LOVE LOVE LOVE Costco! Cannot wait for the Ringwood store to open - hopefully it will open in November 2013... Always new things to buy but also the same regular things too - we always buy our toilet paper, Dove soap, washing powder, dishwasher tablets and toothpaste here and it's always heaps cheaper....

We shop at Costco on a regular basis - every 2-3 weeks! Absolutely love it. You definitely need to know your prices before you shop there but some things are so much cheaper. We really love walking all the aisles seeing what new things have come in - we don't just go for the groceries! The staff are really friendly and helpful too which makes it even better!

Love this store every time we go to Melbourne we have to stop in its got so many products and can buy it in bulk for really cheap I love getting bargins the shopping trolley is massive so you can fill it right up I could spend a whole day there looking at everything and after it we stop at there canteen for there yummy pizza I really want one too come to ballarat

Approximate cost: $2-$100

It's a great place to shop! Ive actually got a business membership with Costco~ really great value, everything ves in bulk but with style & quality! haha all the big brands for less, we really need more stores like Costco and not just the one. The only thing I don't like about Costco is its little food court that offers food that is ok but not great haha I think even ikea's food court offers even more variety in food.

Well, I stopped thinking about it and decided to do it. Joined Costco today. The whole thing from start to finish was quite an outing - it's a drive up Footscray Road and a turn under that failed wheel. There is a large undercover car park and you have to take a ticket which gives you free for 2 hours when you put it in the gate machine on the way out. We ended up having to pay $5 as we had obviously overstayed that time. But you're so busy, you don't notice it.

You get your white trolley and go up in the huge double ended lift. Then you have to register - fill out a form - show your driver's licence and have your picture taken. They make your card on the spot. $60 for a Gold Star membership for a family with an extra card.

It's a huge warehouse - MEGA huge. Be prepared to walk a few kilometers around it while you look. Giant floor to ceiling shelves dwarf you as you wander around. In the middle are clothing, books, camping, garden etc and the parallel shelves around the outside walls have the cleaning products, homewares, food, pet gear, and then giant freezers with deserts, dairy goods etc. One wall is fresh produce in a small "cold room", then there's bakery and rows and rows of chest freezers with amazing meat.

One drawback to the largeness of the place ... there's no map to show you where things are and the aisles are numbered but not signed at the end to show you what's in them. Used up a lot of time walking up and down.

Free taste testing of so many things - yoghurt, pasta, Pad Thai noodles, bean salad etc

The cakes are enormous and good value if you have a lot of family to feed or for a function.

We got a lot of bargains here - a kilo yellow bucket of Vegemite for $11, a dozen cans of Italian diced tomatoes for $6.79, a case of mixed Whiskas cat food for $16, 36 dinner rolls for $7 ... well, you don't need to know my whole list. But buying in bulk means you do save. If you've got the storage at home, and can afford a big shop at one time, it's a winner.

They don't have the range you find at other places. There is their own brand, Kirkland from US and then maybe 2 other varieties of a coffee or a pasta sauce for example and that's it. So you might decide to take a chance on liking something of which you've just bought 6 jars and then find out it's a mistake, so choose carefully and think if you really want it or you'll stick to your normal brand.

There's a "double guarantee". If you aren't satisfied with any product they will refund in full and if you want to cancel your membership, your full fee will be refunded too.

Also have vacuum cleaners, luggage, jewellery, shoes ... you can even get your eyes tested! I also bought some lovely underwear and socks.

At the checkout you leave the heavy boxes/bottles in the trolley and they hand-scan them. We had a staff member pack our other items back into the trolley for us - don't know if that's a first time thing or is normal.

THEN you get to go to the Cafe. Hot dog and unlimited drink for around $3, huge pizza slices, good coffee for under $2. You add your own sauces and relish. Chicken salads, Spanish doughnuts and more. A medium sized bench and seat area for eating.

Then it's back down in the big lift. I can imagine a weekend would be impossible - weekday is the time to go if you can.

Then it's off home to unpack and try out some of your purchases and then trying to find a place to put the rest of them until you need them.

I'll be back to look at some other items I briefly saw and to find some stuff I didn't see today.

Almost worthy of entertaining family outing status. A must for groups and organisations or for large group gatherings and a bonus for families with savings over time even though you've spent a bit in one go.

If you want to try it out, you can go with someone who's a member first. You have to show your card at the door to get in and show your receipt which is quickly checked and marked as seen on the way out. All staff seemed knowledgeable and pleasant.

Definitely glad I made the decision to join. Wonder how long it will take the family to use the 40 extra-long toilet rolls? LOL

Approximate cost: $60 membership. First shop - around $250

$2.50 hotdogs with unlimited softdrink omg! massive pizza slices and huge yogurt too! so with their foodcourt it's great how there's unlimited condiments and onions as well to top with your hotdog, but when it's busy boy does it get busy!

the actual supermarket could be cheap, if and only if you actually need to bulk buy something that you actually use i reckon

Great place, I've spent thousands since I got my membership, and have saved even more! Cheapest lunch in Melbourne too, hotdog and soda for $2.50!

Approximate cost: $2.50 a 'dog

we went here about 2 years ago. and i loved it. i can't wait for it to open in ringwood. Just be prepared to spend alot of money. we were only going there for toilet paper and came home with $830 worth of things. 2 years later i am still using some of the cleaning products we brought. everything there is a good brand. although most of it is in bulk its not like a 20kg jar of coffee it would be 20 jars of normal size coffee bundled together. this is good because it does not go off and you could split with your family or friends.
the food section there was also amazing it would be a great place to go to shop for a party or xmas. there were massiv platters of made up food, meats, fingers foods, huge cakes etc.

If you like to buy in bulk then this is the place or just for something different. Great for bulk junk food or larger packs of fresh meat and veggies or seafood. They have electrical, jewellery, clothing, shoes, garden items and furniture. If you are able to manage a huge trolley and pay the joining fee due yearly then give it a go. I spend way too much here but it lasts for ages as in bulk I make it up when I don't have to buy as much at supermarket. And I get some items not available locally (however have noticed this changing somewhat). If you have a friend with membership go as an observer to check it out first. The location is only downside for me, it's at docklands and parking difficult.

For $60 membership, this place is well worth it if you live close by or are willing to make the trip. We always come home with a full boot. They sell everything here from food to clothing to jewellery. The chocolate section is my favourite and if you are a fan of Reese's peanut butter cups or Hershey's, then Costco would be like heaven for you. For a more healthy pick, they have large packs of dried fruit and nuts. The dried mangoes are so yummy! They also have bulk packs of bulgogi which is really well marinated if you like Korean food. I also shouldn't, but often do, take one of their rich passionfruit cheesecakes home. Prices for general items are slightly cheaper than Safeway/Coles, but pretty much everything comes in bulk packages of at least 1kg which can limit the amount of choices and room in your fridge/freezer/pantry.