Costco Insider - Part 70

Costco Coming to a Mall Near You?

September 29th, 2010

Insider

Can you picture going to your local mall and shopping at Costco? That is about to become a reality very soon. The Westfield Group announced an agreement with Costco Wholesale to put the popular warehouse store in three of its malls: Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park, CA; Westfield Sarasota Square in Sarasota, FL; and Westfield Wheaton, in Wheaton, MD. And if things go well I’m sure they’ll extend their partnership to fill up now vacant department stores at more of Westfield’s 119 malls and shopping centers. The first store is slated to open in late 2011/early 2012.

The Star on the Item Price Tag

September 28th, 2010

Insider

Some of you may be wondering what that star or asterisk you once saw on an item price tag meant. Or maybe some of you never even noticed it, or knew to look for one. While most items don’t have a star in the upper right-hand corner, there are always a few that do in the store. What it means is that there is no more of the item in the store — what you see in front of you is the last of it. If you’re really curious you can go to the membership counter and ask if there is more on order or if it is discontinued. When some of my favorite seasonal items come into the store for a small period of time I make sure to watch for the star, at which point I will buy enough to last me for the year. One example of this is the Smuckers Strawberry Lemonade, with which I watched the sign over the summer, and at the end of the summer I bought three jars, to last me the year. With the amount of rotating inventory at Costco, and how you never know when they’ll have an item and when they won’t, the star can be a lifesaver.

Have you seen the star before? Does it ever prompt you to stock up on anything?

Organic foods highlighted

September 24th, 2010

Insider

In my recent trips to Costco I’ve noticed that they’re currently highlighting the organic foods they sell. The New Items sign out front even had the word “organic” highlighted in green on all the item tags. And then in the front of the store where they usually showcase items on coupon there were instead all of the organic items. Here is a list of the items that were being promoted:

2% Chocolate Milk, organic, KS (24/8.25oz) $13.99 *
Apple Juice, organic, KS (2/1gal) $8.99
Blackberries, organic (18oz) $6.99
Blood Orange Italian Soda, organic (6/1liter) $9.99
Brown Eggs, organic, KS (24) $5.99
Gala Apples, organic (12) $6.99
Ground Beef – 15% fat or less, organic (3lbs) $12.99
Kashi Autumn Wheat, organic (55.8oz) $8.99
Plain Soy Milk, organic, KS (12/32oz) $12.49
Raspberries, organic (12oz) $3.49
Rosie Grilled Chicken Strips, organic (2/12oz) $12.99
Scenic Fruit Company Blueberries, organic (3lbs) $9.59
Strawberry Spread, organic, KS (42oz) $6.69
Treetop Applesauce, organic (36/4oz) $9.99
Whole Wheat Bread, organic, KS (2/26oz) $5.39

* Apparantly Costco is being sued for mislabeling their milk as organic, since the cows have no access to pasture

Read more to see a list I’ve compiled of other organic items carried at Costco.

Food court gelato fun facts

September 22nd, 2010

Insider

Gelato sign

The gelato is made fresh every morning in the food court
You cannot order the three scoops without a cone (in a cup)
You can order gelato with your other food items and come back later to get the gelato
The adhesive used to hold the paper jacket on the cone is edible
A cone of gelato has about 500 calories
Stracciatella is the most popular flavor

Do you know anything I’m missing from this list? If so, comment below!

The Costco price tag prank

September 15th, 2010

Insider

Did you hear about the prank pulled off at Costco a few months back? A guy printed/created a bunch of fake price tags with funny names on them and swapped them at his local Costco. Sounds like other people around the country joined him as well. I didn’t get a chance to see the video, but I hear it was really well done. Costco’s lawyers contacted the site and needless to say, the video was removed. The limited photographic evidence is pretty funny though. Here is the statement Jim Sinegal released to employees:

“Attention: There will be companywide audit of ALL signs. This will be done immediately! There are an unknown number of people forging our items signs! Our Legal Department has been notified and action is being pursued at this time. All signs will be audited daily until further notice. It is unfortunate that this attempt to defraud our members in the guise of a prank will result in needless hours being spent trying to prevent our Members being lied too. Price Altering and Merchandise Falsification are crimes! The perpetrators will be contacted by Legal. Please remember to assist any Member who may be misled by these fraudulent signs. Thank you, Jim Sinegal.”

Costco prank dead tree tag

Here are a few more photos.

Costco Coupon Book 9/16 to 10/10/10 (September 2010)

September 11th, 2010

Insider

The September 2010 coupon book is out and you can download and view it right here on Costco Insider. Coupons are valid September 16th to October 10th. You do not need to bring it to the store to get the discounts, just mention it to the cashier.

Download here

Coca Cola with Real Cane Sugar?!

September 10th, 2010

Kirk

Coca Cola made with pure cane sugar is now available at some Costco locations! This Coca Cola comes to us from Mexico where “the real thing” is made with real sugar, not that high fructose corn syrup our Coke is made with. It’s sold in a 24 pack of 12 ounce bottles. In a blind taste test almost all testers chose the real cane sugar Coke over the high fructose version. As written on Serious Eats:

“Drinks made with real sugar have a clean sweetness and light mouthfeel to them, while those made with corn syrup have heavy mouthfeel and a cloying sweetness.”

Sounds pretty good if you ask me. Is it available at your local club? Are you going to give it a try? Have you tried it before?

Costco Coming to a Mall Near You?

The Star on the Item Price Tag

Organic foods highlighted

Food court gelato fun facts

The Costco price tag prank

Costco Coupon Book 9/16 to 10/10/10 (September 2010)

Coca Cola with Real Cane Sugar?!

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