Kaohsiung Insider

Worth the trip to watch people line up for miles to get a product sample. Not sure when I would ever need 20 kilos of coffee or a trolley full of toilet paper. If it all gets too much can always have a slice of pizza out the front.

This Costco is no different than any other that I’ve been to, it’s great for purchasing items in bulk that you require. I was a bit turned off by the amount of people that go there (75%) to feed their kids and themselves sample food from each and every vender, with no intention of purchasing anything. Not only does this crowd the store with a mess of unnecessary people it creates a barrier that is often impossible to maneuver about to get to what you want. This is a failure on Costco part by allowing card holders to bring in guest.

Frequented Costco often back home in Idaho and guess what, frequent it often here in K-town.

Items of note:
They have a good selection of wines. I'm not very good at knowing what wines are good/bad, but for example most the German Riesling's I've picked up have been great and a good bargain.

They also now stock a German beer which is quite good and while of course you buy it in bulk, each bottle is only something like $28.

Of course much like Costco back home they may have a lot of different items but maybe only a few different variations.

As noted, the pizza and hot dogs are decent and a good price if you're hungry and can't wait until you get home.

I tend to go to Costco on Wednesday nights as on the weekends it can be a zoo.

This is one of the best places in Kaohsiung to buy any number of items. Costco has the best priced pharmacy. The cheapest, in bulk, dog and cat food. The cheapest roast chickens, pizzza and hot dogs in Kaohsiung and a great meat counter, that sells lamb. Their wine and spirits section beats CarreFour and Dollars by a long shot and they have a small Deli section that has smoked salmon, great Italian cheeses and also Goat cheese and sour cream. They sell a lot of stuff that you simply cannot buy anywhere else. In addition, Costco has a hassle free return and replacement policy. I bought an air con from them which blew up after about 14 months, they replaced it free of charge. I had a large travel bag which split slightly at a seam and they swopped it for a new one without blinking. Do not go there on weekends it's packed and you will wait 20 mins+ at the checkout. Best time to go is at 10:00 when it opens. The manager told me that Tuesday was their slowest day. BTW you need a membership card to get in [$1,200 for a year] so go with a member or borrow a card if you are only here in Kaohsiung for a short time. However your Kaohsiung Costco card can be used back home in Canada or the USA and the membership is cheaper here than in Canada. They used to offer day passes but I think they have stopped that now, but ask, the staff are friendly and helpful and most of the senior staff speak English.

It is truely amazing to see this place from the parking lot. You'd think you're home or something? Not much to comment here, you know what you'll find. Just as you know the Costco brand and Globalism. Be sure and have your membership handy as you stroll in with your oversized shopping cart. Say, isn't it that if you shop bulk you're gonna eat bulk too?