Comments on: Guest Post: Costco Opening Day in Melbourne

By: ray

ray — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:18:09 +0000

carnt wait to visit melbourne costco we shop in scotland edinburgh store and looks like we will be home from home see you jan 2010 our yearly family visit and our summer holiday down under

By: Miriam

Miriam — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:06:39 +0000

I went last Saturday and I was so excited! I was like BB and realistic about what would be offered as Costco is trying to cater to the Australian market. There would be a large expat community (myself included) who would be over the moon about familiar items, previously un-purchasable here, but Australians wouldn’t necessarily be familiar with those items. My favourite things were the Cinnamon Raisin bagels (which I went into raptures over!); the huge bags of Craisins & the good-quality kid’s books for low prices. I was also overjoyed about the excellent quality of the photos for only 12 cents a print. I was told that I didn’t need to correct the prints at the monitors myself, because the staff would quality-control them for me. The amazing skin-tones and matte finish of the prints for such a low price made me very happy. I will definitely be going back for their prints! It is an hour’s drive for me, but we’re feeding a family of 8 at the moment and we’re planning on monthly trips into town.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:20:39 +0000

I’m not American, but have family there and have been over a few times. I became quite fond of Bounce dryer sheets and have brought them back home with me to Australia… pretty excited (how lame is that) to see they have them at Costco (I live in Melbourne and I’m going to check it out in a few weeks). Do you know how many were in a box and how much they cost??

By: BB

BB — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:16:55 +0000

The coupons they were handing out at Costco Melbourne were also (I have heard) e-mailed and posted to pre-registered members, but I didn’t get any that way. I was finally handed some on my 3rd visit. These were not like the coupon books they mail out in the US, they were just a few introductory offers (maybe 15-20 coupons?). As Gail mentioned, they were automatically applying the coupons at the registers, because of the crowds etc. When the woman handed me the sheet, she said they were “this month’s coupons” so possibly they are considering making it a monthly thing? Items I can remember: Take n Bake pizza, a few different laundry products, bakery cookies, chicken breast fillets from the deli, tyres, Cascade dishwasher tabs.

By: Gail

Gail — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:17:08 +0000

One of my friends said they were handing out coupon books in the store but we didn’t get/see them. Anything that is reduced due to a coupon is advertised on it’s price tag, and a few of the things I bought were, so I asked at the checkout and was told that they will scan at the lower price automatically (which they did) so you don’t need the coupons but I wouldn’t have minded the book so I could see what other products they had due to my limited time there.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:31:44 +0000

I’d love to be able to answer the questions about the Costco Coupon Book in Australia but I just don’t have that information. In the US they have been having coupon books quite frequently, with just about 2 or 3 weeks in between valid coupons. Perhaps they are doing them in Australia too but just haven’t started the coupon program yet? It does take them a while to get new members on the mailing list, here in the US, so maybe that has had something to do with people not getting coupon books yet.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:28:30 +0000

The free samples are one of the things that everyone seems to love at Costco. Every weekend they have several little free sample stands for various products, new and not so new. Several times these samples have turned into purchases for me. It’s nice to be able to try something before you buy it!

By: Monique

Monique — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:03:45 +0000

What a fantastic report..I am going on friday and I can’t wait, I wonder if the crowds will die down a bit by then! I have just bought my membership online as to avoid queuing.
I was just wondering if anyone know about Costco coupons and where you get them??( If at all in Australia). I have noticed a few blogs about them, and you can get extra savings on top of the regular price!
I think I might head down to safeway and jot down some prices, so I know whats a great saving and whats not.
I am also looking forward to the cafe, I want to try a hotdog and coke for $2.50… is that even possible for that price.

By: Melbourne Chat

Melbourne Chat — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:02:26 +0000

Awesome report. I cannot wait to go along. When you talk about samples, do you mean free samples? It is always nice to get something for nothing.
Cheers, Glen

By: Gail

Gail — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:36:37 +0000

The tim tams are there!!!!! We went last night and didn’t have to queue and were given our membership cards as we entered. We had first been told to go to a membership desk but then another staff member told us just to go to the front of the queue at the front and the staff member who served us, Nathanial, did tell us they would be at the other desk but when I said we were told to come here he said no problems, I feel your pain and will do them here! We found all the staff really nice and helpful. I wouldn’t have minded going to find the right desk but we only had 50 mins before closing (parking issues) and I just wanted to shop lol! I loved it *sigh* and can’t wait to go back to look around properly. My husband nearly had a coronary at the check out and has threatened to cut up my membership card *g* but once home and wearing his Kirkland jeans, eating his giant blueberry muffin, drinking his coke and eating a pastrami sandwich all was forgotten! We bought too many lollies (for the kids of course!) so that is one thing to watch as that did bump up our bill and they really don’t need them. We got a 400 pack of the Herron kids Vita-minis for $30. I normally pay $18/$19 for a 100 pack so that’s a great saving and will counteract the lollies LOL! I got some Bounce dryer sheets and they smell divine. I bought the Gain laundry liquid, we’ve got a front loader. Not sure how that will go and I thought that was the great fragrance I could smell but it is the bounce sheets – think I might put them in piles around the house to scent the rooms lol! The Gain liquid was in a 5 litre bottle on special for about $30 – it is normally $38. I normally pay $7 for a box of Radiant powder which lasts about two 1/2 weeks. I think the Gain will last for a year so hope it’s good! Maybe I should have bought Tide? I bought Olay moisturiser, again on special for $10 off so $55 for a 3 pack or $15 each which is excellent. I bought the Twinings “Everyday” tea bags in a huge bag of 320 for only $9 – a 50 pack is around $6 in the supermarkets. They also had English Breakfast but not that much cheaper or packaged the same way and I love the Everyday ones anyway. I bought a 16″ pizza which won’t fit in our fridge lol! I also got bagels and a 1kg tub of philly (I am planning to freeze this in smaller portions). Also bought Nutella and peanut butter, again items I buy weekly, in bigger jars/quantities for the same price or less. I think if you know your prices and buy items you regularly buy you will notice a difference in your shopping bill and time. I have to get our freezer and cupboards cleared out a bit first but plan to cut down what I buy at the supermarket each week on items I can get at Costco, put that money aside and then go to Costco once a month for these items and that should keep DH happy *VBG*. Oh and BB ,the reason for the huge amount of Crocs I think was the price. They are so cheap, when I heard about this I thought they must be copies. I am sure the adults are usually around $80 a pair and Costco had them for $25.