2012 Costco thread

[Dragonbones]

The cheese says cheese but is analogue cheese. Non of it has ever been inside a cow.

Costco has perfectly fine real cheeses, unlike many local supermarkets.

[k.k.]

The cheese says cheese but is analogue cheese. Non of it has ever been inside a cow.

Costco has perfectly fine real cheeses, unlike many local supermarkets.

I'll second that. Nothing wrong with the cheese at Costco.

And this idea of suing Costco because you don't want to pay for a membership renewal (if it's due) and you've already shopped for things in the store and are at the counter? Good lord...you've got to be kidding...

[AmoyMama]

Nothing wrong with the ground beef, either. It's totally normal for the outside of the meat to be red and the inside to be tinged brown. Look it up. Or ask a butcher.

[Abacus]

I have no problems with the ground beef either. And I wouldn't complain much since I don't know where I would get it otherwise. I haven't seen the sirloin (350-400NT/kg) lately though (new costco in Kaohsiung). Outstanding value.

I've said it before but if I was in the states I wouldn't go to Costco but there are about a dozen things that I like to buy there that are difficult to find or too expensive in Taiwan. I'm going to start going more often because the Lactaid milk is great (lactose intolerant).

they don't have the 800NT speakers that were talked about before but I bought the 1500NT pair and they are nice. So much better than having the 3 unit model that is sold everywhere in Taiwan.

[Dragonbones]

You missed the point.
My point is that every day, people show up there doing their shopping as usual, only to find out at the register that their membership card has expired.
The employer will then force them to renew the contract for another year or to leave without the items they have collected in their shopping cards.

I think this is utterly rude and violates consumer rights because the membership card does not indicate an expiration date.

Use an indelible marker to write your expiration date on the card. Or do you just prefer chances to express indignation?

[Icon]

Just for the record: they do have "one day cards" available, if you have forgotten yours, but are already a paying member. If you get there and discover you forgot your card, then just go to the service counter, ID yourself, and they will give you a piece of paper so you can buy at your leisure.

I think that if you go there twice a year it is not worth to have a membership. Tag along with a friend, and that's it. You drive, they invite you to Costco, perfect match.

I find it hard to keep track of the expiration date of my credit card bonus points, which can be deduced from Costco's member ship or shopping costs. Real pity, I've lost the opportunity to use them twice. they won't remind you of that, you have to ask for it.

[scomargo]

Just for the record: they do have "one day cards" available, if you have forgotten yours, but are already a paying member. If you get there and discover you forgot your card, then just go to the service counter, ID yourself, and they will give you a piece of paper so you can buy at your leisure.

I think that if you go there twice a year it is not worth to have a membership. Tag along with a friend, and that's it. You drive, they invite you to Costco, perfect match.

I find it hard to keep track of the expiration date of my credit card bonus points, which can be deduced from Costco's member ship or shopping costs. Real pity, I've lost the opportunity to use them twice. they won't remind you of that, you have to ask for it.

On the back of my Costco card it says "Member since 06/08". I think that means my membership would expire at the end of June of each year, but I could be off by one month. That gives you a pretty good idea of when to watch out for this expiration problem. Maybe not all cards have this information printed, I don't know.

The reason they don't print the expiration date is because they'd prefer that you use your card for more than one year instead of having to issue new cards every year. This seems reasonable to me.

As far as I know, you can use your accumulated credit card points to pay your membership fee whenever that time comes. You can also use it during September or October of each year, as this is the designated time for using the points.

Like Icon said, if you're only going to Costco twice a year, I would just tag along with a friend. It doesn't seem worth it to pay a large fee for such little use.

[Typhun]

Frozen strawberries are back!

[Shaktipalooza]

If you already have a current membership but have forgotten your card, they will write you up a temporary card for your visit. I've done this two or three times. First time when I'd just moved to Taipei and they were able to look up my US membership and hand me a temporary card.

Anyhow what are my chances of suing them next time they want to force us into a new membership?
And how to go about it when standing with a full shopping card at the register being asked to pay another year or to leave without the shopping items.

Suing them? You are not being forced to renew your membership. They can suggest it and this can be declined.
As for the second, I know they have cards for a day ( available at their sign-up section upstairs if you go to Neihu)

Can you elaborate on that?
My wife just called them and inquired about that.
They don't have cards for the day.

[Steve4nLanguage]

Speaking of Costco, when does the Taoyuan shop open? Should be soon.

The latest info I could find is at a Costco BBS site here, that says the store is scheduled to open at the end of August.

And here's a membership offer flyer that my friend sent to me.