Consumer Reports ranks Costco Pharmacies #1

Consumer Reports magazine listed the top store brand pharmacies in their June 2014 issue and Costco Pharmacies came out on top at #1! According to the Consumer Reports (CR) article, Costco's Kirkland Signature (KS) house brand was the only store brand to receive top marks in both price and quality for over the counter (OTC) medications and personal care products. In the pharmacy area of your local Costco you can find a KS equivalent for just about every name brand OTC medication from pain relievers and allergy pills, to cough medications and vitamins. You can also find a selection of KS brand personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, soaps, lotions and wipes.

By choosing a KS item you can save up to a staggering 92% compared to the price of the name brand equivalent. Let's pause for a minute to think about that, 92% savings, thats incredible! At 92% savings that means the brand name is 12 (12!) times more expensive than the KS equivalent or Costco is selling the KS equivalent product for 1/12 the price of the name brand product per pill. But how do you know the Costco price of the name brand product is a good deal to begin with? Well, duh! You're at Costco so of course its going to be a good deal :) but let me do that math to illustrate my point. Lets use Benadryl for an example, Walmart sells a 48 pack for $6.48 which comes out to $0.0135 per pill, but Costco sells a bundle of three 48 count packs of Benadryl (for a total of 144 pills) for $13.69 which comes out to $0.0950 per pill. That makes the Costco price for Benadryl 30% cheaper than the Walmart price per pill. What if we take it one step further and compare the the price of Costco's KS house brand to the price of Walmart's Equate house brand? Walmart sells a 100 pack of Equate allergy pills for $4 which comes out to $0.04 per pill, but Costco sells a 600 pack of KS allergy pills for $4.69 which comes out to $0.0078 per pill. That makes the price of Costco's KS allergy pills 81% cheaper than Walmart's Equate allergy pills. Can you imagine how much greater the savings would be if you compared the price of a KS item to the price of a brand name item sold at a regular retail pharmacy like Duane Reade or Walgreens!?

Anyway, here are a few more examples of the many KS OTC medications and personal care items you can find in the pharmacy area of your local Costco: 

Per caplet, the KS Ibuprofen is 88% cheaper than the regularly priced Advil.

Per caplet, the KS Naproxen Sodium is 42% cheaper than the regularly priced Aleve.

Per tablet, the KS Extra Strength Pain Reliever is 61% cheaper than regularly priced Excedrin.

Per tablet, the regularly priced KS Aller-Fex is 42% cheaper than Allegra.

Per tablet, the regularly priced KS Aller-Tec is 92% cheaper than regularly priced Zyrtec.

Per tablet, the regularly priced KS AllerClear is 91% cheaper than Claritin.

Per tablet, the KS Mature Adult Multi Vitamins are 56% cheaper than Centrum Silver.

Per tablet, the regularly priced KS Calcium + D3 Supplements are 75% cheaper than Caltrate.

Per tablet, the KS Omeprazole is 42% cheaper than Priolosec.

Per towelette, the KS Daily Facial Towelettes are 39% cheaper than Neutrogena Make Up Removing Facial Towelettes.

Per fluid ounce, the KS Antiseptic Mouthwash is 54% cheaper than Listerine.

Per piece, the KS Quit-4 gum is 47% cheaper than Nicorette.

Per can, the KS Minoxidil Foam is 35% cheaper than Rogaine.

Also in the June 2014 issue, Consumer Reports takes a look at ice cream and Costco's KS Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream ranked excellent for taste and it was named a CR Best Buy for its low price! KS Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream (item #948400) comes packaged as two separate half-gallon containers so they will easily fit into any freezer. 

This is hands-down our favorite vanilla ice cream; we love the rich vanilla flavor and the creamy texture. And since vanilla goes with all sorts of desserts from apple dumplings to chocolate cakes and peanut butter cookies we always keep some on hand. Remember that the best way to store ice cream is in the very back or very bottom of your freezer to prevent it from melting and refreezing. And to avoid freezer burn be sure to keep the lid on tight. If I know we won’t be consuming an entire tub right away I put Glad Press & Seal across the top of the container then put the lid on over the plastic wrap to create a better seal.

To read the full CR articles that mention Costco pick up the June 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Selections vary by location but you may be able to pick up that latest issue of Consumer Reports (as well as their special issues) at your local Costco for 30% off the cover price! The location of the magazine stands vary by warehouse but I usually find them near the books or up front by the registers. For more information on Consumer Reports you can also check out their website: ConsumerReports.org.

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

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Costco in the News: Forbes article on new 'Boxed' app

I like to keep up with Costco in the news (thank you Google Alerts!) and yesterday I came across a Forbes article that I felt compelled to comment on. “‘Costco Of Mobile Apps’ Boxed Raises $6.5M To Take On Amazon Prime,” written by Forbes staff writer Hollie Slade, the article talks about a new mobile app called Boxed and how it is trying to become the mobile equivalent to Costco and aims to entice shoppers to give up their big box stores and instead use the Boxed app to buy their bulk packaged goods and have them delivered to them for free.

What exactly is Boxed? It’s a shopping app that claims to give you a warehouse club shopping experience from your mobile device while saving you the time and hassle of having to drive to a wholesaler like Costco.  There are no membership fees and they currently ship to any physical address (no PO Boxes) in the continental US, but there are a few catches. Boxed requires a $25 minimum to place an order, shipping is free only if your order reaches a total of $75 or more and, I have been unable to find any information on how to make returns to Boxed or if they even accept returns.

Going back to the article itself, my first gripe is that it starts off by claiming that wholesale aficionados spend hours “bargain hunting” in Costcos, but this simply isn’t true. The term bargain hunting implies you are sorting and sifting through non-bargains in order to find a few good deals, but at Costco there is no need for bargain hunting because EVERYTHING Costco sells is already a bargain! Costco limits its markup price on items to 14%, which means if Costco pays $1 for an item they will sell it for no more than $1.14. That’s the beauty of Costco; you can shop worry free knowing that you’re getting a great deal on everything you buy at Costco.

According to the Forbes article, Boxed touts that shoppers can “save between 25-50% on the majority of products compared to most stores, as well as saving time and gas driving out to wholesalers,” but that’s a pretty bold statement considering the numbers just don’t add up. Sure you could save a little time and gas using the Boxed app instead of driving to a wholesaler like Costco, but if you drive to Costco you could take that opportunity to fill up your car with less expensive gas and you could go home with your items that same day instead of having to wait 2-days for the Boxed delivery. As for the 25-50% savings claim, I downloaded the Boxed app (which is free in the iTunes app store) and I did a quick comparison of their prices with the same items sold at Costco and I discovered that the Boxed prices are all MORE expensive than Costcos prices.

Boxed is selling an 80-count box of Swiffer Sweeper dry cloth refills for $17.99, but Costco sells this same item for only $11.79 which is 34% cheaper. The $11.79 Costco price includes a limited time instant manufacturers rebate of $3 off which is good through 1 June, but even the regular Costco price of $14.79 is STILL 18% cheaper than the Boxed price. The photo below shows a Boxed screenshot on the left and pictures from Costco on the right.

Another product Boxed offers, Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom cleaner sells for $2.99 for a single 25oz can; (which by the way I fail to understand how a single 25oz can of cleaner is considered bulk shopping…); but at Costco you can get a 4-pack of 25oz cans for $7.49 which comes out to only $1.87 per bottle making the Costco price 37% cheaper than the Boxed price! Even the regular “non instant rebate” Costco price of $9.99 for a 4-pack still saves you over 16% compared to the Boxed price.

Boxed sells a 110-count box of Finish All-In-1 Power dishwasher tabs for $17.99 while Costco sells this same item for only $11.49 which is 36% less than the Boxed price! Again, even the regular “non instant rebate” Costco price of $14.49 is still 19% cheaper than the Boxed price. And remember, with Boxed you have to wait 2 days for your items to arrive.

In the article, Boxed CEO and cofounder Chieh Huang stated that he grew up shopping at Costco in New Jersey and when he moved to Manhattan he didn’t understand why things cost three or four times the price in the city. Putting aside the basic economics 101 lesson on why cities are more expensive, maybe he should take a trip up to E 117^th St to check out the Manhattan Costco, which has been open since November 2009. Or he could go to the Brooklyn Costco on 3^rd Avenue or the Queens Costco on Vernon Blvd or the Staten Island Costco on Richmond Avenue, all four of which are located within New York City limits.

Haung then states that wholesale clubs generate “a little over $20 billion of top line a year,” while I am not entirely sure what he means by “top line,” if he is referring to net sales Costco’s annual report shows that Costco alone netted over $102 billion in 2013 which is considerably more than “a little over $20 billion.”

Haung goes on to say that he is not concerned with what his competitors are doing, but he may want to take some time to check out what Google is up to with Google Shopping Express. Also membership free, shoppers can use Google Shopping Express (from their computers or through the free mobile app) to shop for books, clothing, electronics, appliances, toys, etc, as well as groceries from retailers including Costco, Walgreens, Target, Whole Foods, Toys R Us, Staples, Guitar Center and more. Google Shopping Express matches the Costco price so while Boxed may sell a 44oz bottle of Nexxus Therappe moisturizing shampoo for $18.99, Google Shopping Express sells it for the Costco price of only $11.99 (a 36% savings). The photo below shows a screen shot from the Boxed app on the left, and a screenshot from the Google Shopping Express app on the right.

In another example, Boxed sells a 12-count box of Kraft Easy Mac for $10.99 but Google Shopping Express sells the same product for the Costco price of only $6.79 (a 38% savings)!

The best parts about Google Shopping Express are that you don’t have to wait two days for your items to be delivered and you can order TVs, appliances, clothes and more as well as groceries. The downside though, is that Google Shopping Express is currently only delivering to a few limited areas, but if you’re in one of those locations you might want to check it out.

Wrapping up on the Forbes article, while the author Slade is right that the Boxed prices may be “a snip” compared to what shoppers might pay for the same items at brick & mortar stores like Whole Foods or Duane Reade and even online retailers like Amazon.com; but compared to Costco, the Boxed prices just can’t compete.

Boxed also fails to address the MANY other aspects of a Costco membership that go well beyond simply buying in bulk, including great prices on: clothing, jewelry, electronics, books, toys, furniture, appliances, sports equipment and other non-grocery items. And don’t forget about the tire centers, gas stations, pharmacies, optical and hearing aid departments, photo labs, and Costco travel deals- all products and services offered by Costco at great prices that all come with Costco’s satisfaction guarantee.

I suppose the Boxed app may be worthwhile for someone who doesn’t have a Costco membership and who doesn’t mind the higher prices or the two day wait for their items to be delivered. As for me, I’m keeping my membership and I’ll continue to do my shopping at Costco.

One thing I'm sure Boxed is not going to be able to do is help you obtain a cake to feed 48 people at the last minute for under $20 ;)

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S.

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Beauty's Most Wanted brings LaLicious Moisturizing Sugar Scrub to Costco!

Today I spotted LaLicious all natural Sugar Kiss Soufflé Moisturizing Body Scrub at the Chantilly, VA Costco...

At $14.99 Costco's price is 44% LESS than Amazon.com's. I can't wait to try it!

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S.

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Buy your booze at Costco and save!

If you live in one of the 18 states where the sale of distilled spirits (aka hard liquor) is controlled by the state then you are stuck purchasing your liquor from state sanctioned ABC stores and which means you're stuck paying their outrageous prices. But if you live in any other state, then you have the privilege of being able to purchase your favorite booze from retailers like grocery stores, convenience stores and big box stores like Costco. Because both the state of Maryland and the state of Virginia are unfortunately so called 'control states,' Costcos in MD & VA cannot sell hard liquor. Virginia Costcos can sell beer and wine but Maryland Costcos can't sell any alcohol. For years Marylanders & Virginians in the DC Metro Area have suffered, but the opening of the first Washington DC Costco in Nov 2012, changed everything.

Because the District doesn’t control the sale of liquor the same way MD & VA do, they allow retailers, like Costco, to sell hard liquor, which means you can purchase not only Costco size bottles of your favorite booze, but you can enjoy Costco size prices too!

Check out these price comparisons of some name brand spirits: on the left side of each photo is the retail price in a Northern VA ABC store and on the right side is the Costco price in the Washington DC warehouse for the exact same size bottle.

Bombay Sapphire Gin: a 1.75L bottle retails for $53.95 but Costco sells the same bottle for only $29.39. The Costco price is an astounding 45% cheaper than the retail price! You save $24.56!!

Belvedere Vodka: a 1.75L bottle retails for $59.95 but Costco sells the same bottle for only $42.89. The Costco price is 28% less expensive than the retail price, which saves you over $17!

Malibu Caribbean Rum: a 1.75L bottle retails for $29.95 but Costco sells the same bottle for only $18.89; that’s a 36% savings off the retail price! Even the ABC store sale price of $26.95 can’t compete with the Costco sale price of $15.69, which is an even greater savings at 41% less than the retail price!

Knob Creek Kentucky Bourbon: a 1.75L bottle retails for $69.90 while Costco sells the same bottle for $49.99. The Costco price is 28% less than the retail price!

Kahlua Coffee Liqueur: a 1.75L bottle retails for $47.95 while Costco sells the same bottle for $35.89. The Costco price is 25% less than the retail price!

Bailey’s Irish Cream: a 1.75L bottle retails for $50.95 while Costco sells the same bottle for $39.99. The Costco price is 21% less than the retail price!

Tanqueray Gin: a 1.75L bottle retails for $49.95 while Costco sells the same bottle for $28.99. The Costco price is 41% less than the retail price!

Grey Goose Vodka: a 1.75L bottle retails for $69.90 while Costco sells the same bottle for $45.89. The Costco price is 34% less than the retail price!

Beefeater Gin: a 1.75L bottle retails for $41.90 while Costco sells the same bottle for $25.99. The Costco price is 37% less than the retail price!

Johnny Walker Red Whisky: a 1.75L bottle retails for $49.90 while Costco sells the same bottle for only $28.89. The Costco price is 42% less than the retail price!

Patron Silver Tequila: a 1.75L bottle retails for $103.90 while Costco sells the same bottle for $79.99. The Costco price is 23% less than the retail price!

Dewar’s Special Reserve 12 Year old Scotch: a 1.75L bottle retails for $79.95 while Costco sells the same bottle for $49.89. The Costco price is 37% less than the retail price!

Ciroc Vodka: a 1.75L bottle retails for $71.95 while Costco sells the same bottle for $45.89. The Costco price is 36% off the retail price!

From this sample you can clearly see how Costco can save you anywhere from 21% to 45% off the retail price of your favorite distilled spirits. And if you’re stocking up for a big event there’s virtually no risk because Costco allows you to return any unused, unopened bottles as long as you have your receipt and all original packaging, (the same goes for unopened cases of beer too), whereas most ABC stores will charge you a restocking fee to return merchandise and some put a cap on how much you can return if they allow returns at all.

Of course, that’s not all, Costco also has its own line of fabulous Kirkland Signature distilled spirits you can enjoy at a fraction of the cost of their brand name competitors. Check out this selection of KS brand hard liquor also from the DC warehouse.

Kirkland Signature 18 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (item #823871):

Kirkland Signature Reposado Tequila (item #774371):

Kirkland Signature Silver Tequila (item #888117):

Kirkland Signature Vodka (item #999910):

Kirkland Signature Canadian Whisky (item #888870):

Kirkland Signature Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon (item #888863):

And finally, for you enthusiasts & collectors, check out the Kirkland Signature Glenlivet Distillery 40 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (item #746526). You can read more about this limited quantity item in the December 2013 Costco Connection magazine.

Costco also carries a wide variety of top rated wines (including Champagne) and beers, including their own Kirkland Signature wines & beers, so the next time you need booze for a barbecue, a party, a wedding or even just for the weekend hop in your car and make a trip to Costco. And if you live in the DC metro area make a trip to the DC warehouse.

***DISCLAIMER 20 Aug 2015***

It has been brought to my attention that the state of Virginia has a law decreeing "No more than one gallon of alcoholic beverages (or the metric equivalent) may be brought into Virginia from outside the Commonwealth, excepting shipments to the commission or its licensees." This, for the purposes of this blog post, essentially means that it is illegal to purchase more than five (5) 750 ml bottles of liquor in DC (or any other state) and bring them back into Virginia- even if they are for your own personal consumption.

I have also heard that Virginia employees ABC agents monitor liquor stores in the District specifically looking for people with Virginia license plates who purchase large quantities of alcohol (like several cases) and bring them back into Virginia. Apparently, once these consumers cross back into Virginia the ABC agents can stop the driver, seize the alcohol, impound the vehicle and fine the driver.

With that being said, Costco is a lot more than just a liquor store so if I (as VA resident) go to the DC Costco warehouse and purchase several bottles of liquor in a single trip along with my other groceries and household items (which I have done many times) I feel like I am probably fine. However, now that this state law has been brought to my attention I will certainly think twice about going to the DC Costco Warehouse and purchasing an entire cart full of nothing but alcohol for my next party.

I am not a lawyer and thus not an expert on the law and I cannot provide legal advice, but I certainly do not want to encourage anyone to break the law. Please use the links below AND do your own research to ensure you understand your states alcoholic beverage laws and use your own judgement before purchasing alcohol outside of your state of residence:

http://www.welovedc.com/2010/01/21/know-the-law-buying-liquor-online/

https://www.abc.virginia.gov/enforcement/virginia-codes-and-regulations

https://www.abc.virginia.gov/enforcement

(It should also be noted that beer and wine are covered under separate VA state laws that allow you to legally purchase two cases of wine or two cases of beer (or one case of each) outside of the Commonwealth, but since Virginia Costcos already sell beer and wine, if you are a Virginia resident you should be able to purchase what you need without traveling out of state.)

Marylanders- I'm sorry but I know nothing of your alcohol laws except that I have heard they are even more ridiculous than the Virginia alcohol laws and according to Tom Bridge from welovedc.com the state of Maryland basically just wants you to stay completely sober.

End of Disclaimer.

Thanks so much for reading my blog! 

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

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