nearly cried in Costco

We went to the new Costco here in Coventry on Saturday and I was getting so emotional over seeing some American stuff.  To the point of nearly crying over giant bags of Ruffles and multipacks of Scotch tape.  Am I sad or what?  I don't miss the US and I feel at home here but for some reason it really took me by surprise.

We're definitely making a habit of it though, as hubby was impressed with the good prices on stuff we use a lot of (mega bags of shredded cheese and huge bag of Tostitos for nachos, giant bottle of Robinson's squash etc.) so maybe it won't be so bad next time.

Anyone else feel that way when they shop at Costco? What's your fave American treat you buy there?

Hiya

this made me chuckle! not that you were almost crying, but in the fact alot of my USA cousins who've been here suddenly get excited at seeing Costco is here and want to go.Then get all happy when we do!

Serious response - it's familiarity of course, and remembering that's what used to be there in the past and you see here now and in a completely different place!

joke response - If I'd seen you in Costco almost ready to bawl yer eyes out and I knew it was becuase of the reason you'd posted - I'd have said 'calm down dear, it's only a warehouse' !

Sometimes Costco is 'expensive' for items, sometimes it's cheap for items, it's not bargain basement all of the time!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I know it's not the cheapest place for everything but some of their prices can be quite competitive.  Just have to be a savvy shopper I guess.  We just go through so much cheese and tortilla crisps it's unreal so finding a huge bag of Tostitos for 97p when we usually can't get one normal bag of Dorito's lightly salted for that makes a lot of sense.

I'm sure it was only cause it was the first time in years I'd been.

Hiya

Yes, I do understand what you mean!

In the late 90's on a trip to Rochester NY, Toronto Canda and NYC, I remember making a trip early in the morning to go the outlet malls in Buffalo from Toronto. The only reason I manged to get up that morning was the prospect of getting some real bargains - the night before I had replaced my blood with alcohol

During the blur of a drive over, I saw a sign for a corporation which I was working for back here in Slough, I took 4 looks at it from the highway and each time I was like wow! I just couldn't believe I was seeing the same logo all this distance away!

Turns out when I got back here, I looked up more about the company and discovered they indeed had a large and growing presence out there and seeing it kinda made me excited to know of it and remind me of here!

Guess that's the difference with you girls and us boys - I didn't want to cry at all! I wanted to nip down the pub and spend some of the savings I'd made at the malls!!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

The first time I moved to UK my colleagues were very keen to point out to me there was a Safeway's within walking distance of my flat. So I would feel right at home! Huh? I'd never even heard of Safeway's. And didn't see anything there that made me want to weep 
And so -- I've never been in a Costco either in US or UK. So guess I wouldn't come over teary there either ...
Actually, I find these supermarkets are very variable. You might find something you've been dying for once or twice but then they drop it. So better not to get too excited! 

My first week here I did cry at Little Chef, wept actually. It was the lasagna.

/was very tired and culture shocked...

Anyone else feel that way when they shop at Costco? What's your fave American treat you buy there?

I didn't cry...but I did feel like I walked through a portal where England was on one side and America on the other.  I especially feel that way going to Costco in Croydon.  It is surrounded by American chain restaurants and is on a wide 4 lane street.  It felt very American.

I like their tortilla chips and the Pace Picante sauce.  I like that I can get a gallon sized container of dried mushrooms for £9.00 when a two-ounce packet cost two quid.  Same for a huge bag of pecans and vanilla.  I can really get good value on my baking goods at Costco.

My first week here I did cry at Little Chef, wept actually. It was the lasagna.

That's usually the effect Little Chef food has on me as well!

We do the Cosco Lakeside about once every 2 months and normally drop an impressive wad of dosh.

I don't cry over anything, but for sure I WOULD cry if I went all the way out there and they were out of peanut butter.  Sometimes they have the jars of peanut butter and jelly where they are in alternating spirals; but most times it's Skippy creamy and crunchy.

I didn't cry...but I did feel like I walked through a portal where England was on one side and America on the other.  I especially feel that way going to Costco in Croydon.  It is surrounded by American chain restaurants and is on a wide 4 lane street.  It felt very American.

I had that same weird "where am I" feeling at the Croydon Costco.  (Had that same feeling the first time I went into the Westfields mall, too -- I kept expecting to find Nordstrom around the next corner.  But, alas, no.)  I felt like we were pulling into any other big box parking lot in the US.  I'm cut off from Costco for now, though.  My only friend with a car has moved back to the US and bulk-buying at Costco never goes well for me on the train.   

I didn't cry... But every time I go, I am thrown off when they are carrying a new American brand. Last time, it was Ruffles and Tostitos. I didn't buy them but I had a pang of nostalgia. Over chips/crisps! I felt so silly. Mostly I just get excited, but DH thinks it's really funny how I just stopped and stared at these bags...

I get that "step through a portal" feeling when we go to the Croydon Costco as well. I think it's partially the shopping trolleys.  It's really weird to see some of the stuff they have there.  It's such a mish mash of both countries.  I didn't notice any Ruffles though.  I think my husband would have been all over them (he's a total junk food connoisseur).  What did get me were the cake mixes.  I did sort of feel nostalgic then, even though I rarely eat stuff like cake, and I probably can count on my two hands the number of times I made cake mix cakes outside of work situations as an adult.  I think if it had been more American, it would have been too overwhelming, and I wouldn't have wanted to go back.

BTW, we absolutely love the huge bottles of Robinson's squash.  We're half done with our bottle which we got about a month ago, and we're not frequent squash drinkers.

They had the Ruffles at Lakeside the other day... It was a huge bag though, and I'm on a diet. Sad day!

I nearly did weep when I went to Costco Birmingham.  I had lived here for 3 years already and didn't know there was one up there until I saw the membership table @ work offering discounts for NHS staff.  Needless to say, when I went in I felt like I passed through the border without going through Customs.  Everything was just so familiar-- mind you with British products mostly, but still I found some American vices that previously I had either not found elsewhere or had to pay through the nose at my local Kosher shop.

We go back around every 6 weeks and spend a nice bit of cash there when we go, but it is all on essentials and staples that last us a while.  I mean, 2 jars of Skippy for like £3 lasts around 3 months.

In any case, we love it there, I feel so American when i go.  I just hope they stock Blue Moon next time we visit.

That's usually the effect Little Chef food has on me as well!

I have used that joke I think three times and nobody has commented....so thanks...

But it is actually a true story. The thing is is that when we first arrived here we decided to take a little mini grand tour....driving around the south, and we always wound up eating at Little Chef. Now we know to pack a lunch or just suck it up and get the petrol station BLT (Ginsters in a pinch).

I think a lot of the perceptions concerning British Cuisine can be blamed on Little Chef, because visitors rent a van and end up dining there thinking it is like Waffle House of IHOP....not knowing its true sinister nature....