Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BS.Dos.]

So, I've only just heard about Costco and now I'm all excited at the prospect of (maybe) picking up some Western style perishable consumables.

So here's the rub:

1.Is it worth the membership?
2.Is my excitement justified?
3.Do they carry many more lines than Tesco/Lotte/regular Korean supermarkets etc
4.Is it much cheaper than the above?

Given just how poor grocery shopping generally is in Korea (I've heard you can actually buy stuff in Seoul, but I reckon it's just a nasty rumour) I'm not building my hopes up too much with regards to Costco.

Daegu is my nearest store so any info about this particular branch would be welcome, but failing that, anything you can pass on would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[reactionary]

not really.. i mean, i paid the 30 dollar annual fee, and didnt feel it was very worth it, except for two things: monterey jack cheese and guacamole, both of which i bought quite a lot of

meat you can find just as cheap at an emart or homever. same goes for beer.

whatever u really need at costco, use one of the home delivery services.

[haute 4 teacher]

I signed up two days ago.

Membership = 35$

comes with a 35$ coupon (good for 2 items or half a steak)

Membership=free

and that was Daegu

I was disappointed with the offerings. Not too different than what you can get online in terms of price. Meat was outrageous and they severely lacked many of the frozen foods I love. Not even those delicious sirloin burgers I basically signed up for. They did have turkey burgers.

Worth it? Maybe. I got my money's worth with bacon, go lean crunch, turkey burgers and cheese. Oh, and salmon steaks.

good luck!

[captain kirk]

If a ticket to Costco is thirty bucks a year that's how much a month? Two dollars something a month.

It's worth it.

I get the basics; Kirland cheese 900 g for 9,000 won. Starbucks Espresso coffee (whole beans) 1.2kg 13,000 won. Some thick Aussie steaks (not expensive!). Tuscany Italian Olive oil 1000 ml. for (I can't recall now). And photos developed (cheap. 4 by 6; 150won. 6 by 8; 300 won. 8 by 10; 700 won).

It reminds me of back home (though the Costco there is MEGA humungous with even more outlandish nobody-needs-such-things, really. Typical North American sprawl/consumer dream stuff. Which is really kind of amusing to browse and laugh at; 'Things/doodads, must have more things and shelves, especially labour saving convenient, attractive Things and shelves!' and you look around and the place is a dungeon, really, sky high with palettes of more Things).

Get a huge kick out of it. And the pizza is good.

[Milwaukiedave]

We just signed up for a second year and it is very much worth it. The online store is pretty overpriced (markup + delivery). I keep hoping they will add a Costco down here in Gwangju. We go to the one in Seoul (near Youngdeungpo-gu Office) or the one in Daejeon

[SuperFly]

Get one and share it with another westerner.

[safeblad]

definitely worth it. i was so excited at first though I have to say the second time i went there i was underwhelmed. i go to the daejeon branch probably every 3 weeks to stock up.

its better for cheese (they even had some english cheddar and red leicester recently)

better for buying meats

better for those times when you go in and they have 6 of the most enormous most tasty cinnamon buns for 5000 won (the muffins are even cheaper but that isnt my thing) come to think of it better for bread in general.

the real reason why costco is great though is for the condiments, sauces and what-not which are very very cheap and you just cant get them in other places.

I think that costco may excite me more than other people though because before I had access to it i lived in Jeju for a year. I shudder to think at some of the prices I paid for really mundane western foodstuffs there.

[Rae]

Does a normal membership card work for the stores in Korea or would I need to buy a new membership?

[TheChickenLover]

If you're worried about spending $30 for a membership at coscto, you must really, really cheap.

Costco is far greater in helping you save money than anywhere else I've seen in this country. The stuff I've bought costs nearly double outside it's doors. I have a co-teacher who keeps asking me to go with him ot Taejon to save $30, I keep telling him it's not worth my time.

He never went. He's that cheap

Go figure.

Chicken

[GuyPlasma]

[PRagic]

Get your membership, go there, stock your fridge/freezer with A+ cuts of beef, pork, chicken, and salamon, load up on assorted cheeses, nuts, breads, and, most of all, stock your wine and booze cabinet(s). Get back to us after that.

Or go to Hyundai department store, have a heart attack after seeing the prices, and drop us an e-mail from the I.C. ward.

I went over 10 years without. We eat mostly Korean food, but it is really nice to be able to cork a bottle and throw on a steak once in a while.

...and don't get me started on the furniture. Comfortable and reasonable compared to market trash.

[ryouga013]

If I lived near a Costco, I would definitely pay the $35 year. In the Lotte over here I can't find any taco or burrito shells etc and there aren't a few of the other basic Costco type things that I would really like to have available. I am still wondering how different the Costco is from the one back home... missing it...

[peppermint]

You used to be able to get guest passes, where you could go in and check it out, though you couldn't buy anything without getting a membership. That might be your best bet.

[twg]

I have one and I'm going to say, "No'

The sizes are usually more than you need, or can possibly get through before rotting in your fridge. Unless you're one of those "Life Of Riley"-living university types, the only time you'll be able to get there is when everyone else is there. And if you've had to deal with Koreans in a crowd, you know what a hair-pulling experience that can be even at the best of times.

Aside from the cheese and a few items of American snack-foods and beer (And if you want to drink that sort of swill you can save money and have Korean beer), there's really nothing there that you can't get elsewhere.

Then again, maybe you'd love having four liter jars of shampoo in your bathroom. I have no idea.

[wylies99]

The cost of a Costco membership is well worth the money. Costco has the cheapest soda in Korea and you can find many other things there.