lougord99 wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:

Artie wrote:Gasoline was $1.14 a gallon.

Gas heaven for the consumer and hell for the producer.

When I was 10, I fully recall 29 cent per gallon with the added bonus of a set of steak knives.

Regards,
Cathy2

And they checked your oil levels and tire pressure and they pumped the gas.

And washed your windshield.

Artie wrote:When I left there was very little of a line. An employee told me that the insane lines are only in the morning and that afternoons were much quieter.

This might be true in Merriville. At Damen, both of my visits were in the afternoon. I do not think there is a "light" time of day there.

The GP wrote:Has anyone been in a Costco recently? Specifically Lincoln Park. I've been unsuccessful in finding a delivery slot through Instacart so might need to head in person next week as we are getting low on some staples.

Hi I have not. But a friend went to the lincoln park for me on wednesday at 9:30 in the morning to pick up my meds. She said the place was very empty, tons of toilet paper and the shelves were well stocked. Good luck

Artie wrote:

lougord99 wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:

Artie wrote:Gasoline was $1.14 a gallon.

Gas heaven for the consumer and hell for the producer.

When I was 10, I fully recall 29 cent per gallon with the added bonus of a set of steak knives.

Regards,
Cathy2

And they checked your oil levels and tire pressure and they pumped the gas.

And washed your windshield.

I was in kindergarten when a teenage gas pump guy refused to check the oil and wash the windshield. There was a confrontation between my Dad and this guy. He finally did it, but I was pretty scared.

On my first visit to New Jersey, I did not know you were not allowed to pump your own car. When a Sikh in a turban interrupted my plans to pump the car. It was astonishing.

Cheap Gas - Count me a fan!

Regards,
Cathy2

David Hammond wrote:

bweiny wrote:

NFriday wrote:They are now not taking returns on toilet paper, paper towels, wipes, and bottle water either.

Nor should they. Anybody who thought they were positioning themselves for resale profiteering was bankrupt morally and intellectually.

I suspect many people bought a lifetime's worth of toilet paper and bottled water (insert eyeroll here) because they heard they had to because others were doing it, and they wanted to do something (however foolish) to presumably help themselves and their families during this plague time, and then, finally, they panicked.

Still, I think denying them the opportunity to return/exchange is appropriate.

Or maybe there is a concern of virus on the returned goods.

pairs4life wrote:

David Hammond wrote:

bweiny wrote:

NFriday wrote:They are now not taking returns on toilet paper, paper towels, wipes, and bottle water either.

Nor should they. Anybody who thought they were positioning themselves for resale profiteering was bankrupt morally and intellectually.

I suspect many people bought a lifetime's worth of toilet paper and bottled water (insert eyeroll here) because they heard they had to because others were doing it, and they wanted to do something (however foolish) to presumably help themselves and their families during this plague time, and then, finally, they panicked.

Still, I think denying them the opportunity to return/exchange is appropriate.

Or maybe there is a concern of virus on the returned goods.

If that were the case, you'd think a 'no returns at all' policy would be implemented.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

pairs4life wrote:Or maybe there is a concern of virus on the returned goods.

If that were the case, you'd think a 'no returns at all' policy would be implemented.

Costco is known for their customer service and generous return policies and extension on warranties. If they said, "No returns on food, cleaning supplies and paper goods" I think they'd be OK, but saying, "Nope you can't return that defective 70-inch TV" they'd have a PR nightmare.

I donned my mask yesterday to do the Costco run (Lincoln Park). There was a line but it wasn't bad. I appreciated the signs that gave the approximate time before entry in the warehouse. It took me under 10 minutes at 4:45 PM. I think it took longer from getting the sanitized cart and winding through the entry maze! Lots of TP and paper towels. Not a speck of raw chicken. Got everything on my list plus a few random items (spinach artichoke dip! mini naan!) I feel better stocked for the next month of social distancing.

Costco, the club retailer, has started to limit the amount of meat customers can buy at once. The company, which attracts shoppers who want to buy in bulk, said in an update on its website on Monday that fresh beef, pork and poultry products would be “temporarily limited to 3 items” per member.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/busi ... nk-4e3b217

Costco in Mettawa has limited food service for take-out: pizza and hot dogs.

I went by rote experience to the rear of the store to select toilet paper and did not see any.

A clerk advised there was toilet paper between the freezers and refrigerators. There was Kirkland brand only. I inquired with another clerk if there were any other TP choices. He directed me to check by the cashier check out in front of pharmacy for Scott and Kirkland brands, but no Charmin.

When I got home with the TP, I was asked where were the paper towels. I do not read minds. Those I did see by the traditional TP/paper towel area in the rear.

Regards,
Cathy2

Cathy2 wrote:other TP choices. He directed me to check by the cashier check out in front of pharmacy for Scott and Kirkland brands, but no Charmin.

Coincidentally, we also Costcoed today, right at 9am for the old folks social distance early easy access shopping. Not too crowded, everyone polite, people paying attention to social distance rules, no lines. Store well stocked, including acres of water.

Re: toilet paper and paper towels. Why would one ever want any brand but Kirkland toilet paper and Bounty paper towels, the ne plus ultra of wiping stuff.

G Wiv wrote:Re: toilet paper and paper towels. Why would one ever want any brand but Kirkland toilet paper and Bounty paper towels, the ne plus ultra of wiping stuff.

In our family, we have one Charmin devotee, one Kirkland and one Scott.

Cathy2 wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Re: toilet paper and paper towels. Why would one ever want any brand but Kirkland toilet paper and Bounty paper towels, the ne plus ultra of wiping stuff.

In our family, we have one Charmin devotee, one Kirkland and one Scott.

Sounds like a pain in the ass.

=R=

Cathy2 wrote:In our family, we have one Charmin devotee, one Kirkland and one Scott.

LOL, I read this as "Rock, Paper, Scissors"

I was at Mettawa Costco on Monday. They had plenty of Kirkland paper towels right as you entered (I always buy them over Bounty) and Kirkland TP by the register (I prefer Charmin so I passed on that though I wasn't there for TP as have plenty for now). I could do much worse than Kirkland's TP if that was my only choice.

Hi- I belong to Sams Club which I know does not have a lot of fans here. I get my prescriptions filled here at the Evanston store, and I use their gas which is by far the lowest priced gas in Evanston. On 5/2 which was a Saturday I had a prescription to pick up, and I made the mistake of waiting until I only had 15 minutes left to pick up my prescription before they closed the pharmacy, and the pharmacy is not open on Sundays. The store was closing in 1:15, and the wait to get in the store was at least 30 minutes. I decided to turn around and come back on Monday. I figured there would not be that long of a line on Monday. I got there 45 minutes before the pharmacy was supposed to close, and there was as long of a line. I went to the front of the line, and explained I was just there to pick up a prescription and they let me in.

I can't understand why anybody would need to go to Sam's Club enough to wait in line for at least 30 minutes. Are the lines that long at Costco? I did end up getting some coffee filters while I was there too, and asked the pharmacy people to ring it up for me. The lines for the registers there were long too.

NFriday wrote:I can't understand why anybody would need to go to Sam's Club enough to wait in line for at least 30 minutes. Are the lines that long at Costco? I did end up getting some coffee filters while I was there too, and asked the pharmacy people to ring it up for me. The lines for the registers there were long too.

In times like these, many people seek comfort in the familiar, which is why they may be more likely to endure a long line. Additionally, since Costco and Sam's both charge annual fees, many people probably don't shop at both. So, length of waits may not be a factor at all.

=R=

NFriday wrote:I can't understand why anybody would need to go to Sam's Club enough to wait in line for at least 30 minutes. Are the lines that long at Costco? I did end up getting some coffee filters while I was there too, and asked the pharmacy people to ring it up for me. The lines for the registers there were long too.

The lines are long because they are limiting the number of guests in the store at a time. Last time I was at Costco, they had signs up estimating how long the wait would be before entry into the store. It was much faster than estimated.

The GP wrote:

NFriday wrote:I can't understand why anybody would need to go to Sam's Club enough to wait in line for at least 30 minutes. Are the lines that long at Costco? I did end up getting some coffee filters while I was there too, and asked the pharmacy people to ring it up for me. The lines for the registers there were long too.

The lines are long because they are limiting the number of guests in the store at a time. Last time I was at Costco, they had signs up estimating how long the wait would be before entry into the store. It was much faster than estimated.

Under their current policy there's no queue to enter. Just exercise common sense once inside. Was there (Niles) on Sunday and as crowded as ever. Self check-out really speeds things up.

I gave a relative a ride to the Mettawa Costco today (sorry, that's why I missed the LTHNorth lunch call). I never have yet encountered a line to enter at that Costco. The checkout lines were also the shortest ever, probably because we went on a rainy weekday morning. Only thing I couldn't find were those multipacks of refrigerated chicken parts. None of any kind there; first time I've seen that.

spinynorman99 wrote:Under their current policy there's no queue to enter. Just exercise common sense once inside. Was there (Niles) on Sunday and as crowded as ever. Self check-out really speeds things up.

It's been a few weeks since I have been in a Costco. Didn't realize the policy had changed.

We don't have self-check out yet at Mettawa Costco (my main one along with Glenview), but we also don't have the insane crowds other locations can get. There was no line when I was there this week (mid-morning) and very little wait to check out. I was at a Costco last year that allowed you to order your food and pay for it at a kiosk, then they'll call your number to pick it up. Much better than waiting in line. Might have been the Niles location on Touhy I occasionally go to if I'm in the area.

NFriday I am a health insurance agent (private PPO coverage mainly for people who are self-employed under a division of United Healthcare) and you may already know this but I'll say it anyway. If you have multiple prescriptions you shouldn't automatically get them at the same pharmacy. Those days are over. You could be getting a super cheap one, but another one could be a lot 300% more than anywhere else. Message me if you need any help shopping them around. I have a knack for saving people money with health expenses every time.

Hi- The reason I get all of my prescriptions filled at Sams Club is because they know all of the medications I am on so they can check for interactions. Also I am on medicare, and my Medicare part D policy is a Humana Walmart plan that I pay $13 a month for, and if I go anywhere other than Walmart or Sams Club I have to pay lots more money. I was charged $3 for a three month prescription for my statin medication at Sams.

NFriday wrote:Hi- The reason I get all of my prescriptions filled at Sams Club is because they know all of the medications I am on so they can check for interactions. Also I am on medicare, and my Medicare part D policy is a Humana Walmart plan that I pay $13 a month for, and if I go anywhere other than Walmart or Sams Club I have to pay lots more money. I was charged $3 for a three month prescription for my statin medication at Sams.

All good reasons. Many medications are free at Sam's Club or Costco if you are a member (which many members have no idea about!). The majority of people are throwing money away needlessly. Just wanted to see if I could help but sounds like you have it under control.

Last time I was at Mettawa Costco on May 11, they were out of steak. Tons of burger meat, chicken and fish. Has anyone noticed if steak was back at any Costco?

Ram4 wrote:Last time I was at Mettawa Costco on May 11, they were out of steak. Tons of burger meat, chicken and fish. Has anyone noticed if steak was back at any Costco?

I was there, either the afternoon of the 11th or 12th, there was lots of steak.

Regards,
Cathy2

Cathy2 wrote:

Ram4 wrote:Last time I was at Mettawa Costco on May 11, they were out of steak. Tons of burger meat, chicken and fish. Has anyone noticed if steak was back at any Costco?

I was there, either the afternoon of the 11th or 12th, there was lots of steak.

Regards,
Cathy2

Seriously? I was there late morning and they were acting like "Steak? No chance!" That's great to hear but I will feel better when it's in my hands!

My Costco, the Lincoln Park one,has been having this fantastic wild Alaskan salmon available. I normally don't cook such large pieces of fish (a half side is about 1 1/2 pounds) But it's phenomenal. and the vacuum packaging actually Keeps it fresh for days. i've been making it very simple: A mixture of Dijon, a little brown sugar, salt and pepper and a splash of bourbon. Brush it on the fleshy side, pop it in the oven And I've got food for several days.

I went to Costco Mettawa and the Prime steak was back! They had sirloin, ribeye, and filet. Guess what else was back - the Charmin Ultra Soft so you know things are getting better. I bought two packages, portioned them and vacuum sealed around 18 of them for the freezer.