Costco

Shopping in bulk can save you a lot of money, and when it comes to buying copious amounts of products at once to save some coin in the long-run, there’s one retailer that reigns supreme: Costco.

As of May 2023, the Seattle, Washington-based chain has managed to nab some 124.7 million annual card holders, a fairly impressive feat since the business was established in 1983.

By paying an annual membership premium, card holders can enjoy sizable discounts on various products and member exclusives, including a wide variety of electronics, appliances, foodstuffs, staples like toilet paper, and a ridiculously low-priced and oft-celebrated food court serving up $1.50 hot dog and fountain soda combos, along with other beloved treats.

Costco is also home to aggressively-priced pharmaceuticals and healthcare goods/services, along with vision screenings and eyeglasses, vetted precious jewelry and diamonds, and even auto mechanics and car tire sales—in short, the store offers a lot and there are a ton of perks folks can expect when shopping at the chain.

As a result, Costco has purportedly been aggressively policing who uses its card services, and members have reported in recent years a greater effort from employees who are cracking down on card-borrowing, even with people’s direct family members.

When it comes to retail store worker pay and benefits, Costco has also been praised for giving its employees competitive wages and admirable healthcare plans including medical, vision, and dental packages, if they work 23 hours or more a week.