Costco seems a lot more crowded lately

I always wonder how people are able to consume those gigantic amounts of food and other products. I mean, who wants to buy 132 ounces of ketchup?
Of course don't buy that junk. I hate WASTE the older I get.

I do wish they had (more) grass fed beef.

We buy some oils (Cooking EVOO, Avocado, Grape seed), paper products, sometimes clothing items (socks). avocados, etc
 
Has there been a decent addition of homes, condos, apts in your area and no new Costco?

here it is the case
Yes. Huntsville is growing like crazy and this is our only Costco, so it makes perfect sense. I hate the large crowds; I'm getting cranky in my middle age. ;)
 
Of course don't buy that junk. I hate WASTE the older I get.

I do wish they had (more) grass fed beef.

We buy some oils (Cooking EVOO, Avocado, Grape seed), paper products, sometimes clothing items (socks). avocados, etc
Huge advantage for us, since we have pretty much changed our eating to a more Mediterranean type.
Sams Club and Costco have killer frozen and non frozen fish sections that no supermarket comes close to in price or quality. Actually last weekend I picked up my monthly supply of Flounder, 2- 3Lb packages, wife picks up her fresh trout or salmon for her. Plus large box or bag of frozen shrimp, some of which is defrosting right now in the kitchen (see photo) for grilled shrimp later.

Also like any place, big bags of broccoli are great, sometimes fruit but most times not, prefer that locally most times. Grapes are better at Sam's Club than Costco *LOL* Also nuts exactly the same but most times better price at Sam's Club. Costco is more enjoyable for other stuff though. Like Electronics ect. Apple retailer, generally higher quality feel to much stuff but not everything. They stopped carrying my coffee beans after I got hooked on them, I now buy them direct.

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No getting into politics here, but it appears to be a national trend since the pandemic. Many individuals retired/retired early, others are now working from home and some are just working part time. As such, many individuals have all day to go shopping and warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam's and BJ's Wholesale are busy all day long.

It amazes me to see numerous young families of 4,5, or 6 shopping at Costco between 10:00am and 4:00pm every single day of the week. This was an infrequent occurrence prior to 2020. Remember how it would be impossible to find toilet paper, paper towels, nitrile gloves and disinfectant during the pandemic? Well, the national media highlighted the warehouse clubs as restocking bulk quantities of these resources on a regular frequency. The hoarding and panic buying mentality came out in most of us and warehouse club membership increased tremendously since that time.
 
Those are people who are "working from home." You can tell by the leisurely pace. Go to Walmart at the same given time. It's empty, unlike the weekends. Because people who routinely shop at Walmart cannot shop on company time. The real blatant folks? They even use company vehicles, then go inside to shop.
 
Of course don't buy that junk. I hate WASTE the older I get.

I do wish they had (more) grass fed beef.

We buy some oils (Cooking EVOO, Avocado, Grape seed), paper products, sometimes clothing items (socks). avocados, etc
Cooking oil has gotten so expensive that deep frying is only for the rich and the young! Even Walmart can't help when their store brand exceeds $10/gal. Costco softens the blow at around $8. No joke. When I got my new car in late 2006/early 2007, I remember buying Wesson for $3.99/gal on sale. Should have hoarded 55 gal.
 
Cooking oil has gotten so expensive that deep frying is only for the rich and the young! Even Walmart can't help when their store brand exceeds $10/gal. Costco softens the blow at around $8. No joke. When I got my new car in late 2006/early 2007, I remember buying Wesson for $3.99/gal on sale. Should have hoarded 55 gal.

Is that why KFC tastes like Kerosene Fried Chicken now? :ROFLMAO:
 
Is that why KFC tastes like Kerosene Fried Chicken now? :ROFLMAO:
Even I'm looking to push the old cooking oil a little further but it adversely affects taste. Who can truly afford to deep fry 1X, and toss the oil? In the old days I remember with a roommate straining it through a cheesecloth...
 
My state has two main supermarkets, and they're both overpriced. Market Basket is trickling in from the South and I patronize them heavily, even though they're out of my way. The overpriced supermarkets are the inflation creators-- they just randomly jack prices up on half their stuff, with no corresponding blips in the wholesale price. I absolutely understand people shopping around. They should, it's the only way to correct unwanted behavior. They should also try Aldi. ;)

BJs and Sams Club charge "retail" plus a fee for the privilege of shopping there. I'll get a BJ membership for $20 or $25, on sale, let it lapse, and renew it when they invariably want me back after a few months. But that's just for the loss leaders, like those giant kegs of peanut butter filled pretzels, 3 lb coffee cans, and Propane, LOL. I don't buy most of their bulk stuff, it's not cheaper per unit. Sams Club even has the gall to limit purchases to two items per customer. It's a warehouse club!

I had a Costco membership exclusively to buy a QuickJack 5000 for hundreds of bucks less than anywhere else, with free shipping. They're coming, in a week, to Scarborough ME and I'll be there for some Kirkland 0w20.
 
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My state has two main supermarkets, and they're both overpriced. Market Basket is trickling in from the South and I patronize them heavily, even though they're out of my way. The overpriced supermarkets are the inflation creators-- they just randomly jack prices up on half their stuff, with no corresponding blips in the wholesale price. I absolutely understand people shopping around. They should also try Aldi. ;)

BJs and Sams Club charge "retail" plus a fee for the privilege of shopping there. I'll get a BJ membership for $20 or $25, on sale, let it lapse, and renew it when they invariably want me back after a few months. But that's just for the loss leaders, like those giant kegs of peanut butter filled pretzels, and Propane, LOL.

I had a Costco membership exclusively to buy a QuickJack 5000 for hundreds of bucks less than anywhere else, with free shipping. They're coming, in a week, to Scarborough ME and I'll be there for some Kirkland 0w20.
BJs is essentially free. $20 for a year membership and they give you a $20 reward to spend. Again, prices and selection can't really hang with Costco, but, they have some stuff Costco doesn't. In our area, propane. They used to have natural casing beef hot dogs. Calcium chloride for the driveway.
 
The one here didn't used to busy on Sunday but anymore they are literally packed, seems like the best time to go now is during the week. I think people have figured out when the best times are to go which makes them now the worst.
 
My state has two main supermarkets, and they're both overpriced. Market Basket is trickling in from the South and I patronize them heavily, even though they're out of my way. The overpriced supermarkets are the inflation creators-- they just randomly jack prices up on half their stuff, with no corresponding blips in the wholesale price. I absolutely understand people shopping around. They should also try Aldi. ;)

BJs and Sams Club charge "retail" plus a fee for the privilege of shopping there. I'll get a BJ membership for $20 or $25, on sale, let it lapse, and renew it when they invariably want me back after a few months. But that's just for the loss leaders, like those giant kegs of peanut butter filled pretzels, 3 lb coffee cans, and Propane, LOL. I don't buy most of their bulk stuff, it's not cheaper per unit. Sams Club even has the gall to limit purchases to two items per customer. It's a warehouse club!

I had a Costco membership exclusively to buy a QuickJack 5000 for hundreds of bucks less than anywhere else, with free shipping. They're coming, in a week, to Scarborough ME and I'll be there for some Kirkland 0w20.
That oil was $22 when it first hit the stores--10 quarts. Saw it the other day I think for $38?? Or was it $42.
 
Cooking oil has gotten so expensive that deep frying is only for the rich and the young! Even Walmart can't help when their store brand exceeds $10/gal. Costco softens the blow at around $8. No joke. When I got my new car in late 2006/early 2007, I remember buying Wesson for $3.99/gal on sale. Should have hoarded 55 gal.
Yeah we don't deep fry, do consume a fair quantity in cooking. The topping olive oil, we switch around whatever is freshest in glass or metal to suit our tastes.
 
The one here didn't used to busy on Sunday but anymore they are literally packed, seems like the best time to go now is during the week. I think people have figured out when the best times are to go which makes them now the worst.
As work from home gets reevaluated, and layoffs continue, the congestion at Costco should ease.
 
And WM more crowded.
Real story. Had a 26 yo reporting to me. "Hey Tim, did you get back to Dave like you said, he escalated to his boss." "Oh, sorry, I forgot. But I wouldn't have been able to anyway, had a problem with my prescription at CVS." It took me a while to realize, when people work from home, they are doing everything but (that is unless it's jobs that are measured, medical billing, phone calls, etc.). I told a buddy and he said haha yeah I do the same, but I'm not gonna tell you like the kid did. Meanwhile my buddy is pushing 200k. It's simply unsustainable. And that would stink if Walmart gets more crowded. I rush to the car wash and there from work on my 1 hr lunch, and I get back in time.
 
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