Costco may not be the largest department store chain in the U.S., but it's officially the most popular, according to a recent YouGov survey. Nearly all those surveyed had at least heard of the retailer and nearly 70% had positive things to say about their experiences with the chain.

If you've yet to set foot in one of its warehouses, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. After all, you have to pay to shop there. But the cost of the annual membership fee can easily be worth it when you consider everything it unlocks.

Costco's products are affordable

Whether you're shopping online or in person at one of its warehouses, Costco offers great prices on all types of products. This is especially true for those who buy in bulk.

You can save quite a bit by stocking up on nonperishable food items and household essentials like toilet paper and paper towels a few times a year at Costco rather than buying them every couple of weeks at your regular grocery store.

It has a great food court

On nights when you don't feel like cooking, you can visit Costco's food court and pick up something ready-made and delicious. You can choose from pizza, sandwiches, salads, and its famous $1.50 hot dogs.

The warehouse club is a one-stop shop

Plenty of department stores specialize in things like clothing or electronics. At best, they offer some assorted home goods plus groceries. But Costco stands out for offering just about everything you can think of.

In addition to groceries and standard household items, you can also buy high-quality furniture and appliances, book a vacation, insure your home, and fill up your car with cheap gas. So a better question might be, what can't you buy at Costco?

It puts a strong emphasis on quality and customer service

Costco prides itself on delivering high-quality goods and keeping its customers satisfied. It has a generous return policy where it'll take back almost anything for any reason. And staff members are usually great about helping you when you need something. Costco even offers a money back guarantee on memberships.

Should you make Costco your go-to store?

There's a lot to love about shopping and saving money at Costco even if you only make it to one a few times per year. Whether a membership is worth it to you comes down to basic math. If you think you'll save more than the $65 Gold Star membership fee during the year, it might be the right call.

Frequent shoppers can take advantage of the Executive membership, which comes with bonus perks including 2% back on all purchases.

To take your savings to the next level, consider opening a credit card that offers bonus rewards at Costco. Many of these cards offer bonus rewards in other categories as well, so you can bank rewards points on all your purchases and redeem them for future Costco buys.