Costco in Reading??

I'm interested in getting a Costco membership to this particular store but am not sure if it is worth my money or travel time as i'm a bit far away. Has anyone been who can tell me what it's like? I'm sure it couldn't possibly be like the Costcos back home (i've learned that bitter lesson already from the Wal Mart in Bristol). but am curious if it would be a good investment.

I was just speaking with Phil's parents about these kinds of stores on Saturday.  Apparently you have to be "nominated" by someone to get into some of them - can't remember if Costco was one of them.  But I do know that they said that most of them aren't quite as varied in their merchandise as the Costcos and Sam's Club in the States.  Personally, I don't care for the "warehouse" shopping experience - but I've also known others who swear by it.  Maybe check them out online if possible to see what the requirements / offerings are?

i've actually been to the reading warehouse.  

it's pretty new, looks nice inside, and just off the motorway.   only thing is, we went on a saturday morning and since it's near the reading footie stadium there were loads of people going to the home game!

i used to shop there at home, and the experience is the same.  customer service is not as great as the US but i think that's the general thing in the UK anyway.  they have a few US foods like skippy peanut butter but sell mostly european and UK things.  my friend also buys towels and candies to take back to the US and some wines are better priced, too.

we go for foodstuffs like frozen fish, spices, chocolates, etc and when we have a lot of guests coming over. (there's only 2 of us so no point getting fridge items).

some things are cheaper elsewhere...iceland i found has a better deal on frozen chicken, for example.  but ciabatta bread loaves are LOTS cheaper at costco.  not to mention i buy and freeze their muffins (which are the same).

you should contact them about membership, i think i saw that lawyers, bank, postal employees can get membership, there's probably more categories.  i got my membership from the US because when my mom renewed she got a free extra card and put my name on it and sent it to me.  i don't have a photo (since they can't put it on here) so i go with my passport and i'll get a photo on it next time i'm in the US.

maybe you can ask if they have a guest pass or something to check it out one day?

you should contact them about membership, i think i saw that lawyers, bank, postal employees can get membership, there's probably more categories.

No no it's changed now <wheeeeeeeeee>

First let me say the Costco here in Derby is just like the one back home... to the point I knew where everything would be the first time I went there  
Okay I know that sounds pathetic but I'm a mother to twins and an 8yr old boy so BULK and WHOLESALE is always a good thing.

You can now buy an individual membership if you go in with any paystub and proof of a UK address or like Island Girl you can go in with a card from the states. You can always buy a US membership online and do what IslandGirl is doing - use your passport until you can get your picture taken stateside.

If you go to www.costco.com and check out warehouse locator, you can get all the details for your Reading warehouse there.

Sorry I know I sound like a git being giddy about Costco, but truth be told, it's got alot of my old american products that I like so much and we've saved a fortune there with the kids.

Yeah Costco!  I'll have to check it out sometime.  Bret grew up in the Seattle, WA region and LOVES Costco.  Got a couple in the Twin Cities last year, so now I love Costco too.  Not quite as much as he does, though.

Speaking of peanut butter (Jif fans here), we've had several friends give us giant jars as going-away gifts.  I probably won't have to buy peanut butter for a year!  Our movers (Allied Int'l) have told me I can have foodstuffs shipped with our goods, as long as there is nothing perishable and nothing in glass containers.  I still had to throw out loads of half-used bottles and jars, but I can take my canned stuff (Yeah -- chipotles in adobo sauce for spicy tex-mex!) and dried spices.

On a side note -- GO TWINS!!  The last time the Minnesota Twins were in the playoffs was 1991 -- the year they one the World Series, and the year I moved to Minneapolis.  I just know that they'll win it all this year too -- the year I leave Minneapolis!

Stephanie

Thank you all for your responses. I would certainly love to be able to buy peanut butter in large supply but my current gripe is the teeny boxes of laundry detergeant that they sell here. With 2 toddlers, I go thru a box a week and would really love to get a humongous box like good ol' Dad always has when I go home...

May I be the ultimate in snoopy and ask what a membership cost over here? I couldn't seem to find an amount on the website.

my current gripe is the teeny boxes of laundry detergeant that they sell here. With 2 toddlers, I go thru a box a week and would really love to get a humongous box like good ol' Dad always has when I go home...

Oh my friend you are preaching to the choir ......
I was closing in at a box of detergent every 4 days with the twins   LOL.

They have it in BULK at Costco and now we buy it once a month (sad how little it takes to make me happy these days...truly, truly sad)

Now in regards to your membership fee it's £30 (it converts to the American $45 basically) and you get a free spouse card (jeez Costco should be paying me   )
My husband got his membership here because he was tired of 1) costco trips always being a 'family event' and 2) they have to get a manager to unlock the register everytime it's a foreign card. We were all getting on a first name basis there after a few trips..so we got a proper English membership as well  

My personal experience - if you have little ones, it's a truly great investment. (Skippy peanut butter, NesQuick, huge bottles of juice, saltines,Rice Krispies, and the deli and meat section is really cool out here...way better than home. )

Costco - it's more than a wherehouse, it's a religion  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I have a membership here that needs to be renewed..ran out in august.. can i just renew it there? I am already a member..so you would think it would be ok.. anyone know?

thanks!

I also would like to know if you can renew your memership in the UK if you were previously a member in the US?

I went to Walmart's website but couldn't find anything internationally.  I know there is ASDA, but are there 'Wal-marts' and 'Sam's Clubs'?  My Sam's card is about to expire and we planned on NOT renewing it, but if there are Sam's over there, I'll rush to the store to renew!!  It's only a few blocks away from home, maybe that's why I'm such a big fan of buying bulk!

thanks~gina

Here's Costco's website:
http://www.costco.com

Costco has these locations throughout the UK:

England

• Chingford
  
• Derby
  
• Gateshead
  
• Haydock
  
• Leeds
  
• Liverpool
  
• Manchester
  
• Oldham
  
• Reading
  
• Thurrock
  
• Watford
  Scotland
  
• Aberdeen
  
• Edinburgh
  
• Glasgow
  

This person loves Costco far more than I can express in mere words...check out this list:
http://www.shria.com/kw/C/costco.html

Read what others in the UK have been saying about Costco:
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/product/38580.html

More opinions about Costco:
http://www.uk.ciao.com/products/82224/Pid/1,14,13441,13454.html

Well, for that matter, see what folks are saying about other stores too:
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/product/67106.html

My husband and I use Makro, but you will need a business connection to get a card.
http://www.makro.co.uk/ie/default.cfm
They have even more locations throughout the UK and Ireland.
http://www.makro.co.uk/ie/sub/locations.cfm?

I have a membership here that needs to be renewed..ran out in august.. can i just renew it there? I am already a member..so you would think it would be ok.. anyone know?

thanks!

You may not be able to renew your American Costco membership at a UK store...you can however definitely renew it online. I've never renewed my card in a store. I've always renewed it online and it's just as fast, it just reactivates it.

LisaE,

I see that your address says Melksham. Have you been to the Made in America shop there? I tried to find it once and gave up finally. If they want the public to find it, they need to come out of hiding.

I see that your address says Melksham. Have you been to the Made in America shop there? I tried to find it once and gave up finally. If they want the public to find it, they need to come out of hiding.

Yup, been there a few times. And, no, they do not make it obvious. It's down an alleyway behind Woolworth's and Future Resources. But, then again, they really aren't set up like they were in Chippenham. Not a huge shopping area, but rather a few shelves. They're mainly mail order now. But I would say they probably set out at least one of each thing they currently have in stock, so the variety there is great. Watch out, though, they don't really look at expiration dates.

The shop is only open Monday through Friday, so don't plan on coming at the weekend.

Stop the Presses
Now...for a slight surprise that I will have to investigate further. It appears they have moved yet again, and may not be still in Melksham afterall. I will investigate this further and get back to this, but I won't be able to do it until next week sometime.

This is info I have come across:
"New Address: Unit 5, Griffin Farm, Bowden Hill, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 2PP. Phone 01249 730020. We are now in one of the most beautiful spots in the UK. If you can spare the time, visit the National Trust Village of Lacock, and have a bite of lunch at a wonderful old pub called The Rising Sun. If the weather is good, the views from their garden are exceptional. Exit the M4 at junction 17 and go South on the A350 until you get to Lacock. Turn left and follow the road past the free car park. Follow the road past Lacock Abbey and up Bowden Hill for about one mile. As you go up the hill overlooking Lacock, you will pass The Rising Sun. A few yards further up the hill you will see a church on the right. The next driveway on the right enters Griffin farmyard. We are the last building in the yard. We are open Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone first to check that we are open before travelling any great distance because we sometimes close for trade shows and over holiday periods."

Lacock is just north of Melksham and really is worth a visit. It's the last Cotswold village, stretching the definition just a bit more south to include it and not Chippenham nor Melksham. Lacock Abbey is where the first photo negative was made and you can see the window where it was taken. Also, they filmed bits of Harry Potter there. Reybridge is just a smidgeon north of Lacock where Camilla Parker-Bowles has a home.

LisaE,

Thank you for the help. Funnily enough, my son goes to playgroup at Lacock so i'll ask around to see if anyone knows anything as I believe most of the other mums live in Bowden Hill or Reybridge. And old horseface Camilla is actually in Reybridge, although she is always listed as living in Lacock (not that I expect she's around much now since the QM passed on!).

I guess the Made in America shop doesn't really need to be open much to the public if they have a brisk trade going with online sales. Still, it was nice to be able to run in and grab a York Peppermint Patty!

Confirmed

Made in America has moved to Lacock.

sniff.