Two big negatives with buying in bulk at warehouse stores.

[UdoKier]

1. You need a bunch of space to house all the bulk paper towels , etc, and having a huge supply on hand at times tends to increase overall use.

2. A lot of the foods there are highly preserved, hermetically sealed processed foods, IE, not as fresh. And again, if you've got a big supply of whatever sittting in your cupboard for months or years, you may end up eating a lot more very old food, which may not be spoiled but is not as good for you nutritionally.

Once I bought a side of ribs from one of those stores, vacuum packed in plastic, and it was still before the expiry date, but close, and I was going to use it that night and it was on sale, so I bought it.

When I got home and opened it, it was the most godawful stench I've ever smelled.

Never again. Now I strictly get my meats from the chinese butcher shop. Very cheap and very fresh

[trotsky]

1. I've found the food quality and freshness to be much better at Costco.

We traded in our Sam's Club membership when I learned how blue Costco is, and I've never regretted it. Their merchandise is much higher quality. Plus we invested in a vacuum sealer, so we can buy in bulk and save portions for much later.

[UdoKier]

3. Living in Japan, we went to the market every other day.

There are still little shops - one for fruit, one for veggies, a fish shop, a butcher shop, and they are all along the little road outside the train station as you walk home.

I guess I got spoiled having fresh produce all the time. Everything here seems so preserved and old, somehow, esp at the warehouse stores (although I do get some things at Smart & Final)

I'm glad we have a Chinatown within walking distance here. It's fairly similar to Japan as far as the different shops go.

[indepat]

2. With years of stores of some items, I can vouch for your two big

negatives, but the inability to pass up "bargains" dooms me to a two-year store of some food and related items.

[izzie]

4. If you have the place to keep it I see no harm and this----

My father always did it back before he had heard of such places. Like in the 40 until he died in the 70's. We grew up doing it. In fact a family joke was long after my father died my mother called and said to me. 'I need to buy tooth picks your Dad's boxes of tooth picks are finally gone.'

[xmas74]

5. Do what I do.

I split the bulk w/ a friend or two.
As to meat-I make contact w/ farmers to buy a cow, hog or whatever else. They take it to be processed and you pick it up. Freshest way to get meat and cheaper than anything else. I also slipt it w/ a few friends-we pool our money together and each pay a quarter. Freezing the meat still keeps the taste in very nicely.