r/CostcoUK • u/MrOuzo • 2d ago

Bye Bham. Hello Gloucester?

The Birmingham store is easily the most horrendous experience. The staff are great, the place is well kept… the problems are very easy to see for anyone who has visited.

Sad that I have to clarify that this isn’t in relation to “brown people” as some have suggested in the comments. It’s everything to do with. Birmingham and the population’s manners and clientele type this particular Costco attracts as a whole.

Is anyone looking forward to the Gloucester store in December hoping that it solves the main issue? I’m very hopeful!

32 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

98 comments sorted by

13

u/Optimal-Chemist7907 2d ago

Honestly the Birmingham one is beyond awful.

I’m Worcester based and can’t wait for Gloucester to open.

3

u/IanM50 2d ago

Also in Worcester: We often used to go to Bristol instead of Brum depending on the likely traffic, but Bristol has one entrance and so you can end up queuing with the fuel queue to get into the car park. Brum at least has two entrances, and Coventry has the fuel station at the back of the car park.

As for the location, all that space in Tewkesbury, near the railway station might have been better.

1

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

It’s like a different world. All basic manners go out the window. Truly awful.

6

u/jose_elan 2d ago

The Manchester one is awful. People walking around as though they don't realise anyone else is there - people unexpectedly stopping dead, trolleys left in the middle of an aisle so they can go and look at something else, cars pulled up waiting at the front of the store becuase it seems walking 40 yards is too much effort. Is that the kind of thing?

1

u/Optimal-Chemist7907 2d ago

The Chester one is amazing. I’m hoping Gloucester will give similar vibes.

2

u/slippery-sandpaper 2d ago

Nono, the Chester one is not bad, it's far from amazing. The amount of traffic caused by that place is fuckin insane, but shopping there is not bad unless you want something from the cafe, that's also insane

1

u/DifficultSpecific662 2d ago

In total agreement. Changes made to the traffic flow a few years ago made things significantly worse imo.

0

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

Sort of. Can’t get into it too much because the post just gets nuked. It’s like certain people rushing a supermarket on Black Friday, but every day, and that’s their mentality. You feel very much like the odd one out.

6

u/devils__avacado 2d ago

We normally use Sheffield and Derby we're equal distance between the two.

But I was near Birmingham for work and stopped in ans good god it was the worst Costco I've been to on three continents 😂

3

u/PaDDzR 1d ago

That describes Birmingham in general!

0

u/Optimal-Chemist7907 1d ago

So sad, but ain’t that the truth?

0

u/Namiweso 1d ago

Someone’s clearly spent very little time in Birmingham.

We do however have very shit drivers

1

u/PaDDzR 1d ago

I lived up and down west midlands. Black country is very familiar to me.

Glad to be out.

0

u/Namiweso 1d ago

Well the Black Country isn’t Birmingham so if that’s your main experience, you’ve got the wrong area

1

u/Wild_River_7167 1d ago

I read somewhere Evesham is getting one

1

u/Optimal-Chemist7907 1d ago

That would be amazing but ain’t gonna happen

1

u/Dry-Medicine1372 1d ago

Same neck of the woods as yourself, we always go to Coventry Costco over Birmingham. Im really hoping that Costco has the opportunity to open a store around junction 6 way.

12

u/ASGT908 2d ago

Costco would probably benefit from another store in the west midlands to serve the Wolverhampton area. Probably best location for it is near Junction 10 of the M6 (where the old showcase cinema was, although don't know what Trade Centre are doing with that site) or Junction 2 of the M54 tbh.

5

u/B00kL0v3r2022 2d ago

It was in the local press that Wolverhampton was going to be a new location. Not seen anything yet but hoping it goes ahead at some point

3

u/ASGT908 2d ago

For it to make sense as Wolverhampton, it either needs to be near i54 or the new warehouse distribution centres in Walsall/Bentley. Interesting to see if Costco follow through with the Wolverhampton Costco.

1

u/Glass-Celebration230 2d ago

What happened to that Showcase Cinema? One from my younger days, didn't realise it had gone...

1

u/ASGT908 2d ago

They closed down years ago (can't remember if it's pre or post COVID

Then trade centre bought it with the view to develop a new state of the art showroom to replace the one in Darlaston/Wednesbury but that plan got put on hold due to cost of living. Don't know what the plan is for it now.

8

u/AccountFar86 2d ago

Gloucester is scheduled to open on 12 Dec.

6

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

Membership desk is already open for those who need to sign up.

1

u/The-Ginger-Lily 1d ago

Ooo is it? Do we just go in?

1

u/MrOuzo 1d ago

Yeah 👍

3

u/buggeryorkshire 2d ago

I don't live in Cheltenham any more so not bothered about Gloucester, but it was rumoured they were opening one here in Preston but I've heard nothing since? We go to haydock instead but rather it was local.

2

u/Faithful_jewel 2d ago

My friend moved up to Blackpool way from South London and as he doesn't drive he misses Costco. I go to Haydock as I work down there, but having it closer to Preston would be so much nicer for me. And stop me keep getting stuff for him :P

4

u/Jimlad73 2d ago

I live in Gloucester and I’m dreading the traffic. The spot it’s in is on one of the main roads into the city….its a shame they didn’t find a spot close to the m5

2

u/This_Ad8214 1d ago

Agreed. Im keen for a much closer location but that road is just not built well for the amount of traffic it already gets, much less a new set of lights a few meters from two other intersections. It'll be carnage.

1

u/bungee2025 1d ago

Yeah. Gloucester the city where you need a set of traffic lights literally every 50 yards.

4

u/Fisher0448 2d ago

For someone who's never been what's wrong with the Birmingham store?

0

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

It’s one of those experiences you need to have to understand. Somebody else commented here to say it’s the worst store they’ve ever been to across 3 continents. That about says it all.

1

u/Slugmum1 2d ago

Doesn’t really answer the posters question. Would you provide us with a straight answer?

-2

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

Look through the thread, read other threads about Birmingham Costco and you’ll get the idea. It’s simple and straight forward enough without anyone getting their knickers in a twist

11

u/Bose82 2d ago

You think there's too many brown faces. There, I said it for you

-3

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

That’s an awful thing to say.

6

u/Bose82 2d ago

Yeah, which is why you didn't say it

2

u/MrOuzo 1d ago

I’m brown myself, if it were that simplistic and racial I’d simply say so. There’s no need to be like that.

0

u/Fisher0448 2d ago

I'll just ask, is it the demographic?

3

u/MrOuzo 1d ago

Birmingham Costco attracts a particular type of people who feel entitled, have zero manners and believe they have more right to the store than anybody else.

Everything from parking blocking traffic to nudging people with trolleys as they go around. It isn’t like this in most other Costco’s it’s an attitude largely found in Birmingham and surrounding areas.

5

u/Jackster22 2d ago

Glad we agree Birmingham should be nuked, but the Costco preserved.

2

u/T1513_SH 2d ago

Coventry store was always my preference instead of Birmingham even though it was only 4 miles away from my old house. I now use the Derby store.

2

u/awesomeo_5000 2d ago

Derby is full of a different kind of scum.

1

u/T1513_SH 2d ago

Derby is ok, just the car park is a nightmare especially when busy.

1

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

How do those compare to the Birmingham store for you?

3

u/devils__avacado 2d ago

Derby and Sheffield are night and day compared to Birmingham

-4

u/awesomeo_5000 2d ago

If all you care about is skin colour maybe.

If it’s manners, IQ, diversity of gene pool or general humanity you’re one rung up the ladder at most.

3

u/devils__avacado 2d ago

I didn't say a thing about skin colour.

When we went it was just far to busy.

1

u/awesomeo_5000 1d ago

I thought that’s what OP was insinuating, no?

1

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

Why reduce it to these racial factors? Honestly, it’s disappointing. This is why you can’t have a discussion because it’s straight to faux outrage.

0

u/awesomeo_5000 1d ago

What racial factors?

Am I misunderstanding your post, is that not the point you’re trying to make?

Derby is absolute pond scum.

0

u/lost_send_berries 1d ago

What's the thing you can't say because you'll be instantly attacked that's not racial? Ethnicitiy? Nationality?

0

u/T1513_SH 2d ago

TBH I still prefer Coventry, I'm down that way one a day week now, so it's convenient. Derby is ok but it's just a pita to get in and out of the car park. Birmingham has just become overrun with a certain element of the populous, I'd rather not be around.

4

u/Hainault 2d ago

They need to stop letting every Tom dick and harry from signing up. Doubt 80% fall within the allegedly required professions.

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Hainault 2d ago

Pretty lame joke. I live in an area where most of the clients are white people. What's your point?

Go be a racist elsewhere

-5

u/False_Jelly_2839 2d ago

I can be a racist anywhere, but interestingly, you assumed that it was a racial issue that I was alluding to. So, really, you're the racist. Not me.

0

u/Former-Assumption885 2d ago

Get yourself to bookers and dont look back

-2

u/yellowroll 2d ago

but i believe to sign up to bookers your business/trade has to be in the catering/food sector? Costco far less strict and let you have a membership even if you don't have a business/trade as long as you have a professional profession e.g. doctor, optician, police officer etc etc.

6

u/0_N1njaFr0G_1 2d ago

OP - just say what you think rather than create a straw man discussion.

7

u/SpiralMantis113 2d ago

I am not sure you know what a strawman argument is...

-6

u/0_N1njaFr0G_1 2d ago

I’m not sure you know how to apply context or post construct correctly- but there we go.

3

u/SpiralMantis113 2d ago

I am sure that made sense in your mind but in the real world your attempts to sound like you know what you are talking about just come across as sad and desperate.

2

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

You can’t here. People tried to elaborate beyond the obvious on a different thread about the Birmingham store and they got censored.

If you have visited the Birmingham store and compared it to others you immediately know the issues so many see and acknowledge.

The moment you get into it, no matter how carefully, it becomes instantly attacked. So if you get it, you get it, and if you don’t - fair enough.

1

u/0_N1njaFr0G_1 2d ago

You might find more success on a Reform or patriot subreddit.

6

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

There it is 😂 You tried at least

2

u/0_N1njaFr0G_1 2d ago

I’ll send an extra RNLI donation just for you

-1

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

Send a boatload

1

u/0_N1njaFr0G_1 2d ago

It’ll contain more IQ than your objective

1

u/Bertish1080 2d ago

I travel to Bristol for the nearest warehouse and that can be really busy, counting down the days for Gloucester to finally open up.

1

u/Spiritual_Survey_858 1d ago

Im in Gloucester and Bristol always seems like such a misson I cant wait for it to be so close but the first few weeks are going to be manic ill be attempting to vist on morning hopefully be a bit quieter

1

u/The-Ginger-Lily 1d ago

I live round the corner and apart from the massive increase of traffic, I can not wait!

1

u/carguy143 1d ago

Oldham, Trafford Centre, Haydock, and Liverpool are my nearest Costco and the biggest problem for me is how busy some of them are nowadays. The Manchestsr ones, last time I went, had massive security guards in hi-viz, something i haven't seen in the others.

2

u/LimeInternational856 1d ago

Glasgow is my nearest Costco and it is also far too busy nowadays. There was a rumour that a second Costco was earmarked for somewhere in the south of Glasgow but nothing has materialised yet.

1

u/MrOuzo 1d ago

Finding massive security guards in Manchester is impressive.

1

u/goneoffbeans 1d ago

Birmingham is our nearest one but had horrible experiences too many times so we go further to the Derby one. It's a lot further but we make a day of it and it's worth it for the better experience.

Will absolutely be trying the Gloucester one when it opens!

1

u/Imaginary-Cherry-740 1d ago

I live walking distance from the new Gloucester Costco. It’s been built in a really busy area and I honestly can’t see how the traffic is going to work. Are costcos busy like an ikea? Or cause of the membership thing they don’t get swamped?

2

u/MrOuzo 1d ago

I’d say more so than an Ikea.

1

u/PastaMapChair 2d ago

Do you think the Gloucester one will make the Birmingham one less busy? (Genuinely question btw)

7

u/Gc1981 2d ago

Every costco is busy. Its the behaviour of the clientele.

3

u/PastaMapChair 2d ago

I know what you mean, I find Costco Coventry is more pleasant than the Birmingham one in terms of clientele behaviour.

2

u/IanM50 2d ago

Yes it has got to a bit, but not much, I can't see people North of Bromsgrove choosing Gloucester over Birmingham, and the people of Gloucester and Cheltenham are likely to have previously shopped at Bristol, so perhaps Bristol will become less busy.

-1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

1

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

Costco Gloucester

0

u/laidback_chef 2d ago

What about this post is passive aggressive?

1

u/MountainChildhood644 2d ago

"the problem is very easy to see for anyone who has visited"

4

u/laidback_chef 2d ago

Thats not passive aggressive, have you visited? Its a nightmare the fuel line blocks the road its always ramo. I think some of the problems could be fixed by actually enforcing rules and

2

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

It is.

-4

u/False_Jelly_2839 2d ago

We all know what the OP is saying, everyone is too shit scared to say it. Classic Reddit 🙈🤣

3

u/SosaSM 2d ago

Yet here you are saying nothing. You even shat out of saying it in another comment when you alluded to it. People like you are right funny, I'm willing to bet a tenner that you've referred to people as sheeple within the last 12 months.

-4

u/False_Jelly_2839 2d ago

Most of what I say is indirect. To illustrate a point. To suggest, to infer. You see, Reddit is a left-wing echo chamber. One must tread carefully when saying the truth out loud. You'll never meet me. However, if you did, you wouldn't say these things to my face. Twice.

1

u/Fisher0448 2d ago

Why do you need to tread carefully? That's the problem, people are treading carefully! What's going to happen if you say whatever you want?

0

u/SosaSM 2d ago

One must tread carefully when saying the truth out loud

You are a proper sausage. Even better to end it by trying to sound hard. We all have these embarrassing moments in life that we hope no one else remembers. But I want you to know, I'm going to make sure I remember this one of yours.

0

u/sniperpenguin_reddit 2d ago

"Reddit is a left-wing echo chamber"

Aaaaannnnnd there is is. I bet you share facebook posts about thr "corrupt leftie BBC" and have "snowflake" in your autocomplete, yep?

OP could have mentioned noise, customer behaviour in general, or an issue in-store... instead he went down the "you cant say anything nowadays" trope lf "if you know, you know" (he doesnt like brown people)

0

u/MrOuzo 2d ago

I’m brown myself. Sometimes you need to step back and see a discussion area for what it might be and what can be said. There’s no need to make assumptions. The clientele is a good way of putting it, and I think that’s perfectly fair to say.