Eating at the Costco Food Court Will Now Require A Membership

[hateradio]

some costco's have outside food courts

to use the indoor one you'd always get checked at the door, but the outside ones you can just walk up to the line

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Those prices are so cheap. I wonder how old this is, of I've just been living in the Bay Area, too long. Probably both.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Costco food is trash but some of the posts here are full "fuck you got mine" shit and it's straight up gross

 

[Haint]

Yes? It's pretty well known that it's a loss leader just like their $5 rotisserie chicken. They sell over a hundred million hot dogs a year so if they're losing off each one, that adds up.

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Sounds like a good PR myth they created. I could turn a profit on $1.50 hot dogs and soda's as an individual buying 8 counts at retail prices. A corporation buying 150 million of them wholesale...yea ain't no way they're losing money.

 

[ChrisR]

Sounds like a good PR myth they created. I could turn a profit on $1.50 hot dogs and soda's as an individual buying 8 counts at retail prices. A corporation buying 150 million of them wholesale...yea ain't no way they're losing money.

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They do lose money on the chicken. Hot dogs maybe not, but you also need to price in everything else like a salary for the people assembling the item, someone wiping down the table, ect

 

[Venuslulu]

Sounds like a good PR myth they created. I could turn a profit on $1.50 hot dogs and soda's as an individual buying 8 counts at retail prices. A corporation buying 150 million of them wholesale...yea ain't no way they're losing money.

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They've been losing money on hot dogs and other food items for awhile now. Costco's main source of revenue is the membership. Only made money on hot dogs again after opening a plant in LA.

 

[Darknight]

Sounds like a good PR myth they created. I could turn a profit on $1.50 hot dogs and soda's as an individual buying 8 counts at retail prices. A corporation buying 150 million of them wholesale...yea ain't no way they're losing money.

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The price hasn't gone up in 35 years. Do you think the cost of food hasn't changed since then? They're also large than your typical 8 count package of hot dogs too. Add in the overhead too since there more to the cost than just the cost of goods.

 

[pswii60]

I thought this was already the case - certainly in the UK whilst they don't check your card when you actually order the food, they do still try and check your card when enter through the "exit" to get there.

If it means reduced queues etc then that's brilliant, although can't imagine there are many people eating in there in the UK that aren't a member tbh.

 

[Deleted member 1476]

And wow, I'm surprised people here are supporting this. Kind of like "fuck you, got mine".

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If you hang here long enough that won't come as as surprise at all.

 

[GAMEPROFF]

Sounds like a good PR myth they created. I could turn a profit on $1.50 hot dogs and soda's as an individual buying 8 counts at retail prices. A corporation buying 150 million of them wholesale...yea ain't no way they're losing money.

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So you wouldnt pay the people who serve the Hotdogs?

 

[Rory]

Which Ikea do you use? Its normally 1 Euro, same as the meat one.

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Im pretty sure it was more expensive last time i checked at our local

 

[Akira86]

Costco food is trash but some of the posts here are full "fuck you got mine" shit and it's straight up gross

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i mean, where do you think "fuck you got mine" comes from? it lives in every heart where it's allowed to be.

 

[Mathieran]

Good, keep the riff raff out!

 

[ThorHammerstein]

So do you have to swipe your card and have it show "current member" to get food?

 

[DisturbedSwan]

It did anyway here (UK).

 

[Hogendaz85]

And wow, I'm surprised people here are supporting this. Kind of like "fuck you, got mine".

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Yep at the end of the day there's just too many folks with that mentality it's fucked up.

 

[Deleted member 15227]

Perhaps a better compromise would be to have a cheaper membership option for folks that just want to eat there? If you want to shop then you'll need to upgrade to a full membership.

 

[Coyote Starrk]

If this is what it takes to keep the prices they have been for members then I am okay with this. Especially since membership isn't exactly expensive and comes with a variety of benefits. I get my $60 back in savings within the first few weeks and it lasts a whole year.

 

[peteykirch]

You can buy their alcohol without a membership? For real?

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That's dependant on each state.

In NJ it's illegal to require a membership to buy alcohol, gasoline, and anything from a pharmacy.

 

[Johnny956]

Costco membership is the price of a new video game, Sams is even cheaper and it's easy to share a membership with a friend. Sams food is just as cheap

 

[BLEEN]

Welp, back to IKEA.

 

[Coolness]

Perhaps a better compromise would be to have a cheaper membership option for folks that just want to eat there? If you want to shop then you'll need to upgrade to a full membership.

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The cheapest option amounts to $5 a month.

 

[Rampage]

I thought you needed a membership to even get in to get to the food court in the first place.

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You can enter any Costco without a membership to browse. You just can't purchase anything, with the exception of liquor, prescriptions, and eye exams. An now food court will require membership.

 

[j_rocca42]

You can enter any Costco without a membership to browse. You just can't purchase anything, with the exception of liquor, prescriptions, and eye exams. An now food court will require membership.

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That's not true, at least at my building. We won't let people in to just browse. We'll take you on a tour if you're a perspective member and don't want to sign up before looking around. Also, per Washington state law only the pharmacy needs to be open to non-members. I realize that differs from state to state though.

 

[Goldenroad]

Seems bad for poor working families trying to feed a lot of people for cheap.

Kinda shitty people are cheering this lmao.

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Yes. Going out to eat is bad for poor working families trying to feed a lot of people for cheap. You know what saves money though? Making food at home. Getting a costco membership and buying food in bulk helps save even more money on feeding your family at home. Source: Me. Poor person who buys food in bulk at Costco and almost never eats at the food court.

Criticize capitalists (lord knows I do) all you want, but Costco has the lowest margins of any major retailer in North America. Most grocery stores operate on a 3-4% gross margin, while Costco's margins tend to be under 2%. They also treat the employees fairly, with way above industry standard compensation packages and job security. There is no retailer in the world that has a lower turnover rate than Costco, but I guess, some people feel their right to a $1.50 hot dog supersede Costco's employees rights to make a fair living. $60 a year does not seem like an unfair price to pay to end up paying less for all your groceries, clothes and household goods, and to shop at a store that does not treat their employees like bottom of the barrel trash.

 

[mikeamizzle]

That's dependant on each state.

In NJ it's illegal to require a membership to buy alcohol, gasoline, and anything from a pharmacy.

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This is true in CT as well for the alcohol. The costco's here have an attached separate entrance liquor store but they don't advertise that you don't need a membership to enter. Most people don't seem to know, from my experience, that anyone can buy booze from our local one. (Highly recommended when looking stocking up, good prices).

Gas still requires a membership though.

 

[Addleburg]

People debating with Oheao's posts about capitalism and the environment and exploitation, when it's obvious that the dude's opposition to all of this is-

Well, the only reason I go to Costco is for the hot dogs.

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It's hard to take these larger complaints about a business seriously when you were happy to support them until you were forced into no longer being able to support them.

 

[Deleted member 23212]

People debating with Oheao's posts about capitalism and the environment and exploitation, when it's obvious that the dude's opposition to all of this is-



It's hard to take these larger complaints about a business seriously when you were happy to support them until you were forced into no longer being able to support them.

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So you can only criticize something if it doesn't personally affect you? And I don't know what you mean exactly by "happy to support them", I either support capitalism or I die, it's that simple.

 

[Kill3r7]

Those prices are so cheap. I wonder how old this is, of I've just been living in the Bay Area, too long. Probably both.

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Those are Costco prices across the US.

 

[Rampage]

That's not true, at least at my building. We won't let people in to just browse. We'll take you on a tour if you're a perspective member and don't want to sign up before looking around. Also, per Washington state law only the pharmacy needs to be open to non-members. I realize that differs from state to state though.

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Michigan, all three are allow by State law. Non member can enter, that is how people get to the non member allowed areas. They do check cards on entry (with a clicker, I assume for data reasons), but don't escort anyone without a card. You have to show your card for purchase, so that is when the real check happens.

 

[ned_ballad]

So while my mom is messing around looking at furniture she doesn't need and won't buy for an hour, I can't just get a soda without asking for her card?

That's annoying lol

 

[Hollywood Duo]

I have no issue with this. It's a private club with a membership fee.

 

[BasilZero]

I thought you needed a membership to even get in to get to the food court in the first place.

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This 😂

 

[Deleted member 43]

Yes. Going out to eat is bad for poor working families trying to feed a lot of people for cheap. You know what saves money though? Making food at home. Getting a costco membership and buying food in bulk helps save even more money on feeding your family at home. Source: Me. Poor person who buys food in bulk at Costco and almost never eats at the food court.

Criticize capitalists (lord knows I do) all you want, but Costco has the lowest margins of any major retailer in North America. Most grocery stores operate on a 3-4% gross margin, while Costco's margins tend to be under 2%. They also treat the employees fairly, with way above industry standard compensation packages and job security. There is no retailer in the world that has a lower turnover rate than Costco, but I guess, some people feel their right to a $1.50 hot dog supersede Costco's employees rights to make a fair living. $60 a year does not seem like an unfair price to pay to end up paying less for all your groceries, clothes and household goods, and to shop at a store that does not treat their employees like bottom of the barrel trash.

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Yep. Costco is very far down the list in terms of companies to criticize because "capitalism."

 

[j_rocca42]

I'm a centers manager in Washington. Only thing I've heard through official channels is that they're going to be testing card swiping at a couple outdoor food courts. We test different things that never pan out.

 

[gillty]

This Costco in Vancouver is literally designed to compete with the two stadiums across the street hosting NHL, MLS, and CFL matches.

I doubt requiring memberships would make sense everywhere.

 

[TheWooniestWoona]

Oh no, a membership based store requires a membership for a service? How dare they? What a great social injustice this is.

I guess it sucks if you only used them for their food court, but their membership is pretty cheap. Sam's is even cheaper.

 

[Nooblet]

Costco runs the food court at a loss, the idea being people who go there even just for food may end up buying something at the store or turn it into a shopping trip. As such it never really made.much sense that they allowed non members to eat at the store.

 

[Johnny956]

Oh no, a membership based store requires a membership for a service? How dare they? What a great social injustice this is.

I guess it sucks if you only used them for their food court, but their membership is pretty cheap. Sam's is even cheaper.

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Yea the Sams hot dogs are pretty good too (Nathan's) and their pizza slice combo is like $2.70 or so and it's two massive pieces of pizza with a fountain drink

 

[Walter White Walker]

Big difference between Costco and Sam's Club. Difference being Costco treats its employees well with pay and benefits. Sam's Club, meanwhile, is owned by Walmart.

 

[Steeped in a Sea of Games]

The membership doesn't even cost anything if you shop there enough. I have the $120 membership that comes with cash back and Costco usually gives me back around $140 a year.

 

[BringBackSonics]

The membership doesn't even cost anything if you shop there enough. I have the $120 membership that comes with cash back and Costco usually gives me back around $140 a year.

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especially if you get the co-branded credit card and get costco gas. That builds up fast.

 

[pezzie]

I feel bad for the poor folks, Costco's cheap food court was a nice treat during my poor years in my early 20s. I have a membership now but there was a Costco nears where I worked back then and getting a decently filling lunch for under $2 was amazing.

Also Ikea's hot dogs pale in comparison to Costco's.

 

[turbobrick]

especially if you get the co-branded credit card and get costco gas. That builds up fast.

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My dad has this. He get's back more than enough to pay for the membership.

 

[Illenium]

Don't you need the membership to get in either way?

 

[j_rocca42]

Don't you need the membership to get in either way?

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Where not required by law, yes. There are also outdoor food courts though.

 

[Kunka Kid]

I assumed this was always the case.

Dang, I could have been getting chicken bakes and big ass supreme slice this whole time??????

 

[StudioTan]

Must be some real high quality dogs because it seems like you could get some sausages, buns, pickles and sauce from the grocery store for cheaper (once you average out the price per serving). Might as well add a bottle a water instead of soda though. But maybe prices over there aren't similar to ours.

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They pay people to cook it for you too, plus condiments.

 

[BringBackSonics]

Don't you need the membership to get in either way?

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Most people just walk into the exit (where the food court is). Employees didn't use to care. Now if they see someone trying to enter..they tell them to head to the entrance..unless that person has to go to customer service.

 

[Duck Sauce]

For all the people ridiculing us poor people, do you think microwaves grow on trees? I can't afford to warm up my damn store bought hot dogs. Costco was the only place to give me a cheap, warm, and delicious meal. Now they take that away from me. Oh well I'll just "browse" and pick up twice as many samples. That'll be a good ole fuck you to capitalism.

 

[Alec]

For all the people ridiculing us poor people, do you think microwaves grow on trees? I can't afford to warm up my damn store bought hot dogs. Costco was the only place to give me a cheap, warm, and delicious meal. Now they take that away from me. Oh well I'll just "browse" and pick up twice as many samples. That'll be a good ole fuck you to capitalism.

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You...can't even get in without a membership though? How will you get samples?