Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (2023)

FAQs

Do all Costcos have the same stuff? ›

Monroe says that every Costco warehouse is different and unique, but that the Kirkland Signature brand and the general store layout is a constant in all the locations she's visited.

Ultimately, I found that the Costco I visited in Canada was very similar to its US counterparts. Next time, I'd go back with a member so I can try the products unique to Canada. Although I was outside of the US, visiting Costco in Canada felt like a taste of home.

Costco is headquartered in Washington state in the United States and opened its first warehouse in Seattle in 1983. Today, the company is the second largest retailer in the world, behind only Walmart. In 2021, the company had net sales of over 192 billion U.S. dollars and a brand value of over 28 billion.

As of November 2022, Costco has 842 warehouses worldwide: 579 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 107 in Canada, 40 in Mexico, 31 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Korea, 14 in Taiwan, 13 in Australia, four in Spain, two each in France and China, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden.

Many factors play into why there can be price differences on the same items at different Costco warehouse locations. Our location managers and buying teams keep a close watch on inventory and pricing. At times, our suppliers may adjust item prices on additional shipments.

Costco is entirely membership based so that may sound confusing but they all have different inventory. As a matter a fact every warehouse has different inventory, you may see the same things at different membership based warehouses but just remember they all carry different products.

Membership Cards and Fees

Your membership card is valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide and is not transferable.

At Costco in the UK, you can buy Costco's signature brand, Kirkland, as well as mostly UK brands. Don't expect to walk into UK Costcos and find a treasure trove of American goodies, as you'll most likely be disappointed.

What attracts many Chinese shoppers to the new COSTCO store is its very attractive price for some high quality products, from luxury bags to imported fresh seafood. Providing value for good quality products is always one key attraction for Chinese shoppers.

Currently, products on Costco.com are available for U.S. delivery only. We do offer shipping to Canada. You'll find those items at our Canadian website: www.costco.ca. Our Canadian members can also use Costco.com, the U.S.

Can I use US Costco membership in Canada? ›

Costco members often wonder if they can use their membership when traveling, both within their home country or internationally. Fortunately, warehouse club members are not restricted to where they can shop.

Yes. Costco memberships get you into all clubs in the world.

Cheapest Grocery Store in Canada in 2022 – Costco

Based on our household consumption, Costco continued to be the cheapest grocery store in Canada in 2022.

If you want to shop at Costco without buying a membership, there's an easy way to do it -- if you have a member who is willing to help you. See, if you have a Costco Shop Card, you are allowed to come into any Costco location in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico and purchase items.

In fact, some regular Costco shoppers prefer these stores to the regular ones. Here are a few key differences and you can see if it seems like a good fit for you to try. The Costco Business Centers are about two-thirds the size of a normal Costco and are only estimated at about one-eighth as busy as a normal Costco.

While 007 means Bond in the rest of the world, in Costco, 007 means Sale. Big Sale. “If you see an item marked down and its price ends in . 97 or in an even . 00 (say, $5.00), then you know it's on clearance,” Clark says.

Costco is known for its ultra-low prices on bulk items. But Walmart offers really low prices, too. As such, it's very hard to say which of the two stores offers the best deals, because often, that will boil down to the specific things you're looking for.

It's something that you probably buy every month.

Read up on these secrets behind the famous Costco staple. It's actually something that you constantly need to buy but probably hate spending money on. That's right, Costco's best-selling item is toilet paper. They sell more than a billion rolls every year.

Eggs From Caged Hens

Continuing in this effort toward sustainability and humane farming practices, Costco pledged to move to selling only cage-free eggs by the end of 2020. COVID-19 delayed this goal somewhat, but they continue to work toward this goal and hope to achieve it soon.

Can you get banned from Costco for returning items? ›

Costco is known for having one of the most lenient return policies of any major chain store, but it seems they can (and do) cut off those who abuse it. According to Business Insider, at least one customer claims she had her membership revoked when trying to make a return.

The Costco membership card is non-transferable, but there are several ways to share the experience with family and friends. Anyone with a card can bring up to two guests to the Warehouse during each visit. Keep in mind that purchasing items is exclusive to Costco members.

And YES you can use a Mexico Costco membership at ANY Costco location in the United States or Canada. So if you live southern California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas this is worth knowing. Especially if you live in a border town and can easily visit a Costco warehouse across the border.

Can I shop as an American Costco member at a Japanese Costco warehouse store? Yes, you can.

When you visit a Costco warehouse, you'll discover all the valuable savings we have to offer. As a nonmember, you may still purchase prescriptions from a Costco pharmacy with cash, debit, Costco Shop Cards or a Visa® card. However, you must be a paid member to enter the warehouse and purchase any other items.

We offer Two Ways to Shop

If you are an Executive Member your online purchases qualify toward your annual reward. Click to find out if you qualify for Costco Membership. Online Only Annual Subscribers: If you don't qualify for Costco membership you can still shop online by purchasing the Annual Subscription.

Costco is a publicly traded multinational retail corporation owned by the Costco Wholesale Corporation. Walmart is a publicly traded multinational retail corporation owned by Walmart Inc. The two companies are considered major global competitors.

Costco has no stores in Russia or Ukraine, and only two locations in China. Secondarily, Costco operates hundreds of gas stations in the parking lots of its warehouses. These pumps are often the last in a town to raise prices during inflationary periods, per Costco's long-time focus on being the cheapest on gas.

Numerator found that Costco's typical shopper in the US is an Asian American woman between 35 and 44 years old who is married and living in a city in the Pacific Northwest. (Costco was founded in Seattle and is based in Washington.)

Walmart China. Walmart has been at the forefront of retail modernization in China since 1996, when we opened a hypermarket and Sam's Club in Shenzhen. We now serve communities nationwide as a leader in omnichannel retail. We delight customers through nearly 400 stores and clubs as well as multiple e-commerce platforms.

Can I use my Costco card at Sam's Club? ›

Can I Use My Costco Membership at Sam's Club? No, Costco memberships only work at Costco stores and online at Costco.com.

Yes, you can use a Costco Credit Card anywhere Visa is accepted, which is pretty much everywhere that takes credit cards. Because the Costco Credit Card works wherever Visa is accepted, you can use it at 10.7 million merchants' locations in the U.S. alone, as well as in more than 200 other countries and territories.

Yes you can! I emailed Costco membership and asked. Enjoy! Costco membership is valid worldwide, have visited warehouses in the U.S and Mexico.

Different Costco Membership Options For Seniors

Gold Star memberships, available for $60 per year, grant shoppers access to Costco Warehouse locations as well as all merchandise available on Costco.com. Gold Star members also gain access to Costco Gas, Costco Travel, Costco Tire Center, Costco Optical, and more.

A total of two people can be on a Gold Star Membership (either regular or Executive): one Primary Member and one free household member who is over 18 and lives at the same address.

In fact, membership to the private club is normally reserved for traders and businesses such as small grocery stores and corner shops and restaurants and takeaways. People working, or have retired from certain professions can also become members of Costco.

Household Cardholders will be asked to present proof that they live at the same address as either the Primary or Affiliate Member when picking up their card at the membership counter. To add someone as your Household Cardholder, visit the membership counter of your local Costco.

No, you cannot use someone else's Costco card. Each card is linked to a specific individual and can only be used by that person.

FinanceBuzz surveyed over 6,000 shoppers to uncover which places have the best Costco shopping experience, according to a news release. A store in Cumming, Georgia, took the lead in first place, with a Kansas City, Missouri store in second, and the San Antonio store at 5611 UTSA Boulevard following closely behind.

Does Costco inventory change? ›

The inventory on our website is real-time and updated frequently. If the item you're looking for is not found on Costco.com, it's either not available online or currently out of stock. When the item is available for purchase again, it will re-appear on the site.

It's something that you probably buy every month.

Read up on these secrets behind the famous Costco staple. It's actually something that you constantly need to buy but probably hate spending money on. That's right, Costco's best-selling item is toilet paper. They sell more than a billion rolls every year.

Costco's best-selling item is its Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue. It sells more than a billion rolls every year, bringing in over $400 million dollars in revenue. Costco's toilet paper is thicker and more absorbent than most other brands. It is also less expensive per sheet than many other brands.

Costco has hit the pause button and possibly discontinued sales of its premier hearing aid, the Kirkland Signature 10.0 (KS10), according to numerous reports. Several online posts and sources refer to a rechargeability issue as the primary reason for the KS10 being pulled from Costco's shelves.

Costco is known for its ultra-low prices on bulk items. But Walmart offers really low prices, too. As such, it's very hard to say which of the two stores offers the best deals, because often, that will boil down to the specific things you're looking for.

So, next time you try a Costco sample and want to buy it, you'll have literally nothing to lose. You can't return expired food, so be sure to return any food right away if you decide you don't like it or want it.

When you visit a Costco warehouse, you'll discover all the valuable savings we have to offer. As a nonmember, you may still purchase prescriptions from a Costco pharmacy with cash, debit, Costco Shop Cards or a Visa® card. However, you must be a paid member to enter the warehouse and purchase any other items.

Costco gets shipments every day. The restocking schedule varies by location, but the shipments generally arrive in the evening. Therefore, most restocking activities usually occur on the night shift, between 4 am and the store's opening time.

The Post explains that Costco “caps its profit margins at about 15 percent,” allowing it to offer serious deals on even brand-name clothing. Well-known brands bring unsold merchandise to Costco, which can then sell them for a much more reasonable price.

Why does Costco always change products? ›

A Costco employee who's worked at the store for a year said their colleagues sometimes move products to the end of the aisles because they're on sale and the store hopes to "grab members' attention." Other times, products are moved as part of a promotional deal.

Making frequent returns can jeopardize your membership status. While Costco says there is no limit to the number of returns a customer can make, at least one member who spoke with Business Insider said her membership was canceled after making a number of returns.