Is it Worth Getting a Costco Membership?

Just wanted opinions....thinking about getting a Costco membership when I go home in May & wanted to use it here . I hear there are loads of US products there?  I'm so tempted to get one but I want to know if it's worth it as I haven't been to the ones here so I'm not entirely sure of the products they stock & the prices of things.  I'm ok if the prices are slightly higher than in the US, but if it's majorly higher (as in Skyco or letseastdirect.com) I'm not that bothered.

Let me know what you think - I appreciate it!

Yes, yes, and totally yes!!! Get one, we've used ours a lot!! But I'm not sure if your card there will work here.....somebody else might have more info on that. We got our card here through a friend, and we've shopped there a lot.

I agree with ca girl. We go primarily for detergent for clothes, rice, olive oil, coffee, tea, dog food, etc. In fact, we just went this past Friday even though we still had groceries that we had purchased back in November. They also have the best meat. I was so delighted to find that they actually carry pork ribs in what is considered bulk, but we would consider as average amount, and their lamb chops are really thick and so tender - to die for.

As ca girl said, don't know whether you can use the card from the US, as we got ours through DH's company.

 I checked with Costco before I left the US and they said that you can use your card at any of the locations worldwide. I haven't been yet to test it out, but I hope to head out there one of these days.

We use our US Costco card all the time here in the UK--no problems.  We make a trip there every other month and stock up on vital items such as giant vats of Skippy Peanutbutter.

That's sooo encouraging!   Just another thought...does the membership only last 1 year?  I'm scared to think I'd be cut off as I don't own a business, so I'd have to renew back in Fl - BUT my parents are moving to small town USA & no where near another Costco...so would i be able to renew my US membership in the UK?

My US parents-in-law use their US membership cards here no problem ...

We now have our own Costco membership and have enough toilet rolls to last until 2009!!! 

I couldn't use my membership here but I essentially transferred mine over.  I got approval to use my US card until it expired and then I got a UK membership.  We go every other month to stock up on US type stuff.  Plus it is exactly the same as in North America, so it feels like home.  And, you can get flour in bigger quantities than just the tiny bag size!

I think I might be the only person who just doesn't like Costco.  Things to consider in the UK:

Do you have the storage space to store bulk items?
Do you have a car to get to Costco?  I haven't seen any that are particularly close to public transport.
Do you have a high tolerance for crowds?  Saturdays are a nighmare at the one local to me (North London)

I am also not entirely convinced it's cheaper than catching the same items on sale at the super market.  I didn't find an abundance of US products in the one near me. 

Now if only I can convince the boyfriend that Costco was not god's gift to earth, I would be a happy camper...

I think I might be the only person who just doesn't like Costco. Things to consider in the UK:

Do you have the storage space to store bulk items?
Do you have a car to get to Costco? I haven't seen any that are particularly close to public transport.
Do you have a high tolerance for crowds? Saturdays are a nighmare at the one local to me (North London)

I am also not entirely convinced it's cheaper than catching the same items on sale at the super market. I didn't find an abundance of US products in the one near me.

Now if only I can convince the boyfriend that Costco was not god's gift to earth, I would be a happy camper...

I'm with you.  I tend to get a bit freaked out in those big warehousey type places.  We don't have a Costco membership.  I'm just not convinced that it'd be worth it to drive the extra distance to buy bulk quantities of stuff I can probably live without anyway.  And I really don't have the space to store anything extra. 

My husband would love to though.  When we lived in the states I'd go to work and make the mistake of telling him that we needed baby wipes or toilet paper and would come home to a six month supply.   

We don't have storage space for bulk items or a car to get there, but we still have and use our Costco membership.  We don't get a lot of things in one trip, just enough for me and my husband to carry home on the bus.  We'll get things like marinated artichokes, huge bags of pine nuts, dried herbs and spices...things that are expensive to buy in small quantities. 

marinated artichokes,

I was just looking for these today!  There is a Costco in Bristol, kinda outside the city, but we are still wanting to check it out!

I do have a car & a garage (thank G*D!) for storage...thing is that I have a Makro card (similar to Costco - buy things in bulk, warehouse type place but UK products) but wondered if there were lots of US products in the UK Costcos?  I'm sooo close to finding a US military base, making friends there & getting them to get me Twizzlers & Aunt Jamima if this Costco thing doesn't work out! lol!

no twizzlers nor aunt jemima at our Costco.  Don't I wish...

I'm GUTTED! :\\\'(