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December 2024

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COSTCO LIFE

EXPERTS

COVER STORY

SPECIAL SECTION

For Your Table

For Your Health

Inside Costco

COSTCO COOKBOOK

SHOP COSTCO.CA

T. Foster Jones

fills this month’s

consumer reporter

slot with this behind-

the-scenes look at a Costco program. Email questions about this article to cdnconnection@

costco.com.

© costco photo studio

by t. foster jones

Get the goods

Costco.ca’s Same-Day Delivery program delivers the warehouse to your house

Going to Costco is more than shopping. It’s an adventure with tasty samples! But sometimes life’s complications make getting to the warehouse difficult.

 

Enter Same-Day Delivery service—Sameday.Costco.ca—where members can shop from anywhere using their computers, phones or tablets to have what they need from their local Costco warehouse delivered to their door in as little as two hours. Think fresh produce, dairy and deli items, snacks, clothing basics, sporting goods, personal care products and more.

© courtesy of instacart; © PIXEL-SHOT / STOCK.ADOBE.COM

A warehouse at home

Same-Day Delivery launched in 2020 with a limited number of food items. “The idea behind it was to deliver members their favourite items available in our local Costco warehouses,” says Indesh Singh, Costco Same-Day Delivery buyer. “The program was created for members who may not be able to get to the warehouse and want their shopping delivered at their convenience.”

 

The program’s merchandise selections now mostly mirror the products members would find in warehouse aisles. Same-Day Delivery is powered by Instacart, and the companies have worked together to fine-tune its efficiency.

 

Just as in the warehouse, Executive Members earn an annual 2% Reward through this service and members who use their Costco Mastercard by CIBC receive cash-back rewards for all purchases made through Same-Day.

 

Members can also use it to send gifts to friends and family across Canada by toggling to the “Gift” option at checkout. There is, however, an additional charge built into the prices of products on the Same-Day site.

Lots of moving parts

Putting a program together that mimics what each warehouse offers is logistically challenging. “We have to ensure that what you see online reflects what is available each day in your local Costco warehouse,” Singh says. “This requires close and constant coordination with all of Costco’s national buying teams and regional counterparts, and constant maintenance and updating of the Same-Day site.”

 

Additionally, third-party delivery partner Instacart takes steps to make sure that the program’s shoppers and delivery personnel meet quality standards. That means background checks and training in food safety and proper food handling techniques for program shoppers, as well as ensuring that any problems or concerns are addressed in a timely manner.

How it works

Go to Costco.ca, click “Same-Day” and create an account (you must have an active Costco membership). Enter your postal code and click “Start shopping.”

 

You can shop by category, or simply type in a search term, such as “frozen salmon” or “bananas.” The Treasure Hunt has been brought to life through departments such as “What’s New”

(new items in your local warehouse) and “Trending” (popular seasonal items). A “Buy It Again” button at the top of the page links to your previous purchases, so you can quickly build a basket of your favourite items without having to start your next Same-Day order from scratch.

 

When you check out, choose a delivery window that works for you—it can be two hours from placing your order or up to five days away—pay and you’re done!

 

When you receive your delivery, if there are any missing or damaged items, you can request a refund through the Same-Day site up to seven days after the delivery date. If you need to return an item, you can do so at your local warehouse just as you would with any Costco purchase. (Visit Costco.ca and search “return policy” to learn more.)

 

It’s a seamless shopping experience. The only thing missing is the samples.

“The program was created for members who

may not be able to get to the warehouse and want

their shopping delivered at their convenience.”

 

—Indesh Singh

Costco Same-Day Delivery buyer

by Kristi York

Saving time and money

Discover member-only insurance options with Inova

When your home and auto insurance are ready for renewal, let Inova do the shopping for you.

Available exclusively to Costco

members across Canada since 2006, Inova has a user-friendly website along with readily available customer service.

At Inovainc.ca, customers select

their region and follow the step-by-step process to obtain a quote. “The online tools are easy to navigate and can save customers a lot of time,” says Louisa Bello, Inova’s director of marketing

and communications.

Courtesy of inova

The website has live chat support and a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section with detailed information about types of coverage, deductibles, claims and more. If you’re partway through a quote request and have to pause or close the tab, you won’t lose your progress. Inova will send you a follow-up email with a link to pick up where you left off.

And, if you would like to speak with someone, you choose a time that works for you. “Many customers find it helpful to talk to a representative, especially near the end of the process, to confirm that they have input the information correctly,” Bello says. “The website has the option to book an appointment*, where you select a time slot when the broker will call you.”

Inova customers can choose car insurance**, home insurance or both. If your primary vehicle is insured with Inova, you can also add coverage for a boat, RV, motorhome, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile.

To help Costco members save money on insurance, Inova makes it simple to compare prices. “Our system is designed to obtain quotes from multiple insurance companies at once,” Bello explains.

After completing the online quoting process, you’ll receive a list of the available rates from each insurer. “We show you all the options and highlight the one with the lowest price,” Bello says. “That’s the difference between using a broker and researching a single provider.”

Inova’s exclusive broker services are an added benefit of your Costco membership. When it’s time to renew your car or home insurance policy, consider accessing Inova’s easy-to-use tools to obtain your next quote.

Kristi York is a freelance writer in Waterloo, Ontario.

*Appointment booking feature is not available in Quebec.

**Inova car insurance is not available in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The latest Costco finds

Pillsbury Holiday Shape Sugar Cookie Dough 4-Pack

This four-pack includes 80 pre-cut cookies that are ready to bake or eat right out of the box. Features 20 Christmas trees, 20 reindeer and

40 snowmen. 4 x 260-g cartons. Item 2672514.

Warehouse Locations

Carrera Sunglasses

Choose from a light titanium gold

frame or a sports-style black plastic frame. Both styles feature polarized gradient gray tinted lenses. Item 1849248.

Warehouse Locations

Caledon Farms Holiday Dog

Protein Cookie Tin

Includes 2 x 600-g bags of all-natural dog treats: One bag each of turkey with cranberry and lamb with ginger spice. Item 1849210.

Warehouse Locations

Jammin’ Jammies Holiday 2-Piece Family Sleep Set

This red-and-black buffalo

check pyjama set is made from soft cotton with a little stretch and is available in sizes for the whole family. Children: XS–XL; women: XS–XXL; men: S–XXL. Item numbers vary by size. Costco.ca only.

Shop Now

GloTech Compact LED Beauty Mirror

This compact LED mirror is perfect for checking your makeup and fits easily in the palm of your hand. Features include touch sensor dimming, an on/off switch, dimmable brightness, three light colour settings, and 1X and 10X magnification. Item 1737237.

Warehouse Locations

Downtown Toronto

One King West Hotel & Residence: Ideally located in the heart of downtown Toronto at the corner of King and Yonge streets, One King West places you within minutes of downtown financial, entertainment and shopping districts. Learn more at CostcoTravel.ca.

CostcoTravel.ca

Sand + Fog Square Candle

This 1.6-kg (57 oz) glass candle is topped with a stylish wood lid. The natural wax blend is available in three fragrances: Speakeasy, Ocean Mist and Blush Rose. Item 1759369.

Warehouse Locations

Warehouse Locations

Rococo Children’s 3-Piece Set

Each set includes pants, a long-sleeve tee and a plush flannel or soft twill button-up shirt. Available in four styles with coordinating colours and prints. Sizes: 12M–4T. Item 3128888.

Soundcore Rave 3 AI Karaoke Party Speaker

With its thunderous 160-watt sound, the ability to synchronize your music and lights with more than 100 other Soundcore speakers and its smart singing mode, this party speaker will bring a new level of excitement to any celebration or gathering. Includes two microphones. Item 8779902.

Shop Now

Warehouse Locations

Health and Wellness Promotion

Costco Pharmacies offer health and wellness services to help you reach your health goals.

Pharmacies in Costco’s Quebec locations are independently owned and operated by pharmacists. For more information, visit CostcoPharmacy.ca.

Learn More

A limited-time showcase of exciting products

FOR SCHEDULES & DESCRIPTIONS

Go to Costco.ca and search “Special Events.” Or, from the Costco mobile app, go to “Warehouse Locator” and choose a warehouse for events info.

Special Events

InfiniteAloe Skin Care

The InfiniteAloe Infinite Collection skin care line includes Everyday Hero and réparneu products. These organic aloe vera–based skin care products promote healthy skin and improve appearance. With botanicals and other natural ingredi­- ents, these products can be used on all skin types and are safe for all ages.

Vitamix Blenders

Vitamix blenders are celebrated worldwide by professional chefs and home cooks for their exceptional power, durability and versatility.

SmartSilk Bedding

Indulge in the comfort of SmartSilk’s all-season bedding, which combines the breathability of silk with a soft cotton finish, allowing you to have a restful sleep experience.

WARM MEMORIES

Christine Walters sells her upcycled Winter Waltys mittens on Instagram (@winterwaltys) as well as at craft markets and local artisan stores. She has also received requests

for custom orders.

 

“Sometimes there’s

a special sweater that belonged to an uncle, a grandfather or another relative that passed away,” Walters explains. “I’m able to turn the fabric into mittens, to be worn by family members. It’s a nice way to honour the person’s memory.”

—KY

Handcrafted

Christine Walters loves turning something old into something new. “I enjoy the creative process of looking for unique fabrics and putting them together,” says the elementary school teacher and mom from St. Jacobs, Ontario.

In 2015, Walters began making mittens from vintage wool sweaters she purchased at local thrift stores. She called her small business Winter Waltys, after her sports nickname growing up.

Walters estimates that she produces more than 200 pairs of mittens every year. Assembled by a combination of machine sewing and hand stitching, each mitten has a fleece inner lining and a wool exterior. “I’ve become so familiar with wool that I can spot it in a thrift store at a distance, without even touching it,” she says. “Wool sweaters of the past are far more durable.”—Kristi York

courtesy of christine walters

Christine Walters, owner of Winter Waltys.

Walters making mittens out of her home.

a display of Walters’ work.

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Advertising and products

All advertisements will indicate whether a product is available in a Costco warehouse, at Costco.ca or both. Products are scheduled to be available at the time of publication unless otherwise noted. Items may not be available in all locations and selection may vary. Costco.ca carries many of the products available at the warehouses and much more. Prices may vary in select warehouses and at Costco.ca. Shipping is included on most online items. Applicable tax laws may require sales tax on pre-discounted prices. These taxes are in addition to product price.

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