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☆ I pay for Costco's $120 executive membership even though I only shop for 2. Here are some of my favorite buys.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Dominic Bucca | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I do almost all of my grocery shopping at Costco, even though I only shop for two. I have an executive Costco membership and feel that it's worth the $120 fee. AdvertisementDespite not having a large family to feed, I've been shopping at Costco for more than 20 years. I pay for a $120 executive membership, which feels worth it to me because of the savings I score on pantry staples, dairy, meat, and more. Unlike the cheaper $60 membership, the executive version has a 2% annual reward of up to $1,000 on eligible Costco purchases.

Persons: — Organizations: Costco, Service

☆ I pay for Costco's $120 executive membership even though I shop for only 2. Here are some of my favorite buys.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Dominic Bucca | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I do almost all my grocery shopping at Costco, even though I shop for only two. I have an executive Costco membership and feel that it's worth the annual $120 fee. AdvertisementDespite not having a large family to feed, I've been shopping at Costco for more than 20 years. I pay for a $120 executive membership annually, which feels worth it because of the savings I score on pantry staples, dairy, meat, and more. Unlike the cheaper $60 membership, the executive version has a 2% annual reward of up to $1,000 on eligible Costco purchases.

Persons: — Organizations: Costco, Service

☆ Costco and TJX crushed rivals in an inflationary world. What happens as prices come down?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Costco and TJX Companies should be able to manage the emerging transition to deflation by leveraging their deep value propositions to get customers to buy more. Average sale prices on other items like TVs have been lower while unit sales have gone higher. Membership fee revenue is some of the glue that allows Costco to keep prices so low. Costco can boost sales in either scenario by "encouraging its members to buy more items to get more savings," Feldman said. Like Costco, Feldman said the off-price retailer would need to increase revenue either through price or number of units.

Persons: won't, Joe Feldman, Jim Cramer, Rich Galanti, Galanti, Feldman, It's, They'll, Jefferies, TJX, We'll, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Robert Nickelsberg Organizations: Costco, TJX, Marshalls, Federal, Fed, Telsey Advisory, Kirkland, CNBC, Costco Wholesale, Getty Locations: Maxx, stoke, TJX, Colchester , Vermont

☆ Costco CFO says China has huge potential as he gives us a peek at international expansion plans
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The world's second-largest economy has "very good potential" for Costco expansion, CFO Rich Galanti told CNBC. In an interview with Galanti, the warehouse club's numbers cruncher gave CNBC a glimpse at Costco's longer-term expansion plans. Costco plans to open one more China location this calendar year after the debut earlier this month of the store in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. Costco's international segment "continues to grow as a percent of the store base," he told CNBC. Shoppers queue in the parking lot to enter the Costco Wholesale Corp. store in Shenzhen, China, on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024.

Persons: Rich Galanti, Galanti, Craig Jelinek, Jim Cramer, We've, Jelinek didn't, Ron Vachris, signups, Phillip Blee, William Blair, Blee, cardholders, Corey Tarlowe, Tarlowe, Michael Baker, Davidson, Kirkland, bode, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Qilal Shen Organizations: Costco, CNBC, cruncher, Disney, Jefferies, D.A, Kirkland, Tarlowe, Shoppers, Costco Wholesale Corp, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Shenzhen, China, Canada, North America, United States, Mexico, South America, Shanghai, U.S, —

☆ Costco is testing out a new system for entering stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Bad news if you’re mooching off of someone else’s Costco membership: The retail giant is cracking down. Costco membership cards are non-transferable, but the company allows members to give a second household card to one other person in their home. But Costco has noticed that non-members have been sneaking in with membership cards that don’t belong to them — particularly since Costco expanded self-checkout. And now, Costco is testing out a system that requires members to scan their membership cards at the store entrance — instead of just flashing the card to employees. Costco is testing the scanners at a handful of stores to see if they help.

Persons: you’re, ” Costco, Richard Galanti, “, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Costco, Shoppers, CNN, Netflix Locations: New York, Washington State

☆ A 20-year-old college student brought in $125,000 in 7 months doing retail arbitrage on Amazon. He explains how he got started with $3,000 upfront.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Low-risk retail arbitrage is time-intensive, however. He had a few summer vacation months ahead: the perfect opportunity to scale a retail arbitrage operation. With FBA, he wouldn't have been able to list products until Amazon received them, which would have killed his strategy of listing products before purchasing inventory. Dhingra, now 20, is in his junior year at VCU and focused on other entrepreneurial projects since retail arbitrage requires so much time. He has reinvested 100% of his profits back into the arbitrage business, he said: "I haven't taken a single disbursement from my business checking.

Persons: Sahaj Dhingra, Dhingra, it's, Perrier, Nestlé, it'll, wouldn't, He'd Organizations: YouTube, Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Business, Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU, UPS, USPS Locations: Virginia, Dhingra

☆ Why buying a Costco gift card should be your go-to holiday gift hack
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The wholesale club sells gift card bundles with discounts of 20% or more on the combined face value. In addition, the company's own Shop card acts as an access pass for non-members to visit a warehouse. AdvertisementThe same things that make cash a great holiday gift — it's always the right size and color — largely apply to gift cards as well. Warehouses often have jumbo-sized sheets of gift cards on display featuring national chains as well as local restaurants and teams. While buying gift cards through Costco may be a bargain, the better gift (for certain recipients) just might be a gift card to Costco.

Persons: —, — it's, Papa Johns, Eddie Organizations: Costco, Service, Papa, NFL, NHL, MLB

☆ When I graduated college, my dad told me exactly what to do with every paycheck. More than a decade later, I'm still doing it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Jennifer Streaks | Senior Personal Finance Reporter | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He told me, "If you're working, there are steps you should take so you are always comfortable." Save as much money as you canI save money now automatically so it's in my savings account before I even see it. Pay all of my household bills first, including that cell phone billSometimes we have to learn these money lessons the hard way. I pay every bill in my home first: rent, cable, electric, water, and my cell phone bill. Our cell phones are such a big part of our lives, and you may even use your cell phone for work.

Persons: I'm, what's Organizations: Costco, Netflix, Apple Locations: Paris

☆ More young people are getting Costco memberships, but they're not spending as much as boomers or Gen X
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

More young people are getting Costco memberships, CEO Craig Jelinek told CNBC. Younger shoppers have a different purchasing power to baby boomers and Gen X, Jelinek said. AdvertisementAdvertisementMore young people are buying Costco memberships, but they're not buying as much as older generations, the retailer's CEO says. "We're seeing more younger people sign up, absolutely," Craig Jelinek told CNBC's Jim Cramer. They're slightly going up as they become longer members, but initially the purchasing power from the younger generation compared to the boomers or X is a little bit different in what they're buying."

Persons: Craig Jelinek, they're, Gen X, Jelinek, —, CNBC's Jim Cramer, Xers –, haven't, Richard Galanti, we're Organizations: Costco, CNBC, Service, Pew Research Center, of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau

☆ Insider Today: The fight for remote jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Remote workers are doing anything but work in the afternoons. Elena Noviello/Getty ImagesThere are few topics in corporate America as polarizing as remote work. AdvertisementAdvertisementLengthy, expensive office leases might also discourage companies from embracing remote work. As Aki's story points out, that type of rationale from larger companies has created an opportunity for those willing to support remote work. A company's commitment to remote work might not be forever, even if employees view it that way.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, we've, I'm, Chelsea Jia Feng, Insider's Aki Ito, Aki, What's, Elena Noviello, Goldman Sachs, Leonardo Munoz, Rebecca Szkutak, Dominic, Madori Davis, Snyder, Mark Reinertson, Anthropic, Lindsey Nicholson, Jacob Boomsma, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, NFL, nab, TechCrunch, Thistle Technologies, Getty, Employees, Costco, Google, Netflix, Cintas Corp Locations: America, Amazon's, Sioux Falls , South Dakota, Jefferson City , Missouri, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

☆ AI deals give investment banks a glimmer of hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

About a third of all M&A deals in the first half of 2023 were technology deals, and a lot of that was related to AI, said Berlin. The success of these deals mean more M&A is likely on the horizon, said Dan Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush. Costco members now have access to $29 online health care visitsCostco is known for its giant tubs of mac and cheese, cheap hotdogs and more-for-less warehouse deals. The retailer is offering the new service in partnership with Sesame, a direct-to-consumer health care marketplace that connects medical providers nationwide with consumers. Costco is among several retailers, including Amazon, CVS and Walgreens, who are directly providing health care to customers as the demand booms for urgent care access outside of a traditional hospital setting.

Persons: CNN —, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, ” Goldman, David Solomon, Instacart’s, ”, Mitch Berlin, “ You’re, Dan Ives, ” Ives, Taavon Naja, Ramishah Maruf, Parija Kavilanz, Sesame Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, Wall, Companies, Renaissance, Nasdaq, Cisco, Wedbush, of Foreign, Control, Costco, Costco Pharmacy’s, Amazon, CVS, Walgreens Locations: Americas, Berlin, Iran, Switzerland, United States, PFAS, New York

☆ Costco teams up with Google-backed health startup to offer $29 virtual doctor's visits to members
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Costco members will soon be able to receive low-cost health care through a partnership with Sesame. In addition to $29 virtual visits, Costco members will receive discounts on other services. Through a new partnership with Sesame, a healthcare marketplace startup backed by Google, Costco members can receive virtual doctor's visits for $29, plus discounts on other telehealth and in-person services, Sesame said Monday. The move into primary care follows similar investments by retailers Walmart and Amazon, as well as from pharmacies CVS and Walgreens. In addition to $29 virtual visits, Costco members will be able to receive virtual mental health sessions for $79, health checkups for $72, and a 10% discount on other services.

Persons: Sesame, —, David Goldhill, Goldhill Organizations: Costco, Walmart, Amazon, CVS, Walgreens, Service, Google, Costco Members, Bloomberg

☆ Costco members now have access to $29 online healthcare visits
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ You can buy 'super tacky' Costco sweatshirts, and the store's super fans say they're now the 'envy' of their middle-aged friends
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's available on Costco's website for $12.97, alongside a black version, which just has a small embroidered Costco logo in the top corner and on one cuff. "I bought the hideous Costco sweatshirt and it's everything I wanted and more," one person wrote in the Facebook group COSTCO FINDS, which has 1.5 million members. But some people say they don't understand the appeal, with Reddit users calling the gray sweatshirt "absolutely hideous," "super tacky," "mega ugly," and even "atrocious." Costco"When I buy a Kirkland/Costco branded clothing item, I want my wife to gasp in disbelief," they continued. The Costco logo sweatshirts currently on sale have been available since at least September 2022, costing $19.99 at one store.

Persons: who've Organizations: Costco, Service, Facebook, COSTCO, Kirkland Locations: Wall, Silicon, North Carolina

☆ Earnings this week show shoppers will spend money for value, favoring two retail stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

A busy week of retail earnings revealed that American consumers are spending with value top of mind. This disparity signals that certain discretionary goods categories are working while others are not. TGT YTD mountain Target YTD performance Target on Wednesday reported a second-quarter that reflected weak sales along with a slowdown in discretionary spending. TJX YTD mountain TJX Companies YTD performance TJX tells a different story. COST YTD mountain Costco YTD performance Looking ahead, Costco is set to release its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Sept. 26.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Matthew Shay, Doug McMillon, Brian Cornell, That's, Maxx, TJX, Ernie Herrman, it's, ROSS, Ross, Jim, Jim Cramer's Organizations: Walmart, TJX Companies, Costco, National Retail Federation, CNBC, Retailers, Health, Wellness, Walmart's, Marshalls, & Beverage, Food & Beverage, Target, Ross Stores, Corbis, Getty Locations: Maxx, TJX, U.S, Teterboro , New Jersey

☆ A 27-year-old personal finance creator breaks down the investment portfolios he's using to reach $2 million in 8 years — and shares the account types and categories of stocks he believes will accelera
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Laila Maidan | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

He's using a regular brokerage account and a solo 401(k) with pre- and after-tax advantages. Late last year, he decided he wanted to build a retirement portfolio worth $2 million that he could track and others could follow along. To date, he has $47,400 in a brokerage account and $72,774 in a retirement account, according to records viewed by Insider. This account has four sections: dividend stocks, technology stocks, risky stocks, and the S&P 500. These stocks account for 35% or about $17,000 in this account.

Persons: Austin Hankwitz, Hankwitz, Roth, I've, Crocs, doesn't Organizations: Lowe's Companies, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Palo Alto Networks, Costco, Vanguard Locations: Wall, Silicon, TikTok

☆ The 6 best credit cards to use for Costco purchases in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Juan Ruiz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Let’s take a look at what types of credit cards Costco accepts and the best credit cards for Costco purchases, whether you’re looking for financing, cash back or travel rewards. The best credit cards for Costco in 2023How did we choose our best credit cards when shopping at Costco in 2023? Best for Costco loyalists: Costco Anywhere Visa Card by CitiUse this credit card to earn bonus cash back on gasoline purchases, both at Costco and other gas stations. Best for travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardEarn travel rewards on your Costco purchases with the Capital One Venture card. These premium Chase cards include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

Persons: it’s, It’s, cardholders, Read, Cash Organizations: CNN, American Express, Costco, Getty, Mastercard, American, Google, Samsung, Citi, EV, Read CNN, Wells, Costco Wholesale Clubs, Capital One Venture, One Venture, Venture, Capital, Chase, Sapphire, Ink Business, Ink, Cash, Citi Travel, Card, Citi Prestige ® Locations: drugstores

☆ Costco still has 3 ways to shop without a membership even as the retailer cracks down on card-sharing — but the math still favors paying the fee
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Costco says more shoppers are sharing cards at self-checkout, so it's clamping down on checking IDs. There are still ways to shop without a membership: online, with a gift card, or as a member's guest. Still, there are a few ways to shop Costco's selection without paying the fee. In that scenario, the $60 membership fee basically pays for itself after just two trips. Use a Costco gift card without a membershipAnother popular workaround is to use a Costco gift card, known as a Shop Card, which allows shoppers to access the warehouse to use the funds.

Persons: — Organizations: Costco, Service, Netflix, Gold Star, Walmart Locations: Instacart

The best identity theft protection service is one that meets your needs at the price you're willing to pay. Here's how we rate identity theft protection services. How we rate identity theft protection servicesIdentity theft protection services are rated on a scale from 1-5 stars, with five being the best. Some credit card companies have identity theft protection services that are only available to their cardholders, such as American Express CreditSecure. What to know about identity theft protection service ratingsOur system for rating identity theft protection services balances the price of the service with the features that the service provides.

Persons: you'll, It's, Price Organizations: Express, Costco

☆ Costco CFO says that only a 'really small percent' of members misuse their cards, 'but when you're dealing with millions of transactions' it adds up
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Its CFO told The WSJ that only a "really small percent" misuse their cards but this can quickly build up. Membership fees make up almost 2% of Costco's total revenues. "But when you're dealing with millions of transactions, even a very small percentage is something you would want to correct." Membership fees made up almost 2% of Costco's total revenues in the three months to May 7. The retailer last raised its membership fees in 2017, when they went up by around 10%.

Persons: —, Richard Galanti, Galanti Organizations: Costco, Service, Wall Street, Star Locations: Puerto Rico

☆ Costco is cracking down on sharing membership cards
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Since Costco has expanded self-checkout, the company has noticed that non-members have been sneaking in to use membership cards that don’t belong to them. “We don’t feel it’s right that nonmembers receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” Costco said in a statement. Costco members pay either $60 for a regular membership or $120 for an executive card every year to shop at clubs. Any changes to membership growth could hurt Costco. Netflix has also recently cracked down on members sharing passwords.

Persons: ” Costco, Costco Organizations: New, New York CNN, Costco, Sam’s Club, Netflix Locations: New York

☆ A new addition to Goldman Sachs' board could be a lifeline, or threat, to CEO David Solomon
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A change to the board of directors at a top Wall Street bank has raised questions about what it means for the CEO. Goldman Sachs board is reportedly planning to add Tom Montag, a former longtime Goldman exec who became the No. And as a former partner at the bank, Montag also brings with him a certain cachet. Such is life on Wall Street, where the line between friend and foe is never quite clear. From Mark Zuckerberg's martial arts-led comeback to Jeff Bezo's hot yacht summer, tech bros are feeling themselves these days.

Persons: Dan DeFrancesco, you've, —, we've, Tom Montag, Craig Barritt, Tory Burch, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, David Solomon, Montag, Solomon, Insider's Dakin Campbell, Merrill, Insider's Alex Morrell, Jeff Bezos, Clive Mason, Mark Zuckerberg's, Jeff Bezo's, Biden's, Jen Glantz, Pete Buttigieg, Jeffrey Cane, Hallam Bullock Organizations: Costco, Tory, Tory Burch Foundation, Bank of America, Bloomberg, Goldman, Solomon, BofA, Getty, Finance bros, Transportation, Starbucks, LinkedIn Locations: NYC, BofA, BlackRock, New York, London

☆ Costco is cracking down Netflix-style on shoppers sharing membership cards to use at self-checkout
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Costco says more shoppers have been improperly sharing membership cards to use at self-checkout. Employees at self-checkout are increasingly asking shoppers to show a member card with their photo. But Costco says it has noticed an increase in shoppers using cards that aren't theirs, especially to check out at the self-service lanes. "As we already ask for the membership card at checkout, we are now asking to see their membership card with their photo at our self-service checkout registers." More than 69 million households have a Costco membership, and there are nearly 125 million authorized cardholders, according to third-quarter SEC filings.

Persons: —, Richard Galanti, we've Organizations: Costco, Netflix, Employees, Service, Privacy, Star, Dallas Morning News, SEC Locations: Michigan, Texas

☆ Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi review
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Digging into the Costco Anywhere Visa Business CardThe Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card earns bonus cash back on gas, both at Costco and other gas stations. iStockThe Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card is a business credit card that’s geared to small business owners and entrepreneurs, yet it works best for Costco members who already pay for a membership. Advantages of the the Costco Anywhere Visa Business CardCostco only accepts Visa credit cards in its stores, so the Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card is a good choice for business owners who shop at the wholesale store. Stacking the Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card up against our benchmarkCNN Underscored uses the Citi® Double Cash Card as our “benchmark” credit card. Remember, you don’t have to commit to carrying the Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card as your only business credit card.

Persons: Cash Organizations: CNN, American Express, Costco, Citi, EV, Costco Gold Star, Card Costco, Citi Entertainment, Cash, Citi Premier ℠, ℠, Mastercard, Chase, Ink, Visa, Capital, Venture Locations: U.S, New York

☆ 5 things you should always buy at Costco—and 5 you can skip
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Gas Costco consistently has lower gas prices when compared with local gas stations, although you'll need a $60 Costco membership to access their pumps. The only catch with Costco gas is that "everybody in town knows it's cheap," says Ramhold. Nuts Costco has a wide variety of nuts that come with some of the lowest prices you can find. Kirkland brand maple syrup is a hit with Costco-focused food review websites, with one rating it a "must buy." Pizza Costco's famously cheap $1.50 hot dog and drink combo gets a lot of attention, but you could argue the store's food court pizza offers even more value.

Persons: Harris, Julie Ramhold, I've, that's, Pizza Organizations: Costco, Kirkland Signature, CNBC, Gas Costco, New York Costco, Walmart Locations: New York, Kirkland

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