debit card and you pull out your wallet an try to pay, let us know how it turns out...
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Many times I went in with a member and split the bill. Member would pay for their stuff, hand over their card and then my stuff would get rung up and I'd pay separately with my own cash/card. No issues or questions raised at all. It's been a while now so maybe they're tighter now but I've done that many times.
 
That's cutting to the chase, Mr. Call
 
mimico_polak said:
Many times I went in with a member and split the bill. Member would pay for their stuff, hand over their card and then my stuff would get rung up and I'd pay separately with my own cash/card. No issues or questions raised at all. It's been a while now so maybe they're tighter now but I've done that many times.
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they can get quite funny with these procedures,

had a buggy full of "business" purchases, and a buggy full of "personal" purchases. told the lady I wanted two separate bills on MY membership and rung in separately for the purposes mentioned. She looked at me like I had two heads. I insisted there was no big deal, just want two separate bills on the same card.

After a call to manager working the floor, they "allowed" it.

Still don't see what the big deal was......
 
inreb said:
Why can't people follow simple rules?
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Haha no kidding. Go to the LCBO with a 15 year old. Bring bottle of jack daniels to check out. After it's rung up, have the 15 year old try to pay for it.


OMG my nephew just wanted to pay for a gift LCBO is ******** **** this company
 
GateKeeper said:
As for following rules, I have no issue, but who cares who had the cash in their hands, does it really matter.....
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Clearly they are just trying to combat membership fraud. Clearly.
 
Red_Liner740 said:
Thats when I leave EVERYTHING exactly as it is and just walk out the door. Wanna be a mindless robot? Fine, you clean up this **** and put it back.
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SunnY S said:
had a buggy full of "business" purchases, and a buggy full of "personal" purchases. told the lady I wanted two separate bills on MY membership and rung in separately for the purposes mentioned. She looked at me like I had two heads. I insisted there was no big deal, just want two separate bills on the same card.

After a call to manager working the floor, they "allowed" it.

Still don't see what the big deal was......
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What a bunch of dooshes! I would have pulled a Red_Liner740 on them. A much needed shot across the bow so next time they'll know what's what. Like I said, dooshes!!
 
inreb said:
What a bunch of dooshes! I would have pulled a Red_Liner740 on them. A much needed shot across the bow so next time they'll know what's what. Like I said, dooshes!!
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Nah, still love the place. The only "grocery" type store I look forward to shopping with my wife to....

When we go to quebec costco, I can stock up on cheap beer. When I head to Florida Costco, I can stock up on cheap beer and wine.

Hope the province does something about the sweetheart LCBO and beer store monopoly so that Costco can start selling beer on the cheap.....
 
inreb said:
You're probably as honest as the day is long. That can't be said for everybody. Unfortunately, somebody else holding the cash looks like trying to circumvent the membership policy. Employee has a job to protect specifically and a general interest in the health of the company.
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Agreed, but with cash in hand, does it really matter who was holding onto it first.....

but hey, now I just don't go in with the wife, she pays, and we get our stuff.....
 
mimico_polak said:
Many times I went in with a member and split the bill. Member would pay for their stuff, hand over their card and then my stuff would get rung up and I'd pay separately with my own cash/card. No issues or questions raised at all. It's been a while now so maybe they're tighter now but I've done that many times.
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you just have not been caught yet...

try it at the new one in Mississauga see if it works.....LOL
 
I live close to one. We don't buy a lot of things but the stuff that we do is usually loads cheaper than else where (certain bulk items). Their meat section is usually pretty cheap and the meat is pretty good quality. I BBQ a lot, summer and winter. Combine all of that with gas savings and Costco is paying off. And I use Credit Cards for everything; I rarely use cash anymore except at the odd convenience store stop. Call it a hassle... hide beneath a blanket of paranoia, etc but for me it's just the norm now. I use every form of payment and methods possible to save money on things that I need. Be it credit card rewards/cashback, coupons or cashback services (ebates/checkout51). For a few seconds of my time, I'll gladly get x% cashback for my purchases.

Does it suck having to deal with people who lose all form of etiquette once you enter the Costco lot? Yea but hey, I live in Toronto so it's normal to a degree. But the positives outweight the negatives for me. Some people can't be bothered to deal with all of that or stress out about it... I get it. But for me, I don't let little **** get to my head, I carry on with my own business and I'm A-Okay.
 
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^^^this guy is smooth......likebutta
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 Windows Phone using Tapatalk
 
LOL .... you must live in Canada and ride a motorcycle when there's a GTAM post 3 pages long about shopping annoyance at Costco .... I have heard it on the radio this morning ... LOL2
 
SunnY S said:
Hope the province does something about the sweetheart LCBO and beer store monopoly so that Costco can start selling beer on the cheap.....
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You do know that there will be a lengthy a very lengthy and expensive law suit first ... the lawyers will benefit much sooner than you or I. Admit it, you know it.
 
Red_Liner740 said:
Thats when I leave EVERYTHING exactly as it is and just walk out the door. Wanna be a mindless robot? Fine, you clean up this **** and put it back.
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inreb said:
Why can't people follow simple rules?
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The problem is that rules taken to their ultimate extreme causes other problems.

In this situation, meeting the intent of the rule probably makes more sense than meeting the letter of the rule.

If there is a group of people checking out, as long as there is "a" cardmember in that group somewhere, it shouldn't matter.

In my business, I really don't care who pays for a given job, as long as someone pays.

I would have done RedLiner's move ...
 
Brian P said:
The problem is that rules taken to their ultimate extreme causes other problems.

In this situation, meeting the intent of the rule probably makes more sense than meeting the letter of the rule.

If there is a group of people checking out, as long as there is "a" cardmember in that group somewhere, it shouldn't matter.

In my business, I really don't care who pays for a given job, as long as someone pays.

I would have done RedLiner's move ...
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It is one thing to make two separate purchases, with two different people paying with one membership, as opposed to what you stated: A group, one membership, one other person paying. No biggie, imo. But if they are going to be sticklers, sort out the $ in advance and done. My buddy wanted a tv. We went in, my membership. I paid, we went to the bank, he paid me back, took me to lunch and still came out ahead. A year later, when the tv died, we loaded it up, grabbed a coffee and returned it. Then bought another one. That was 2 days without the nagging of the wives. Bonus!
 
Brian P said:
If there is a group of people checking out, as long as there is "a" cardmember in that group somewhere, it shouldn't matter.

In my business, I really don't care who pays for a given job, as long as someone pays.

I would have done RedLiner's move ...
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I'm surprised to see that response. I think we're all aware of the "letter" of the law and the "spirit" of the law. Technically, as a member, I could benefit financially by parading my friends thru Costco all day long, twice on Sunday. The membership is part of a business plan that doesn't include me making money on the side.
 
inreb said:
I'm surprised to see that response. I think we're all aware of the "letter" of the law and the "spirit" of the law. Technically, as a member, I could benefit financially by parading my friends thru Costco all day long, twice on Sunday. The membership is part of a business plan that doesn't include me making money on the side.
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That being said, my buddy that bought the tv has since gotten his own membership, as he has seen the advantages and savings that he can now get. Especially as his twins are getting older and eating /needing more. He never would have known the benefits had he not gone with me in the first place.
That group that went together, they see the deals, now the other 3 get membership cards. Bam! Welcome to the club. I can't just barge in on the likes of the insiders that are a part of The Circle of Inreb. I need to be invited in. Shown around.
 
Brian P said:
In my business, I really don't care who pays for a given job, as long as someone pays.
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Your business doesn't rely on income from membership fees.

If people paid you $XXX for a membership, and for that membership they got a discount on your services, you may care if someone else paid
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