Costco Connection: August 2018

A new month means a new issue of the Costco Connection! Here are my highlights from this months issue.

Pg. 40 Cover Story: Marvel Magic, Making Comic Book Heroes Come To Life

• The Connection interviews Marvel president and producer Kevin Feige on the super success of bringing marvel comics to the big screen.

• Keep your eyes peeled this month for Avenger's Infinity War on Blu-ray & DVD, available in warehouse on 14 August, and other Marvel themed items like toys, watches, costumes and even special edition Ziploc bags just in time for back to school lunches.

Pg. 16 This Month at Costco

• Do you have old prescription glasses sitting around that you no longer wear? Bring them to your Costco Optical Center which accepts donations of old prescription glasses for New Eyes for the Needy, a charitable organization that provides new & used glasses to those who can't otherwise afford prescription lenses.

Pg. 24 Costco Business Printing

• Do you have business or organization you'd like to advertise for? Check out CostcoBusinessPrinting.com to order custom, high quality, professionally designed business cards, flyers, banners, and more at affordable member only prices.

Pg. 32 Travel Connection with Peter Greenberg: Perks of Autumn Travel

• Find out how to celebrate the autumn equinox in Mexico Mayan style, embrace Polynesian culture at the annual Hawiki Nui Va'a race of traditional outrigger canoes, or release your inner pirate during the Cayman Islands Pirate Week, and much more!

Pg. 36 Storage Savings Abound This Month at Costco

• Get everything you need to organize your garage, closets and playrooms before school starts back up with savings in warehouses and on Costco.com.

Pg. 47 Box Tops For Education at Costco

• Look for the BTFE logo on specially marked packages of cereal, snacks and other products at Costco. Visit CostcoBTFE.com for the complete lists of BTFE items sold at Costco, you can also enter for a chance to win 100 bonus box tops.

Pg. 50 The High Cost of Higher Education

• Author Lea Ingram offers pointers for figuring out how to plan for and pay for college.

Pg. 54 Portraits of Hope

• Find out how artists and brothers Ed & Bernie Massey incorporate education programs and involve school children in their vibrant art projects through their non profit Portraits of Hope.

Pg. 62 Are You Addicted to Your Smartphone?

• Technology is amazing but it can also be addicting. Find out if you or your child might be exhibiting addictive tendencies to your smart devices, video games or social media and get tips on how to moderate their usage.

Pg. 94 Pennie's Pick of the Month

• For her August pick book buyer Penny Clark Ianniciello chose Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by acclaimed author Keith O'Brien. This is the real life true story of groundbreaking female pilots who competed against male pilots in the Nation Air Races during the Great Depression.

Pg. 96 The Great American Read

• Have you been watching PBSs mini series The Great American Read as they explore the power of reading and America's 100 most-beloved novels? You can read along by picking up one of featured classics like To Kill A Mocking Bird, and 1984, or one of the modern classics like Memoirs of a Geisha and The Book Thief at your local Costco.

Pg. 99 Costco Membership, a Back to School Essential?

• Find out why one student claims her Costco membership is an essential part of her college life.

Pg. 115 August Special Events

• Show off your team spirit and school pride with officially licensed NCAA team gear from Knights Apparel

• For more special events coming to a warehouse near year and other great finds be sure to read the full August 2018 issue here.

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur
#GoingToAllTheCostcos

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#Costco #KirklandSignature #theCostcoConnoisseur #GoingToAllTheCostcos

Look Out LaCroix, Costco Has A New Kirkland Signature Sparkling Water!

I drove out to the Manassas, VA Costco warehouse last week and much to my delight I discovered a brand new Kirkland Signature (KS) item:

Kirkland Signature sparkling water (item #4164943)!

This calorie-free, sodium-free, sweetener-free sparkling water is essenced with the natural flavors of lime, lemon & grapefruit, and suspiciously similar to my beloved LaCroix sparkling water.

The KS sparkling water costs 33% less than the LaCroix sparkling waters at Costco! At $7.49 for a 32-pack, the KS sparkling water is just $.23 per can, compared to $.33 per can for the regularly priced $7.99, 24-pack of LaCroix sparkling waters sold at Costco. The KS brand even still costs less than the La Croix instant savings price of $6.39, which works out to $.27 per can making the regularly priced KS sparkling waters 15% cheaper than the LaCroix sale price.

The KS 32-pack includes: 12 Lemon, 12 Lime but only 8 grapefruit, which is a similar ratio to the LaCroix 24-pack which includes: 12 lime, but only 6 lemon and 6 pamplemousse (grapefruit).

Besides the price, one thing I immediately liked about the KS sparkling water was the packaging. The KS sparkling waters are not held together by those plastic 6-pack rings, instead the 32 KS cans are nestled into their sturdy cardboard tray and rely on the exterior plastic wrap to keep them all in place. By contrast, the 24 LaCroix cans are corralled in groups of six by those plastic 6-pack rings inside a slightly less sturdy cardboard tray, then all secured together by the exterior plastic wrap. Not having those additional plastic 6-pack rings which have to be cut up for recycling is a big plus for me.

But savings and packaging aside - how does the KS sparkling water actually taste?!

In a side by side taste test I found both the KS lemon sparkling water and lime sparkling water tasted exactly the same respectively as the LaCroix lemon and lime sparkling waters. While the KS grapefruit had a familiar hint of grapefruit taste, it was a slightly different grapefruit flavor than what I was used to from the LaCroix pamplemousse sparkling water - not bad mind you, just different.

However, the biggest difference I noticed between the two brands wasn't the taste at all, but the bubbles. The KS sparkling waters seem to have more carbonation than the LaCroix waters, which I really enjoy. I would say the increased carbonation is similar to how Topo Chico sparkling mineral water is bubblier than the San Pelligrino sparkling mineral water.

The nutrition labels for both KS and LaCroix sparkling waters are identical, and the ingredients are nearly the same:

The final verdict: with the similar taste, more bubbles and 33% savings I am completely hooked on the new KS sparkling water! Definitely give it a try if you enjoy sparkling water and let me know what you think. 

As always, selection, availability & prices vary from warehouse to warehouse.

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur
#GoingToAllTheCostcos

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#Costco #KirklandSignature #SparklingWater #LaCroix #TheCostcoConnoisseur

Did You Know Some US Costco Food Courts Have French Fries?!

Happy Friday everyone, actually Happy Friday the 13th!

We may not have delicious poutine here in the US, but some of our Costco Food Courts do have French fries:

Here in the DC area there are two warehouses in Northern Virginia that serve French fries in their food courts: warehouse #218 in Sterling, VA and the Newington warehouse (#227) in Springfield, VA.

For those of you wondering, yes 900 calories is a lot, but this is a pretty big serving of restaurant style fries, (not skinny fast food style fries) so Costco fries are best enjoyed with a friend (or two). Here is a photo of the fries next to the hot dog & fruit smoothie for size reference.

If your US Costco has French fries on their food court menu let me know in the comments below.

Happy National French Fry Day!

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur
#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S.

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#costco #costcofoodcourt #costcofrenchfries #frenchfries #NationalFrenchFryDay #costcofood #costcodeals #costcofinds #costcobuys #Friday #FridayFind #FridayFinds #FridayFeeling #FridayFeelings #TGIF #FridayMood #FridayThe13th #TheCostcoConnoisseur

#TBT The Short Lived Costco Self Scan Checkout

Happy Thursday! On this #TBT I want to highlight a short lived feature a few warehouses around the US tested in 2013 & 2014: self scan checkout.


How It Worked:
You scanned your membership card to obtain a scanner which you then used to scan each item's barcode as you added it to your cart. 

All of the carts were equipped with holsters for the scanner so they were readily accesaible while you shopped.

The scanners were fairly intuitive and easy to use. TVs mounted above the self scan kiosk had a short video that walked you through how to use the scanners. Also, there was always a knowledgable employee standing by if you had questions. 

If you accidentally scanned something twice, or decided not to buy an item, you could easily remove it from your scanner.

The scanner kept a tally of how many items you scanned. You could easily browse your scanned items to make sure you hadn't forgotten to scan anything.

Checkout was a breeze because you didn't have to unload everything in your cart at the registers. Instead, you left all of your items in the shopping cart and used separate self-scan-only registers. An employee would confirm the items in your cart matched the list on your scanner, ensuring everything had been scanned. Then, they would scan your list to the register so you could pay as usual. If you were purchasing any age-restricted items, the register would prompt the employee to enter your ID info. Self scan checkout accepted electronic payments only (debit & credit cards), but if you needed to pay using cash or check, the employee could move your transaction to a regular register.

My Experience:
I loved being able to load up my cart knowing I would only have to unload it once - into the the back of my car. I also enjoyed the faster checkout. To me, the only real downside was the scanner did not keep a running tally of my total cost, which seemed like a missing feature. But I guess I understand why Costco excluded the total - if you could see how much money you were spending, you might be inclined to put some items back!


Why It Ended:
When self scan disappeared, I asked several different employees why it had gone away and was told everything from "it was just a trial that was never intended to be permanent" to "there was too much shrink (e.g. theft)."

While it didn’t last, it was fun to try while it was around!

#costco #costcofinds #selfscan #costcobuys #costcodeals #costcofind #costcohaul #throwbackthursday #throwback #TheCostcoConnoisseur

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur
#GoingToAllTheCostcos

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Celebrate #InternationalSushiDay with Costco!

The 18th of June is #InternationalSushiDay - established in 2009, the goal is to spread the love for sushi all over the world!

Did you know some Costco warehouses have SUSHI!? Obviously warehouses in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have sushi, but in the US there are only a handful of warehouses I know of that make fresh, delicious sushi daily. Most of these 'sushi counters' if you will can be found at Costcos in Hawaii, and in select warehouse around the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego areas.

Even if you aren't lucky enough to live near a Costco that makes fresh, delicious sushi daily, I hope you can still find some sushi to enjoy to celebrate today!

Here are some examples of different kinds of sushi you can get at US Costcos:

Ahi Sashimi Tray:

Ahi & A'u Sashimi Tray:

California Rolls:

Futomaki Rolls: 

Shoyu Tuna Rolls:

Smoked Salmon Rolls and Shrimp Crunch Rolls:

California Rolls with Dungeness Crab:

*Note: These are older photos from the last time I was in Hawaii and San Francisco ;)

🍣

#Costco #InternationalSushiDay #CostcoSushi #Sushi #CostcoFinds #CostcoBuys #CostcoDeals #CostcoFood #TheCostcoConnoisseur #GoingToAllTheCostcos

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

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Costco #MarkDownMonday Finds: 18 June 2018

Before I get into this weeks #MarkdownMonday finds I want to again clarify a few things in response to some questions I have received. I do not have any control over what or when Costco marks items down. (Remember, I am not a Costco employee, just a Costco super fan.) 
I just use the #MarkdownMonday hashtag to highlight marked down items that I come across during my Costco outings. It is my understanding that most markdowns are made at the discretion of each warehouse manger based on sales, so markdown prices and item availabiliy vary from each Costco warehouse. I hope that clears up any confusion, but if anyone has questions feel free to send me an email or leave a comment below :)

Now, on with this weeks finds...

Schools are out, summer is getting into full swing and it’s time to hit the pool! Save on these heavy duty dipped Deluxe Pool Noodles, marked down to just $12.97.

Features:

•triple dipped vinyl ensures resistance to UV rays, pool chemicals and salt water to prevent fading

•soft, luxurious foam conforms to the body

Choose from two color combinations: pink & orange or green & blue.

#costcopool #summertime #pool #poolparty #beach #beachtoys #pooltoys

How much fun does this Bestway Inflatable Family Pool With Slide look!? At over over 12' long, it holds a whopping 101 gallons of water, and it is marked down to just $29.97.

Features:

•extra wide walls

•1 inflatable slide

•1 inflatable bench

•1 inflatable backrest

•2 drink holders

#costcopool #summertime #pool #poolparty #bestwaypool #backyardfun

Create shade anywhere you need it - no tools required - with a Coolaroo 13’ x 7’ Rectangle Shade Sail, marked down to $19.97.

Features:

•blocks out 90% of UV Rays

•Choose from three colors: pebble, mocha, terra-cotta

#summertime #shade #coolaroo #coolarooshade #pool #beach #camping #sunsoutbunsout #funinthesun #sunsafety

With a powder coated finish and 2-prong staked base, this Decorative Metal Flower will bring rustic charm to your garden or patio. Each flower is 54.7” tall, 11.6” wide, and marked down to $12.97.

 #garden #patio #costcogarden #costcopatio #backyard #costcobackyard

This set of 3 Decorative Glass Jar Lights is marked down to just $9.97. Each set contains one silver, one gold and one rose gold jar with mini LED lights. Three AAA batteries are required per jar. Batteries not included.

#garden #patio #backyard #costcogarden #costcopatio #costcobackyard

This 8.5’ long (2.6m) Copper Plated Tulip Rain Chain has 11 tulip shaped cups, and is a beautiful alternative to a boring, builder grade downspout. Marked down to $24.97.

#rainchain #rain #garden #patio #costcogarden #backyard #costcobackyard #costcopatio 

Remember, prices and a selections vary by warehouse.

And don't forget one of the Costco general rules of thumb: if you see a markdown grab it because chances are it will be gone before the next time you come back!

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S.

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Get Washington Capitals 2018 Stanley Cup Championship Apparel at Costco!

At Costco warehouses in the Washington D.C. Metro area you can score authentic, NHL licensed fan apparel that won't break the bank!

Show your team spirit & celebrate the Washington Capitals historic Stanley Cup Victory with a t-shirt or performance polo from this limited time NHL Special Event.

This Men's performance golf polo, 100% polyester, is just $19.99:

These t-shirts are just $16.99 each - about half the price of what similar t-shirts are selling for at Dicks Sporting Goods, Fanatics.com, and the NHL shop. This dark gray one, 50/50 cotton, polyester blend, lists the team roster on the back:

This red t-shirt is made of pre-shrunk 100% cotton:

While not a Championship shirt, this light gray tee, made of a 90% cotton & 10% polyester, is a classic throwback to Hockey in D.C:

Don't forget about the kiddos! Costco also has this 100% cotton youth sized Stanley Cup t-shirt:

(Sizes and selections vary by warehouse - hurry before they sell out!)

Costco is also carrying a selection of commemorative memorabilia - like these special issue magazines, which of course are offered at special Costco only prices that are 30%+ LESS than the cover price!

#Costco #ALLCAPS #capitals #washingtoncapitals #hockey #NHL #SportsIllustrated #TheWashingtonPost #StanleyCup #Champions #SthanleyCupChampions #costcofind #costcofinds #costcodeals #costcobuys #TheCostcoConnoisseur

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S.

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