So Costco just opened in Adelaide. Okay, it was back in November 2014. They also have stores in QLD, NSW, ACT & VIC. As a bargain hunter & lover of awful American food, I was excited. It is a membership dealie but I was prepared to pony up the membership fee to check it out. I hardly shop in person anymore, mostly online but I’m bat guano crazy about grocery shopping! I don’t know why but I just love the possibilities. OMG, I love a full and perfectly stacked fridge. Yep, I’m a sick puppy.
But it’s not just groceries at Costco! They have a very broad range, tv’s, small appliances, cookware, personal care, optical, jewelry, pantry grocery, frozen, fridge and fresh grocery. So many areas to explore! It’s not just a huge warehouse, everything is huge!
Need toilet paper? Grab a 30 roll pack. Fancy a milo? Pick up a 1.5 kg tin. Running low on nappies? Why not grab a 224 box. Now there’s nothing wrong with buying in bulk but everything is so big, you can easily lose perspective. And with such bargain prices, it’s easy to fill your trolley. Things seem so reasonable. Without knowing it, you can not only over buy, you can buy stuff you just won’t use and still get that ‘it’s a bargain’ high. I hear that the large pizzas they sell in the deli area don’t even fit in some ovens. Costco is not the friend of the impulse shopper!
On the other hand, if you are two adult and two kid family or more, Costco could be great for you. Especially if you have lots of storage and freezer space! The savings on washing powder or liquid, cheese, olive oil could be awesome for a family. If your family could go through a kilo of sour cream or a kilo of bean salad before its expiry, it’s worth getting. Hey, we could make that happen some weeks! But those containers look regular size on the shelf and if you don’t use it up, it’s not a saving. And some days there are a barrage of free taste tests to get you in the buying mood!
My family is just me and Mr Ask and our tiny flat has super limited storage. We still made massive savings on things we would have bought anyway. We did buy a 30 pack of Costco (Kirkland) brand toilet paper on our first visit (sorry, I didn’t keep the receipt but the sign says $22.99). It breaks down in to six packs but it was a struggle to store. Also, the rolls are more like a long or double roll and are a little longer than regular ones and are a little too long for my holder. Otherwise, it’s good quality. Just so you know!
Costco has a huge range of lovely but inexpensive gift packs and lots of cheap boxed chocolates. They have heaps of large, premade salad, sandwiches, roast chickens, cakes and cheese platter stuff. Just the thing if you’re organizing a party or lunch. And did anyone mention the cake? Massive decorated sheet cakes, enormously tall black forrest round cake – for under $30 bucks! Oversized cupcakes, croissants, donuts and I swear the best bagels the state of South Australia has ever eaten! I bought Mr Ask a 6pk of white Kirkland tees, a 4pk of Kirkland boxers, a 3pk of Champion boxers and a 6pk of black Kirkland tube socks. The quality of all of them proved excellent! So much better than Kmart, Big W or Target for the price. No weird twisting or pilling in the wash! I kid you not – the tees are nicely thick and wash beautifully. The have a selection of women’s & children’s wear too. I have some of their cami’s on my wishlist.
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But here’s the part you’ve been waiting for, the price comparison! These are most of the things we bought over a few Costco visits. To keep things fair almost all the prices are compared to Coles online. I’ve chosen brands that are the closest equivalent or the same where possible. The exception is the Spanakopita, because Coles don’t sell it but my local Foodland does, and the men’s clothing. The KS (Costco brand) boxers were against the Coles Mix brand, the Champion boxers were against Bonds from Coles. The tees and socks were compared to Targets own brand.
Massive savings, huh? I think Costco is worth the membership fee and the trip, even if we don’t shop there all the time. I like to stock up on butter, cheese, sour cream, hummus and of course, toilet paper. It’s my new shopping Mecca! I’m in love with their sliced pepper jack cheese, the spanakopita, the mozzarella sticks. There’s also the American of it, things we just can’t get here or things. It’s also worth noting that your membership allows you to buy petrol at the Costco station out the front. On my six visits, it has been at least 5c/L cheaper than the Coles branded Shell next door. Often 2c/L less than you could get Shell fuel, even with a voucher.
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Of course, we do have a couple of other wholesale store choices in SA. Just so you know, there’s Gaganis Bros (no membership required) and Cash & Carry (membership or RAA membership required). I love Gaganis for herbs, spices & commercial cookware. Cash & Carry is cheap for some things but is on par with supermarket specials on others.
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So, are you curious? Do you want to check Costco out? Or have you been shopping there for ages and have some tips? I’d love to know, hit me in comments!
6 Comments
I love the supermarket too – that kind of shop is dangerous for me, lucky I don;t have a car!!
LOL! It’s dangerous for me too! Although this was several shops……
As a South Aussie who has been living in the US for 20 years, I came back over Christmas and it made me so sad to see the Costco! (Plus all the other American stores). I don’t want Australia to become an extension of the US! I do see the allure of the store, we don’t live near one now, but used to and you have to go in with a list and stick to it or it gets very expensive!
I do understand what you mean about our Americanization. I think the internet makes people curious about what other cultures have. Last time I was at Costco, the checkout guy said the company was suprised that Costco isn’t really working in Australia. Our shopping habits are different. That said, I was always into Cash & Carry and Gaganis! But a list is essential or you can overspend like crazy!
I think that view would have changed now. I just think the adoption was a bit slow but every time I go there these days, it’s packed.
The caramel popcorns are evil…! 😈