Last Updated Nov 19, 2010 10:24 AM EST You head to Costco to stock up on staples -- say, paper towels and cleaning supplies -- but you walk out with three salmon filets, a tub of cream puffs, and a ream of printer paper. Most of us are notoriously poor at assessing a true bargain, says C.W. Park, professor of marketing at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, and editor of The Journal of Consumer Psychology. Seduced by the prospect of saving money, we give in to impulse buys. Eventually, we regret the purchase or throw much of a past-its-prime product away. It's called the Costco Effect, and it's actually part of the store's incredibly successful retail strategy. But the effect on your wallet is that you spent more than you would have if you'd never seen that "bargain."5 things to buy at Costco6 Clever Tricks for Holiday ShoppersNot So Fast: 7 Things to Buy After ChristmasHere are four product categories where you're better off going somewhere other than Costco.You might score the occasional pair of Lucky jeans or a Speedo swimsuit, but designer duds aren't exactly Job 1 at Costco.
Even if you do see an item from a top-tier name brand, you can't assume it's the same quality as the similar-looking product at a department store. "Just because it's a national brand name, an item of clothing doesn't have to meet the standards you'll see in other stores," says Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at the NPD Group, a market research firm.Kathryn Finney, founder of The Budget Fashionista, says it's no secret that most name designers make cheaper lines just for warehouse clubs or outlet stores. The tip-off, says Finney, will be in the packaging and/or label on the garment. Labels on the sub-brands are just glued on, and are usually stiff and crunchy, while labels on high-end goods are softer or silky, and stitched all around. Most shrimp sold in the U.S. is imported from countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia, where environmental regulations are often lax or not enforced, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, (EDF), an education and advocacy non-profit. The EDF classifies shrimp imported from these regions as "eco-worst" for the environmentally destructive ways in which they are often farmed.
Greenpeace took aim at Costco's seafood sustainability practices last June with an aggressive campaign called Oh No Costco. While Costco seafood buyer Bill Mardon says his company has entered into a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to set global standards for shrimp farming, the specific objectives are still being discussed."Costco gets credit for starting down the road," says Tim Fitzgerald, senior policy analyst for oceans at of the EDF, "but they are still very early on." In the meantime, you're better off buying shrimp at Trader Joe's, which is much further along on the same path. After Greenpeace launched its Traitor Joe campaign in early 2009, Trader Joe's pledged to remove all non-sustainable seafood from its stores by the end of 2012, and it's already taken concrete steps in that direction. "Target and Wal-Mart have this market cornered and they do a great job," says Budget Fashionista's Finney. Costco, by contrast, rarely stocks more than a handful of top-selling colors in sheets and towels.
"If you want 20 colors, this isn't the place," admits Jim Klauer, Costco merchandise manager for bedding and the home.12-Pound Crates of Navel OrangesSure, it only costs $11.99, but it's not such a good deal if you end up throwing away half the fruit. Same goes for the package of six hearts of romaine lettuce, and the 3-pack of whipped heavy cream (240 servings) unless you're, say, hosting a sleepover for your child's entire soccer team. , which helps shoppers save on food, says that when it comes to produce, it's often more cost-effective to shop at your local supermarket and combine coupons with seasonal specials. Also avoid Costco's candy aisle -- do you really need a 5-pound bucket of licorice twists?This article is part of a package on shopping at Costco. Read the other article on 5 things to buy at Costco. Need to Buy a Mattress? Read This Before You DoWhy doesn't Angie's List rate attorneys?Landscaping: What do your neighbors do that drives you crazy?How much does it cost to be a member here?
How much does it typically cost to paint a 2100 square foot house on the exterior? That's very difficult to answer without seeing the house. As one poster said, the prep is the most important part. On newer homes that don't have a lot of peeling paint, the prep can be very minimal even as low as a couple or a few hundred dollars for the prep labor. On a 100 year old home with 12 coats of peeling paint on it, then the prep costs can be very high and can easily exceed 50% of the job's labor cost.A 2100 sq ft two story home could easily cost $1000 just for the labor to prep for the paint job. That number could climb too. Throw in lots of caullking or window glazing, and you could be talking a couple or a few hundred dollars more for labor. Painting that home with one coat of paint and a different color on the trim could run roughly $1000 or more just for labor. Add a second coat and that could cost close to another $1000 for labor. For paint, you may need 20 gallons of paint. You can pay from $30-$70 for a gallon of good quality exterior paint.
The manufacturer of the paint should be specified in any painting contract. Otherwise, the contractor could bid at a Sherwin-Williams $60 per gallon paint and then paint the house with $35 Valspar and pocket the difference. $25 dollars per gallon times 20 gallons? That's a pretty penny too. That was the long answer to your question. The short answer is $2000 to $4000 and up, depending upon the amount of prep, the number of coats, the amount of trim, and the paint used.Purchasing a Sleep Innovations memory foam mattress, topper or pillow can save you a whopping 60% off a Tempurpedic. But how will you sleep? The following ratings and comparative reviews will help you pick the best one for your situation. You will also discover which are the most popular and how each compares to the industry leader, Tempurpedic. Remember that old saying, "You get what you pay for?" Well... the maker of the cheap Costco Novaform Pure Comfort Deluxe (and others), want you to forget that saying, and with good reason.
These manufacturers are out to prove that you can get a long lasting quality memory foam mattresses, topper or pillows without paying the premium price. And as you will see, they are succeeding.TIP: Don't Trust Sleep Innovations Reviews - written before Feb 2009 If you read an old review from before 2009, you will end up paying more than is necessary for quality memory foam. This company is not the same one it was before 2008. It is way better. In addition, their products have improved also. But it turned out to be a great thing for you.Discover how the improved their memory foam products, their warranty, and also made their call center friendlier. Sleep Innovations 12-inch Memory Foam Mattress Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars More than three quarters of buyers gave it the highest rating possible, 5.0 out of 5.0. This is one of the Maniac's picks for Best Mattresses under $500. Most purchasers agree that you wouldn't know you were sleeping on a 'cheap' memory foam bed unless you saw the sales receipt.
These same folks would never pay the extra $1,500 difference in cost to buy the equivalent Tempurpedic bed. The 12-inch high bed has 2.5 inches of breathable 3 pound density memory foam on top. It is very comfortable and does not trap your body heat nor make you sweat. Together with the 9.5" base foam layer it provides sleeping surface that has an ILD rating between 12 and 14. This range is one that most folks find very cushy but supportive for sleeping.It also comes with the same knitted, non-removable mattress cover as the 10 inch bed.TIP: Pick up a good quality waterproof mattress cover to keep your new bed free of stains and funky odors. What Buyers Give A Thumb's Up to: Sometimes these Innovations beds go on sale. The Maniac has occasionally seen 25% off regular prices.Back to Innovations reviews list Sleep Innovations 10-inch Memory Foam Mattress Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars It's very popular with buyers. Over 80% give it a perfect 5 out of 5. For many folks, this 10" sleeper is a good substitute for the much more expensive Tempurpedic models.
It is a bit more popular than the 12" Sleep Innovations model. There are several reasons I found for this: First, the cost is about $50 less than the 12" high modelSecond, this one has 3" of Sure-Temp memory foam instead of 2.5". The extra half inch of comfort provides a softer feel especially for taller or larger people. 3rd: The bedding for 10" high beds is cheaper and easier to findOne drawback is that the knitted cover is fragile.TIP: Buy a quality, waterproof, washable cover like the Malouf Mattress Protector to keep your bed fresh and clean. This generation of covers are not the ones that you hated when you were a child. These are very quiet and there are no crunchy plastic noises when you turn over! Look for frequent sales on these best mattresses. You can often find price reductions up to 23% off of regular prices. The Novaform mattress line sold at Costco has gone through some major changes since 2009. One thing that has not changed is how popular these inexpensive models are and the outstanding Costco return policy.