Korean Job Discussion Forums

[moped]

Everyone talks about shopping at Costco on this board. However, do most of you have freezers big enough to store their large size items? I never shop at Costco or Sam's Club here in the states because they always seem ridiculously crowded and you have to pay a membership for the "privilege" of shpping at their stores. I just go to Walmart for the cheapest prices available.

So...what do you Costco junkies do to store your large food purchases? I have a feeling I'll end up there often to satisfy my American food cravings.

[conrad2]

If you think Costco in the States is overly crowded, you are in for a shock when you go to Costco in Korea.

[NYC_Gal]

I split my purchases with a friend or two.

[SeoulNate]

full sized fridge and freezer ftw.

[Kaypea]

I don't buy many things. I buy the pack of chicken breasts, which pretty takes up my whole freezer, along with the big bag of frozen mixed veg. I also buy a big block of cheese, sometimes a big bag of almonds. Oh, and I buy boxes of oatmeal... Not a lot of stuff. I also go for the chicken caesar salad, which is delicious and addicting.

[eamo]

My fridge/freezer is massive. Costco rules.


But I do agree that the membership is a bit of a shaft. Why? What do we get for that membership? It's just a supermarket.

[Jacknife]

I buy coffee. A Kg of quality coffee with 6-7 different types to choose
from for 17,000 to about 30,000 KRW. Multiply that by up to ten
depending on where you buy coffee outside of Costco. Some Koreans
are serious suckers. But, I guess it is just ignorance. Same sort of
situation as scool kids in North Korea being told their country is the
best in the world and they believe it.

I also buy:

-cheese
-sour cream
-tortillas
-booze (Bombay Saphire is good for a few hard core drunks)

[AnsanAnswers]

You've got 2 options regarding the Costco membership:

1. Split it with a friend. You receive 2 membership cards per account and anybody can be added as a secondary shopper. While I don't think that 30,000won a year is expensive by any means, 15,000won is that much better.

2. Order your Costco items online. There are 2 major online alternatives to shopping at Costco (listed below). They each up-charge for delivery, but it saves you from having to make the trip there and carry all of your purchases back. The convenience of door-to-door delivery is definitely worth the price.

www.ezshopkorea.com
www.costlove.com

However, you're forgetting the BEST thing about shopping at Costco; the Food Court! You can buy huge slices of pizza, hot dogs, churros, chicken bakes and even New England clam chowder all for about the same price of an order of kimbap.

Word of warning, don't go on the weekends. It's just way too crazy.

[Gaber]

We got a 500l fridge freezer, not really anticipating just how much 500 liters is... Looked like the monument from 2001 when they first delivered it. I had 20 kgs of chicken breast and change sitting in there at one point.
Most things at costco are really asking to be shared.

[Man on Street]

My fridge isn't big, but I buy certain essentials at a low price that last for a few weeks and save me trips to other places. Also, it gives you people to hang out with if you have a card and they don't. I often get a free slice of pizzaor other food outside of Costco for that.

[blade]

We have a full American sized fridge/Freezer and a separate chest freezer. Having both really makes Costco runs so worth it.

[stevieg4ever]

one of the worst experiences of my life was shopping in Costco: I was left traumatized and scarred by the experience.

Do you need a membership to purchase stuff in the food court?

[air76]

I think that Costco does have some really great deals (especially when buying imported foods like cheese in a country where these products aren't domestically available....i.e., Korea) but I found this interesting article online that explains why they charge a membership fee.

[AHawk843]

I never really shop at Costco in the states either. I use the pharmacy, eye doctor, and grab a few other random things here and there. However, in Korea, I've found it much more efficient to purchase from them -- things like chicken breast / some fruit / other random goods are generally somewhat cheaper, and there's a wide selection of western goods (revolved on a monthly basis) that you generally can't find anywhere else.

[Greekfreak]

Yeah, the Chicken Bakes are the shit. I get a few of them every time I go so I can freeze them when I'm really pressed for time and don't want kimbap or what not.

But generally--we get eggo waffles, various cheeses, sausages, frozen veggies, bottled water, pretzels, steaks, bacon, turkey patties, the occasional pie... a lot of meats that would be overpriced elsewhere.

And 30,000 vs. $55 Canadian is cheap, and the card works back home, too.