My excitement upon learning a Costco was coming to Brisbane knew no bounds. And then, thanks to local politics and other issues, I waited. And waited. And waited.
Then finally, that day arrived. Costco North Lakes opened. About ten days after that I made my debut visit. No point fighting the crazy crowds!
While it was my first visit to Costco North Lakes, it certainly wasn’t my first visit to a Costco. I had made infrequent visits when I lived in Canada in the 90s and I had previously been to Costco in Canberra about a year earlier.
Walking in the door I thought I’d died and gone to kitchen heaven. Circulon pots and KitchenAid. This had the potential to be an expensive visit. Luckily I refrained. Largely because I was with my beloved who quickly hustled me along.
Further along was some Le Creuset. My self control was seriously struggling. And cheap!! LOOK HOW CHEAP IT IS! Really, I deserve a prize for resisting. Oooh. Perhaps that could be to buy some Le Creuset on my next visit!
Costco really does have everything. I saw the fancy pants diamond ring for almost $500,000. TVs, golf buggies, microwaves, clothes, shoes, more kitchen ware, crockery, cutlery, hearing aids, cookbooks and food. So. Much. Food.
There were so many pre-made meals – salads, casseroles, curries, pasta dishes. Perhaps the most famous of all is the Costco pizza. Enough to feed at least 27 people (ok, maybe not THAT many…). I resisted that too.
Prior to my first visit I asked some friends what I should look out for on my first visit. The usual comments – get toilet paper, dishwasher pods, turkey bacon, diamond rings, maple syrup. One of my more cynical friends suggested it would be full of imported products, more packaging and lots of palm oil derived products. Yes, there was all that.
But what impressed me the most was the fresh food – and that most of it was Australian grown. The sign promoting the locally sourced beef particularly impressed me. The milk I looked closely at also came from a local farmer (I can’t recall whether Queensland or Northern NSW).
Beautiful cheeses from well known Australian companies. Many small goods from the Barossa (I didn’t buy any of these, but they are on the list for next time).
Lots of organic products, some Australian some imported.
Mostly I was impressed with the prices. Yes, you have to buy in bulk to get good savings on a lot of products. It’s going to take us a while to get through the eight boxes of tissues, but at least they won’t go off!
While not everything was a big financial saving, many of the items I purchased were a good 15-30% less than I would usually pay at one of the big two supermarkets. And most of what I bought was the same brand as I usually purchase. For us it’s worth the annual membership fee ($55 with an ABN, $60 without an ABN). And next time I go, I’ll have a good list and a plan.
So tell me, have you been to Costco? What do you think? What should I look out for next time?
Details:
Costco North Lakes
17-39 Cooks Court, North Lakes QLD
www.costco.com.auÂ
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I’ve just had loads of people ask me what I think of Costco, and these seemed like an easy way to reply.Â
Hi Mel, I really don’t like the idea of shopping at multinationals and I don’t like their concept of an annual fee, but I have to admit to liking a lot of Costco products and I like the fact that they try to source good Australian products from small suppliers (like the Barossa smallgoods you mentioned). I’ve bought a lot of excellent seafood from Costco, I love their Spanish ham and I’ve even been impressed by some of their ready-prepared meals. So I’m glad Costco has opened in Brisbane, even though I am only an occasional shopper there.
I laughed about your comment re: annual fee Christine. I said to Mr Tiffin ‘Do IKEA charge you an annual fee to come and buy their cheap furniture? No they do not.’ I understand the concept behind the fee as being part of a buying cooperative but let’s face it, Costco’s buying power is great enough these days that the fee is an (annoying) gimmick.
thanks Christine – I didn’t get any of their Spanish ham, but it’s on the list for next time. Given it’s a 30 min drive from where I live, I won’t be an overly frequent shopper, but will happily make the trip every couple of months.
Are you being sponsored Mel for this blog? Its obviously a good opportunity for consumers to shop around. I definetly disagree with the joining fee.
And while readers are reading your blog I hope they also look local for bargains. I noticed the Eye Fillet was $39.99kg, @CourtneysQualityMeat it is only $38.99kg & bulk purchases are cheaper again. This is for top quality!
Anyway I’m a Happy Chappy & enjoy reading your blogs!
hi Monika, no, this was most definitely not a sponsored post as I always disclose those at the top and bottom. I have just had heaps of people asking me (for months!) what I think of Costco, and this seemed like a good way to share. I have added a disclaimer to that effect in case others are also confused. Personally I have no problem with a joining fee. Costco was originally developed as a membership warehouse club to serve small business, and it was this membership base that gave them massive buying power, particularly as they grew in numbers. They also pledge to refund your membership fee if you are dissatisfied, but I know no one who ever has been.
@Monika Mel always discloses a post that’s been sponsored. Were you going to mention that Courtney’s Quality Meats is your own business?
After I posted my Costco post, a darling blogger friend (who will remain nameless or he might shoot me) said that he found visiting Costco a “heavenly experience” 🙂 I have to say, I absolutely love going – we buy staples (milk, toilet paper) etc. but also frozen edamame, Dorset cheddar, Margaret River cheese, Adelaide Hills brie, and a heap of other items produced both locally and imported. I think they really DO try to stock a substantial quantity of local goods – it’s lovely to see all the local meat and cheeses on offer. You did brilliantly to walk past the Le Creuset – I was there recently with my friend Allison, and I just about had to drag her past those. And we don’t have KitchenAid mixers at the Sydney one!! 🙂
Like you, I have absolutely no problem with the membership fee – I made that back on my first purchase! 🙂
ha ha ha…I read that and thought ‘Celia buys staples at Costco? How many does she use?’ Oh…staples…
We would have easily recouped our membership fee in the first shop too Celia. And I could have gone MAD with all those cheeses and meats. I think we need to have a party – good excuse to buy up 🙂
Hi @Sonia, I thought it was obvious that I put my business name up ( I’m not being sarcastic). I also believe in competition, I Also support local small businesses, cos if we don’t waste life can cost less. I think in the size of the competition, it will kill the little guys & once dead you have a monopoly. People forget that small businesses are trying to be competitive. As our prices show. Why not remind people of this, as I did? You may be surprised. I’m not attacking Mel, I’m thinking about getting her to help improve my blog site.
Good post Mel, I can sense your enjoyment from shopping at the store. We have one in Canberra too… it’s good for some items… I find we usually spend too much (bear in mind there is only the two of us, so our needs are not great). I like the quality of their food and other products. Re the enamelled cast iron cookware… sure, $600 is ok for the set, but Aldi sells excellent quality enamelled cast iron ware for $20 per piece. As one who co-owned a cookware store for almost a decade, I always wonder about the very high price on some goods… Staub, for instance, the rolls royce of cast iron ware, is French and it is hideously expensive but does seem to be a very high quality. I’m not so sure about the high price on the Le Creuset or Chasseur when compared to the Aldi version.
I quite like buying things like Handy Andy cleaner, or washing liquid etc in bulk. And their Korean Bulgogi Beef is quite nice. The flathead is always fresh too!
Yes Lizzy, I also like the Aldi enamelled cast iron and have a few pieces. It’s hard to justify the cost of Le Creuset when it’s hard to tell the difference.
Oh, I’m green, just green.
I always shop at smaller local businesses, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the pleasure there would be in an afternoon at Costco. I’ll just have to visit you to get a trip to one, I suppose.
I agree Amanda, fortunately I don’t go shopping very often, not much time & lucky for Mel, that her hubby went along.
YES AMANDA COME AND VISIT US!!!! 🙂
Thanks for the tour. I doubt I’ll ever get there.
I did a bit of preparation before I made the trek – I made a spreadsheet of all the items and brands I buy that coils last if bought in bulk and I entered the unit prices of each at my nearest Woolworth and Coles (using the specials pricing if I could find it or remember it).
It definitely paid to do the research. While a number of items were cheaper, some were not. Laundry liquid is cheaper on special at Colesworth, dishwasher tablets are cheaper at Big W, and both Tuna and tinned tomatoes are cheaper at Colesworth. On the other hand, I found nuts, cereals and spreads much cheaper at Costco. If your local supermarket has a bakery you’ll find late night markdowns cheaper than Costco but it’s a good alternative if you don’t have one. Many items are on par, or within 1 or 2 cents per 100, so there’s no point buying those items in bulk.
The biggest saving I discovered is the petrol. At Costco it was $1.38/L but at Woolworths down the road from my place it was $1.58/L including the 4c/L discount. I plan to take a near empty car with me next time I go. The fuel savings alone will pay for membership quite quickly.
It really pays to do your homework. Some things are cheaper, some is on par, and some is more expensive.
Slight culture shock upon reading this post! There’s a membership fee? They sell half million dollar diamonds? $700 for a 6 piece cookware set is cheap? It seems quite random and gimmicky to sell such extravagantly expensive jewellery alongside bulk packs of tissues and instant meals – would anyone have that on their shopping list? I am also pleasantly surprised at their locally sourced goods- coles and woolies could learn a thing or two about supporting Australian producers a bit better. Don’t think I’ll ever get to costco but at least now I have a better idea what it’s all about! Thanks Mel.
Hey Mel,
Just wanted to say what a nice read this was. I drive two hours to get to my “local” Costco and love it. I joined up a month before Christmas and made my membership fee back in the alcohol I bought for gifts (ps. It was $20 cheaper than my local woolworths or coles). About the smallgoods… I can’t remember where I read it, but it was a butcher in Sydney. He made sausages (I think) that Costco wanted to sell in their Sydney store, but he preferred to cater to his smaller market for quality reasons. Costco’s partnerships with Australian producers, small and large amazes me. I work for one of the major chains and well I happily shop at Costco. My Kirkland chocolate chips helped make all my holiday baking last year (and taste better than Cadbury – blasphemy I’m sure). Some things are regularly cheaper and some aren’t but when they go on special at Costco – oh boy! The only thing I’ve ever had to complain about it is my own lack of a trailer… Would be nice to get some of those larger electrical products with a lifetime guarantee…
Hi Kate, thanks so much for taking the time to write such a lovely comment. We can’t buy alcohol at Costco in Qld which is disappointing! We have a big car and small car, and I have already decided that I can NEVER take the small car when I go! I’m looking forward to my next visit 🙂
OMG I left the choc chips cos i thought they would be yuk… back i go i guess!!!!! Ps – perhaps buy a trailer from costco!
I’ve yet to get to a Costco – must put it on my “to-do” list, particularly as i’m pondering the purchase of a KitchenAid. Nice stash, my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Don’t get too excited about buying a KitchenAid from Costco, as the saving wasn’t that great (about $50 I think). I suspect that is because they rarely discount – you might be better waiting until they have their “buy a KitchenAid and get this bonus bit for free” deal that they do 1-2 times a year.
Hi Mel, I read your post and all the comments with interest. We don’t have a Costco here but I have heard of them from Celia’s posts. I am so over Coles and Woolworths and their own brands and what they are doing to the small guys. I only buy from IGA. Does Costco have an ‘own brand’?
Thanks Glenda. Costco’s brand is called Kirkland, but I didn’t see a lot of products with that label – mainly non-food (toilet paper etc). I suspect a lot of the Kirkland products are made in the US, but I haven’t read any labels so am not sure.
Hi Mel,
I read from other posts that Costco also sells louis vuitton bags, is it true? However, I couldn’t see or find anyone’s posting pics of this. I wonder if the product they sell is genuine and what’s the price. Any comment?
Thanks
I didn’t see any LV bags Yohana, but I also didn’t look. I have also heard they sell them, but have no idea of price.
Hey! Just wanted to ask if the kitchen aid and other appliances were australia ready. i.e are they 220V with the australian plug? and also what is the price of the kitchen aid there? Do they have different models of just the one you photographed?
Thanks a lot !
hi AAli, it’s my understanding you can only sell Australia ready appliances in Australia so I would assume so. Can’t remember the price – sorry. and I only saw the one model I took a pic of.