Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll probably know that New Zealand's first Costco officially opened in Auckland on Wednesday, and it's safe to say the arrival of the retail giant prompted hysteria similar to that evoked by boy bands and teen heartthrobs.
Shoppers camped out to be among the first through the doors when they opened at 7am, with some even sleeping outside the store overnight. Throngs of customers crowded the shopfloor with trolleys in tow, eager to snap up a bargain.
Fans of the American retailer, which requires its shoppers to sign up for an annual membership, have already branded it "the best thing" to ever come to Aotearoa, with many hoping its arrival will provide much-needed competition for the current duopoly.
But what did Kiwis really think of Costco?
Taking to the New Zealand subreddit on Thursday morning, an Aucklander by the username u/Jesuds shared their thoughts on the new arrival, saying it was "pretty cool".
"Electronics seemed pretty cheap, meat was pretty cheap but also some really high-quality cuts. [The] only downside is you can only buy it in big quantities, but that's to be expected I suppose," they added.
"There were a bunch of American products that I haven't seen on NZ store shelves before. Bought a giant jar of dill pickles and was stoked. The food court stuff was crazy cheap, and the pizza [was] pretty good. Rotisserie chickens seemed popular, there was a mad line for them as they came out. On top of that, [I] filled up a tank at $2.40 a litre, which I haven't seen in a while."
u/Jesuds then posed the question: "For those who went, what did you think of Costco?"
The feedback came swiftly, with many shoppers already enamoured with the big-box retailer.
"They have (Australian) wagyu brisket for $20/kg. Normal brisket at the butcher is $30/kg. Mad. Gonna sign up and get me a proper smoker," one enthused, with a second agreeing: "Damn that's a steal, may do a weekend commute and get some bargains."
Another was less impressed, writing: "My son texted me some prices, but a quick search on some online butchers showed me it wasn't bad, but not the cheapest. Overall though? Worth it."
"They should offer online shopping for people not living in Auckland," a fourth added.
"They aim to be at about the same price as a supermarket special. You won't get ripped off but if you hunt you can usually find it cheaper," a fifth weighed in.
"Hopefully they'll get added to Pricespy; would love to see their pricing for electronics and laptops compared to NL, HN, PB Tech and the rest," another suggested.
Others were more interested in getting the inside scoop on its stock before braving the crowds, with many asking if the retailer stocked specific American brands they were hoping to get their hands on.
According to the original poster (OP), the store has a "pretty decent clothing section", stocking brands such as Puma, Fila and Tommy Hilfiger. In regards to electronics and DIY products, the shop has "basically everything you can think of", they added.
There is also a "small selection" of books, which mainly features box sets, and a "big selection" of barbecues and smokers, with another user adding that the barbecues "seem to be at great prices overall".
"Did they have American cheese? The bright yellow plastic stuff they put in Big Macs? I f***ing love that stuff," one asked, to which a shopper replied: "Yeah they did. $34.90 for two kilos of slices… that seemed kinda [pricey] for 2kg of cheese."
Meanwhile, cleaning enthusiasts appear to be celebrating the fact Costco stocks the likes of Swiffer, a popular brand of household cleaning products in the United States. Kirkland and Weber have also proved popular among shoppers.
But others were less concerned with copping a bargain and more concerned about the crowds, which may put off potential shoppers over the coming days.
"It was pretty packed. When I left there were lines outside to get in, so presumably, it was at maximum occupancy," the OP said, with another agreeing: "There were people everywhere… They had to have known it'd be beyond busy."
To shop at Costco, customers are required to pay $60 a year for the Gold Star Membership, while businesses pay $55. The bulk retailer stocks hundreds of different brands but also features products from local businesses including Two Islands, Manuka Health and Canterbury of NZ, although the latter is owned by a British company.
A lot of the fresh produce, including its bakery foods, butchery meat, fruit and fish, is also locally sourced. As per Stuff, natural hair and body-care brand Everblue is the only New Zealand-made haircare brand to have its shampoo and conditioner on New Zealand and Australian Costco shelves.
