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Costco Raising Membership Fees

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Bloomberg claimed the price of hot dogs hasn’t gone up over the years.
At Costco we use to be able to get a Hot Dog or Polish Sausage - and could also get the additional sauerkraut. Those went away. The prep stand use to include fresh chopped onions, that is gone too.
Bloomberg NYC has lost over 50% of its terminal subscribers, its bread and butter, over the last 36 months. Also lost a hefty amount of its news subscriptions. I often need to fact check Bloomberg with sources.
My guess is the Have Yachts Bloomberg staff don’t really understand the Costco Have Nots.
Costco seems more crowded now as people under 30 are appreciating saving money.
Yes, I will pay Costco the higher price, relative to the “no counted in inflation” cost of food, energy, utilities, fees, taxes, insurance, … it is way below the other price increases. :cowboy_hat_face:

Given the several thousands of dollars one saves by buying hearing aids (and getting followup service for years) at Costco, the additional $5 per year for the privilege is worth it!–in my view.
A reminder–one needs NO membership at Costco to visit and EXPLORE the idea of hearing aids from them. You only need to be a member to BUY them and then annually to continue to have access to followup care.

Several years ago I was told I didn’t need to be a member for follow-up care. I never tried it as their gasoline saves me enough money to be worthwhile as does a staple or two.

At least at our Costco you need to be a member to get a hearing test. I’d never been a member until I explored hearing aids but gas, and a couple of items definitely make the membership worthwhile.

In reply to @Um_bongo

My rebate this year was $685, and it is always more than the membership fee. Doesnt work for everyone but works for us. Our two daughters also have their memberships.

In reply to @Um_bongo

@Um_bongo said:

Cheapest hearing aid prices Evah!

You’re just on the hook for a service contract for $1300 over the next ten years. Pretty cute.

Since my partner and I both have the “Cheapest hearing aids Evah!” their ‘ten year service contract’ goes down to $650 each.. a great deal!. And yes we have their higher end membership :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:.

Hearing aids, glasses, allergy medicine, and gas, if you purchase nothing else at Costco you have more than made up for the membership fees

It is %8.33. What else hasn’t gone up that much over the years. LOL

If you apply that to the hot dog it would be $1.62.

Costco has 132 million members. So that’s only a pidly $660 million extra a year in pure profit. Chump change for us but over half a billion for Costco

I’ve been an executive member for nearly 20 years when I joined and was told if I didn’t recoup the extra fee, they would refund me the membership fee. Since then, every year, I have been paid back much more than the extra cost, and get back even more by using their credit card. Besides , I buy as much as I can there, e.g. eyeglasses, tires, gas, clothes, food etc. And I look there first whenever I need something different. When I hear about inflation complaints, I think complainers should buy more from Costco. Costco may not always have the same premium brands, but goods are high quality, sold at unbeatable prices. Complainers who contend food is too expensive should rationally buy more at Costco instead of Ralph’s. I think the best way to beat inflation is to buy at Costco.

I joined Costco in 2018 to purchase my KS8S. I dropped my membership and continued to get annual hearing checks (recently changed to every two years) and get click domes and at no cost. I can enter without a membership card. I just tell the person at the entrance, I’m going in for a hearing aide check. I can go in to have my aids cleaned and have domes and wax guards changed on a walk-in basis. Recently I joined again to checkout the new aids. KS8S were made by Rexton so I think I’ll try the Reach. I find it more convenient to shop elsewhere for everyday items like food, gasoline,etc.

In reply to @OatMan

Talked to local Costco Management about hotdogs. Now, IF YOU ASK, they will provide a small container of chopped onion for the Hotdog!
Bloomberg license by traders for their business news and trading software has dropped.
Who would have thought that politically tainted, slanted business news would not be tolerated by people paying monthly for the news to make business decisions? Bloomberg L.P. is a privately held company, majority-owned by Michael Bloomberg, who maintains an estimated 88% stake. Michael stepped aside as CEO. Private companies are not required to provide sales or any other data. Some of us remain highly skeptical of thier USA news. The EU & Asia news appears to maintain independence from NYC bias. The Bloomberg NYC News seemed to be horrible at reporting USA Inflation the last 5 years. But, the Bloomberg Commodity Index was actually used by many to track USA Inflation,. It had a general indication of 7+% compounded yearly. So, the Costco rise over 5 years wasn’t really outrageous. The tiny adjustment for Social Security followed Bloomberg’s news instead off reality.

I’m okay with a $5 increase. I remember the sticker shock when the BCBS in-network audiologist told me that my Widex hearing aids would cost $7000 after my insurance coverage. Those were not the highest-tier aids, either. That was about 10 years ago. I just got my third pair from Costco this year, Philips 9050, and I’m pleased with it.

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