I’ve Never Shopped at Costco. Here Are 3 Reasons Why I Think That’s for the Best

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One writer has never set foot in a Costco store. Find out why she doesn’t think she’s missing out, despite the club’s popularity. 

Some might call it heresy, but I can honestly say I have never set foot inside a Costco warehouse club store. The chain is beloved by its members, but I just don’t feel the need to join their ranks. No, I don’t live in the boonies, hours away from the nearest club. I don’t necessarily have anything against the membership fees that shoppers must pay for the privilege of shopping at Costco — $60 annually for a basic membership and $120 for the executive. But I do have my own set of reasons why I firmly believe that I’m better off doing my shopping elsewhere.

1. Location, location, location

Some might consider my nearest Costco to be in a prime location. It’s a hop, skip, and a jump from a hugely popular and always-busy large outdoor shopping mall. The location brings a ton of traffic through the area. I have a couple issues with that, though. Primarily, while my home is located only about 11 miles from Costco, it takes approximately 25 minutes to get there by car due to traffic and my proximity to the freeway.

So, rounding up to 30 mins each way to allow for parking and getting inside the store, I automatically would have to add an extra hour onto my planned shopping time. Not ideal, as I’m someone who likes to get in and out as quickly as possible and not waste time grocery shopping — that is, when I even opt to do it myself instead of utilizing grocery delivery services.

2. It’s just my fiancé and I

With only two mouths to feed and two bodies to clothe, bathe, and clean up after, we simply just don’t have the need for a whole lot of “stuff.” Costco is best known for selling goods in large quantities. That means you can get an excellent deal on large bags of prepackaged salads and extra-large bottles of aspirin, but those things are really only a good deal if you can use them before they go bad. And there’s no way that we could accomplish that.

Besides the fact there are only two of us, we also have vastly different eating habits and grocery preferences, causing us to largely do our own individual shopping. Again, not really ideal for taking advantage of the perks of a warehouse club.

“What about paper goods and cleaning supplies?” you might be wondering. Sure, while the idea of a 24-pack of paper towels or a 60-count package of toilet paper sounds lovely, the problem with amassing large quantities of those goods is that you need somewhere to store them. And with a home meant to house two people, we don’t have a whole lot of extra space for the luxury of bulk paper goods.

3. I’m a little stuck in my ways

Admittedly, I can be a bit stubborn once I find something that works for me. My chosen grocery store (a Meijer store) is located only one mile from my home. I don’t have to get on any major roads or battle any traffic to get there. I know where everything is, and heck, I have even come to know a decent amount of the staff. At this stage in my life, I’m really just not looking to make any huge changes, so my current grocery store is just perfect for me.

Not only is it convenient, comfortable, and fairly priced, but the store offers its own member rewards program called mPerks. Every shopping trip earns me rewards that compile and become credits that I can use towards future purchases. The store also commonly offers extra mPerks for things like filling a prescription (which I also do there) or purchasing specific categories of goods at certain times. By combining these store rewards with a good cash back credit card that earns me 1.5X points on all purchases (and 5X points on grocery purchases for one quarter per year), I’m reaping lots of discounts and credit card rewards on my weekly spending.

What doesn’t work for me might be perfect for you

If you’re a loyal Costco shopper, I’m not here to tell you you’re doing anything wrong. Ultimately, if you’ve got a nearby Costco warehouse club and you can take advantage of the deals on bulk goods, and you love filling up at its gas stations (known for being some of the cheapest around), then I’m happy for you!

It’s important to weigh several factors when deciding which grocery store is best for your personal finances (and your mental well-being!). Things like proximity, prices, quality of goods, and even store cleanliness can all factor into your decision. Wherever you choose to shop, consider using coupon apps and keep an eye out for sales flyers advertising goods you purchase often. That way, you can stock up when prices are reduced. And if you don’t already have a go-to card for your shopping trips, consider applying for one of the best credit cards for groceries to earn the most back on your grocery spending.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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