Lotte Wholesale? Similar to Costco?

[Jaime C]

Someone recently mentioned that Lotte Wholesale was similar to Costco. I've looked at their website, but not too much info.

Any firsthand experience with them? Membership cost, food selection?

 

[nd_eric_77]

No. Just no. No Hotdog & drink combo for $1.50. Most of my favorite Costco / Kirkland products are not sold by Lotte. Just no. Sorry, but no.

 

[William King]

I went.

Once.


Nuff said.

 

[Davita]

Someone recently mentioned that Lotte Wholesale was similar to Costco. I've looked at their website, but not too much info.

Any firsthand experience with them? Membership cost, food selection?

I have membership in Lotte in Indonesia and Costco in N. America. The only thing I can say is the principle is the same. You buy a membership card and shop...I think Lotte membership is much cheaper than Costco.
The products are very different, as one would expect, but the method of purchase is similar as they both sell wholesale (Lotte also has retail in Jakarta) and product is usually sold in bulk packaging.
On your first visit to Lotte just go to the membership desk and get a temporary card and they'll issue a plastic one after a week or two. The card doesn't expire.
They sell furniture, electrical goods like TV, Fans, Refrigerators, clothing, bulk stationary, toys, cleaning equipment, medicines and of course, the main event.... foodstuff open and packaged.
Same as Costco..... some traders buy in bulk and re-sell in little stores in their Kampungs.
I'd say the quality of the products in Lotte are inferior to what sells in Costco...you would only go to Lotte to buy cheap product in bulk....and I'd have an idea of prices available in other stores like Carrefour, and others, as they may be cheaper.

 

[dafluff]

Lotte's membership is now free, as the model of prepaid membership just doesn't fly in Indonesia.

They are pretty good for things you buy in bulk, like 330ml cans of pop end up being under Rp 5000, when retail they are closer to Rp 6000. But you have to buy the case of 24.
The other thing I noticed the other day is the microwave I want to buy was Rp 500,000 cheaper for same make and model than at Giants and another local electronic store. This may be a one off tho.

 

[Jaime C]

Thanks for the reports. I'll check it out once I get back to Bandung.

 

[atlantis]

some traders buy in bulk and re-sell in little stores in their Kampungs.

I think you have resumed it well. Their main targets are warung owners and the horeca market, especially its bottom range. Therefore only a selected number of products may appeal to an expat market.

Though we don't have Lotte yet in Manado, we have Indogrosir for which we are both a client and a supplier. Considering that they are also a competitor, I survey their price twice a week and though they can offer some pretty good deal, they also shelve a sizable number of products at a ridiculously inflated price.

 

[fastpitch17]

More like a Sam's club it seems than Costco.

 

[William King]

they also shelve a sizable number of products at a ridiculously inflated price.

I noticed same thing, limited range and somethings way more expensive than normal stores. Know your prices!

 

[Bad_azz]

We have Lotte here in Bandung & Indogrosir.
The Lotte wholesalers is a long ride out from where you live JC & to be honest not worth it- they do however have a supermarket in one of the city centre malls that has some decent products & wide selection in it.
You don't have to be a member but membership sometimes gives access to some better deals. Lotte bandung stocks the whole kit & kaboodle- tv, washing machines, office chairs, supplies, fresh, frozen, chilled, dried foods & bevs.
Bandung Indogrosir- membership is optional- but one has to prove to them one has a business. They will most likely visit before issuing a card. Membership: one can collect points & then reimburse them for pretty decent deals.One can access special offers and discounts by having the membership too.
Depending on what you wish to buy - Indo grosir only deals in the basics - no tellys or furniture- but drinks, snacks , rice, noodles & the Bandung one now has started a fresh food section- small with limited stock.

 

[waarmstrong]

I noticed the same thing as Atlantis; a high percentage of the customers seem to be warung owners stocking up on bulk items for their menus. At least at the location near us where we shop. Other Lotte stores are more in the model of a traditional Stateside Walmart, especially those located in mall -- more like a Carrefour.

Our Lotte offers many more items in large quantities and in bulk. We get our 8 liter Diamond ice cream buckets at Lotte. (Not available most other places.)

One maddening thing is how they price some things, not all, by the piece, even if you buy an unopened case. For example, we stocked up on drinks for a family get together. A case of water bottles was billed by the case, but the checker opened a case of green tea and charged us for each individual box times 24. Go figure.

 

[William King]

Erm, Lotte is not the same as Lottle Wholesale....

 

[Bad_azz]

Erm, Lotte is not the same as Lottle Wholesale....

has anyone said it is?

 

[William King]

Warmstromg above extolling the virtures of Lotte...

 

[Davita]

Erm, Lotte is not the same as Lottle Wholesale....

As I said in my post #4 and mentioned by WK above...Lotte (a Korean Co.) have two types of stores.... one is retail, and found in malls and the other is wholesale, normally in a warehouse type store.
The wholesale outlet used to be called Makro but was bought and renamed by Lotte some years ago.

 

[William King]

Perhaps you missed post 14, Davita. I was replying to waarmstromg.

 

[Davita]

I must have been writing when you posted #14 but I don't know what you're on about. I agreed with you that there are two types of stores.

 

[William King]

Sigh

 

[waarmstrong]

Is not that what I was commenting on -- two types of stores. The place where we shop just says "Lotte" (where it used to say Makro) on the marquee; please excuse me for only describing it as catering to the wholesale trade, rather than specifically naming it as such.

 

[Anglian]

I cannot add much more to what has been said, but I bought a DVD player and it didn't work too well, took it back and they swooped it, no problem