Is there Costco in France? Sure, and there are two of them, however they’re not in Paris. Is it value making a particular journey to the Costco warehouse once you’re visiting France? This was a query I requested myself throughout my final journey and I had the chance to search out out as I used to be so near one of many warehouses. I found that in some ways they’re the identical as North American Costco warehouses however not fully as many merchandise are catered to a special (clearly French) market. Get a glimpse contained in the warehouse, its distinctive choices, and determine if it’s value making a particular journey there.
1. The place Is There Costco In France?
There are over 860 Costco warehouses around the globe, equivalent to in Canada, the USA, the UK, Iceland, Taiwan, and Europe. Spain has 4 warehouses and France has 2 places!
Costco Places Close to Paris, Not IN Paris
The Costcos in France are NOT within the coronary heart of Paris; nevertheless, there are two Costcos situated simply outdoors of Paris. Why are the Costcos outdoors of Paris? Like most Costco shops around the globe, they cater to suburbanites, who’ve bigger houses and wish to store in bulk. Plus the warehouses require massive parcels of land to retailer their items.
Costco Wholesale Pontault-Combault
Costco Wholesale Pontault-Combault is half-hour southeast of Paris in Pontault-Combault. When you have been heading eastward from central Paris, to say, Bois de Vincennes and stored going, you’d finally attain Pontault-Combault.
Costco Villebon-sur-Yvette
The Costco I went to is south of Paris in Villebon-sur-Yvette, situated lower than half-hour south of Versailles and 20 minutes southwest of Paris Orly airport. As I discussed in my journey #37 report, I stayed in close by Jouy-en-Josas on my method from Bayeux, Normandy to Dijon, Burgundy. It was the right midway level and the Costco retailer in Villebon-sur-Yvette was solely 20 minutes away so it was the opportune time to go to. Had I not been so shut, I’d not have made a particular journey there. I like Costco however had no have to “fill up” on objects. I used to be simply curious if there have been any actual offers. (Reply: not likely).
2. Can You Use Your Costco Membership Card At A Costco In France?
You need to use your Costco card abroad! Your Costco membership (ie. from the U.S, Canada, or some other nation) is accepted at Costco shops in France. You simply want to point out it upon coming into and when paying. In keeping with Costco’s web site about membership privileges:
“Your membership card is legitimate at any Costco warehouse worldwide and isn’t transferable.”
It’s vital to notice that Costco additionally states, “In case your picture shouldn’t be in your card, solely passports, in addition to picture identification issued by the USA, Puerto Rico, Canadian Federal, State, or Provincial governments are acceptable types of identification.”
3. Costs At Costco In France
(a) Costs In France INCLUDE Taxes
A pleasant factor about purchasing at Costco (or any retailer) in France is that the value proven consists of all taxes. The VAT(Worth Added Tax), is a common consumption tax and included! So the value you see is the value you’ll pay.
In Ontario, Canada, now we have so as to add on the HST (Harmonized Gross sales Tax which is the federal and provincial tax mixed) on most objects. That’s 13% tax on high of the listed value of products and providers.
(b) VAT Refund
When you spend sufficient, you may be capable to get a few of your VAT tax again. Supposedly, Costco offers one of many highest reimbursem*nt charges: 15.5%. As I wrote on this publish about making use of for the VAT refund in France, after you might have paid in your objects at Costco, go to the membership desk to see in case your purchases qualify. (Keep in mind, not all purchases are eligible. Consumables, like meals, will not be). In case you have spent the minimal required (100.01€ ), they may fill out the Détaxe type that you’ll take to the Tax Refund space (Détaxe) to get a few of your a reimbursem*nt.
I didn’t spend over 100€ so I can’t say for positive if this nonetheless applies at Costco. Nonetheless, in concept, it ought to if Costco considers itself a taking part retailer.
4. Navigating The Aisles Of Costco In Villebon-sur-Yvette
The format of the warehouse in Villebon-sur-Yvette, which opened in 2018, was just about the identical as Costcos situated in Canada and the USA. The 120,000-foot warehouse has aisles dedicated to snacks, meals merchandise, electronics, clothes, workplace provides, family items, well being and wonder, and a big assortment of sporting and outside items, just like the three monumental tents hanging from the ceiling. There have been many North American merchandise and types.
This Costco south of Paris additionally had a “Centre de Pneu” (Tire centre), “Centre Optique” (Optical centre), “Centre Audif” (Listening to centre), and a meals court docket, similar to in North America.
5. The French Expertise At Costco
(a) French Merchandise In Costco
Most of the identical manufacturers present in North America (ie. Kirkland model merchandise or Weber nutritional vitamins and dietary supplements) can be found. However there have been many extra French manufacturers and French meals (ie. monumental quantities of cheese and French pastries/bread) which can be tailor-made for the native French clientele.
(b) Books At Costco—-All French
I stumbled on a big choice of books however, I didn’t see any English books. (No shock actually). So, until you’re fluent in French, you’ll most likely simply skip shopping the e book part.
(c) French Cheese
Being in France you needed to know that the choice of cheese might be implausible at supermarkets. At Costco, it was fairly spectacular however have I been to French supermarkets that had a extra in depth choice of cheese? Sure. So, whereas there have been many forms of goat cheese at Costco, for instance, I don’t suppose a particular journey is required.
(d) Huge Selection Of Bread and Pastries
It’s no shock that French breads and pastries have been an enormous function at Costco. Whereas there have been these packages of 6 monumental muffins, there have been additionally Madeleines (package deal of 20), St. Michel delicate cookies (Galette Moelleuse), bake-at-home baguettes, frozen croissants, and ache au chocolat. North American Costcos have a lot of this stuff, however the selection in France is far bigger.
(e) Butter Croissants
I like butter croissants so I needed to do an investigation at this French Costco warehouse. 12 freshly baked all-butter croissants are costlier in France than in Canada (6.49 € or $9.00 versus $6.99 in Canada). However 30 frozen croissants are costlier in Canada than in France ($16.99 in Canada versus 9.49€ or $13.66).
When you’re visiting Costco from Paris, would you actually choose up a dozen croissants and take them again to town? Positive, they bake them there within the warehouse and I notice they’re cheaper than these out of your native boulangerie (0.54 € vs. 1.2 €). However there’s one thing about getting one domestically and supporting your native enterprise.
Shopping for a dozen croissants from Costco is like shopping for a dozen croissants from a hypermarché, which is an enormous French grocery store (ie. Hyper U, Géant, or Auchan) that mass produces and sells merchandise in bulk. They only don’t look as interesting as those from the boulangerie. I don’t even purchase them at Costco in Canada. Simply give me a heat, freshly baked croissant and I’ll be comfortable.
6. Wine, Liquor, and Champagne Offered By Costco
I do know that in the USA, Costco sells wine and liquor; nevertheless, in Canada, they don’t. In France, there’s a massive choice of wines (French and international) and you will discover Ricard Pastis, Apero, Scotch whiskey, Japanese whiskey, and different alcohols from around the globe.
You could find many cheap wines for beneath 10€ from well-known model names (ie. Famille Perrin and E. Guigal), however many there have been many manufacturers I didn’t acknowledge.
7. Costco Meals
They’ve frozen meals, and refrigerated sections for fruit and veggies, meats (beef, pork, and poultry), in addition to deli and ready meals. And sure, there’s even Costco’s well-known rotisserie rooster! In Canada, the standard of Costco meats, greens, and meals merchandise is at all times glorious and right here in France in addition they seemed superb.
The warehouse additionally has meals and wine sampling; nevertheless, I arrived early within the day and so they didn’t have something arrange.
8. Costco Meals Courtroom
The Costco meals court docket in France sells pizza, french fries, rooster wraps, salads, sundaes, and soda pop. The costs have been low cost. Opposite to what others have stated, they did NOT supply poutine (curds, fries and gravy) as they do at Montreal Costcos.
You should buy Costco’s well-known all-beef scorching canine and 20-ounce pop combo for 1.50€ (about $2.15 Cdn) however you don’t get free refills like in North America. In Canada, the value is cheaper at $1.50.
9. Worldwide Merchandise Imported By Costco
I used to be amused to see Kirkland Signature Natural Maple Syrup-Sirop d’Erable, which is made in Canada—at a Costco in France. The 1-litre bottle prices 12.00€ ($17.28) in France versus $15.99 in Canada (It’s cheaper in Canada however not by a lot with at the moment’s trade fee. It additionally helps that there isn’t any tax added onto the Canadian buy.)
10. Value Of Electronics
I wasn’t stunned that the Apple Watch Collection 8 (41mm) was costlier in France than in Canada however it wasn’t by rather a lot. The watch retailed for 469.99€ (incl tax) which is about $677 Canadian (primarily based on a $1.44 per € trade fee). At the moment, the identical product in Canada retailed for about $643 (incl. tax). So when trade charges are beneficial, I can see Costco’s costs as being very engaging.
11. Is It Value A Particular Journey To Costco In France?
Now that you understand what a Costco is actually like in France, is it value making a purchasing journey there? When you reply sure to any of those, perhaps you need to go!
- Do you have already got a membership or are ready to hitch Costco?
- Do you NEED to purchase objects in bulk? (ie. 40 rolls of bathroom paper?)
- Are you passing by Costco and a cease isn’t out of your method?
- Are you searching for a “deal” the place an merchandise like an Apple watch can be cheaper at Costco than at a daily retailer?
- Do you NEED to fill up on wine/liquor?
- Do you might have a automobile (or plenty of buddies) to take all of your purchases again with you on the Metro?
- For all of your bother, are you actually getting an excellent deal?
One remaining meals for thought: should you’re simply visiting Paris, what would you actually purchase in Costco that you could’t discover within the metropolis? Do you even have room in your house for all of your purchases? The place will you retailer your 40 rolls of bathroom paper? Will your fridge or freezer have room in your 15 kilos of floor beef?
When you’re visiting France for some time and wish to choose up some items in your keep outdoors of Paris, positive, it’s one thing to contemplate; nevertheless, I wouldn’t exit of my method. There are many hypermarchés in France which have discounted merchandise and so they can promote you issues in bulk. Procuring at Costco, in any nation, is enjoyable, however it’s not the be-all and end-all.
12. Costco Places in France
(a) How To Journey By Public Transportation To Both Costco From Paris
The best approach to get to Costco is by automobile. Are you able to get there by bus or Metro? Sure, however I personally don’t suppose it’s definitely worth the journey. Assuming you’ll be leaving from the centre zone of Paris and taking the RER, you’ll be paying extra and the journey will take you at the very least 1 hour with just a few transfers. Then, after all, you may need issue getting all of your purchases again to Paris.
For example, I investigated the route from central Paris to Costco in Villebon-sur-Yvette and generally, it might take you from 1 hour to 1.5 hours the place you’ll take buses, the RER to Massy Palaiseau, after which stroll to Costco.
(b) When Are The Costco France Warehouses Open?
Each Costco shops in France are open 7 days per week, however with shorter hours than one finds in North America. In France, they’re sometimes open:
Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sunday 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Costco Villebon-sur-Yvette
Tackle: 3 Av. de Bréhat, 91140 Villebon-sur-Yvette, France
Costco Wholesale Pontault-Combault
Tackle: Zac Les 4 Chênes, 35 Rte de Paris, 77340 Pontault-Combault, France
Pin to your favorite board on Pinterest
