What do you think about COSTCO?

[freetobegay]

I gave up my SAMS membership last year. I just can't stand anything to do with wallmart.

I went & got A Costco Membership today, I loved the store, the people working there were alot more friendly & helpful & they seem to offer more than SAMS. Any thoughts?

[still_one]

1. I think I heard that the CEO of Costco is supporting Kerry

[medeak]

3. yessss

and Walmart is largest supporter of Bush....Walmart is evil

[freetobegay]

6. I knew walmart was evil

I just didn't know it was that evil!

[freetobegay]

4. Thanks!

Thats great to know!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. Here are Sinegal's Contributions:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=ISSAQUAH&st=WA&last=Sinegal

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

27. WOW!

Those are a ton of donations.

[69KV]

29. Whoa! This guy passes out donations to Democrats like candy!

I'll have to keep Costco in mind. There isn't one locally but I travel a lot. Do you have to be a member there to shop there?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. I love Costco

the only problem like all those 'clubs' is the size of everything. Costco has great frozen hors d'oevres if you ever entertain, and a great cheese selection. My local one doesn't have beer or wine but two suburban Costcos near me appparently have a great wine selection.

[Webster Green]

11. I go there once a week for cheese.....

A big hunk of Tillamook two year old sharp cheddar, and another piece of something else, like Emmentaler or Gouda.

Also spent thirty bucks on a wireless optical mouse when I was there Friday. The on-off switch convinced me.

[fearnobush]

5. COSTCO is a good guy, They actually pay there people and work

collectively with the union. Costco's owner a Dem even gave a million or two to some of our 527's.

Bloomberg: Wal-Mart Funds Bush Campaign, Costco Prefers Kerry
July 21, 2004

(Bloomberg) -- Executives at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp., competitors in the $76 billion U.S. warehouse-club market, have taken their rivalry to a new level: national politics.
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer and owner of Sam's Club warehouse stores, gives more money to Republican candidates than any other company. Its top three managers, including Chief Executive Officer H. Lee Scott, donated the individual maximum $2,000 to President George W. Bush, and Jay Allen, vice president for corporate affairs, raised at least $100,000 to re-elect the president, earning him the Bush campaign's designation of "Pioneer."

Wal-Mart—two-thirds of whose 3,580 stores are in the "red states" that voted for Bush in 2000—is backing White House policies on everything from trade to limiting overtime pay.

Costco CEO Jim Sinegal, 68, is a Democrat who says Bush's $1.7 trillion in tax cuts unfairly benefit the wealthy. He opposed the Iraq war and supports Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts for president. And he's the only chief executive of a company in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index to donate money to independent political groups formed to oust Bush, Internal Revenue Service records show.


<http://www.teamster.org/04news/hn_040721_1.htm>

[freetobegay]

10. Thanks for the info.

Glad I made a right choice.

[Champion Jack]

7. Great store

went all the time when I lived in CA. I think the nearest one to me now is Pittsburgh...

[Sporadicus]

8. I Wish I Had a Costco Within Reasonable Driving Distance

I live near the center of a circle with the following metro areas at the edges: St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, & Nashville. Driving over 100 miles to a Costco isn't in the realm of feasibility for me.

I assure you, however, that if one was closer, I would give Wal-Mart their walking papers.

[medeak]

21. ahem

live 300 miles from metropolitan center....am used to it. It's a great affair with friends to drive to Costco. And those large quantities are appreciated by us who live in remote areas.

[philosophie_en_rose]

34. You don't have to drive. Try costco online!

Anyone can order from Costco online. Members receive a 5% discount. Even with shipping and tax, the prices for music, books, and movies are less than Amazon.com. Should you sign up online ($45 per year) and not like it, you can get a refund of your membership fee.

[flamingyouth]

12. I have a love/hate relationship

The money-saving aspect is great, but I've dealt with them on a business level in two instances. First, my dad's food business sold to them back when I was in high school and college. The way they can keep their prices so low is that they will just drive a big truck of your unsold merchandise up to your door and demand a refund. That was scary. (They actually were good customers, but we always had to keep that in mind.)

Also, in my current business I get lots of people wanting me to match their prices on various items. They usually sell things for like 5-10% over cost, which clearly I can't match.

But they are good to work for, as I hear, and they are a locally owned company run by a Democrat...

[Philosophy]

13. I've never even seen a Costco

Guess they don't have 'em in the South?

[freetobegay]

15. Depends on what part of the South

I am in Florida.

[Lex]

31. I'm in central North Carolina and I have a Costco in my town.

And there are a few others around too within an hour or two.

[yellowdawgdem]

14. costco ok

Costco is a good place, although it's true that they won't let Kerry people set up outside to sell gear. Neither will Trader Joes, also a good company. And I agree that the giant sizes are problematic, unless you can split stuff with friends. It would be really nice if Costco and Trader Joes expanded to the midwest and south. Sam's just doesn't cut it.

[fizzana]

19. They won't let anyone set up outside

They own their own properties so free speech rights don't apply. Trader Joe's are not responsive either and they could be forced to comply because they are mostly in landlord owned places with other stores.

We've been setting up Kerry/voters reg tables all over the San Fernando Valley and we prefer working with places that are easy to work with anyway.

[yellowdawgdem]

25. I also heard that

I think it was in Southern Ca, that Costco let Swarzeneger people table inside the store to get sigs for one of their repub propositions.

[PoiBoy]

16. The Costco Model..

a great essay by Jim Hightower..

http://www.jimhightower.com/air/read.asp?id=11410

<snip>
The nationwide retailer treats its 100,000 clerks, forklift operators, and other workers as valued assets to be invested in and nurtured – unlike the Wal-Mart model of paying the least you can to rank & file employees, squeezing the last ounce of toil out of each of them, busting any whisper of unionization, and causing a workforce turnover like employees are nothing but disposable coffee cups.
<end>

That's how it was.., once upon a time.... :shrug:

<snip>
"From day one," says the chief financial officer at Costco, "we've run the company with the philosophy that if we pay better than average, provide a salary people can live on, have a positive environment and good benefits, we'll be able to hire better people, they'll stay longer and be more efficient." It works. Costco's turnover is minimal, its profits are consistently strong, and its stock price has quadrupled in 10 years.
<end>

Treating employees like partners AND growing the company stock by 400%? That truly is a model for corporate America..! :hi:

[Not Me]

23. I read an article comparing Sam's Club to Costco about six months ago...

Sam's charges $10 per year less for membership, yet retains only 45% of it's members year to year...Coastco retains over 80%.

Costco starts its people at $10 per hour.

The Costco CEO's salary is capped at a percentage of the lowest (or average...can't remember which) salary.

I will hunt for the article and post if I can find it. The thrust was that you don't need to be a cutthroat prick to excel in this industry.

[Bluebear]

17. Sinegal was an early Dean supporter

[Gelliebeans]

18. Good for you

Walmart and the good ol' boys in Bentonville, Arkansas have always been a big Bush supporter, remember the controversy a couple of years ago with their pharmacies not carrying certain types of LEGAL birth control and then there was that whole record/Cd's rating system debacle.
Walmart decided that they needed to "protect" the public and NOT offer a choice for consumers. I am kind of biased too I must say, because I used to work for Costco for many years. I have not and will not shop at Walmart/Sams even if its the last place in my town.
:smoke:

[MaryBear]

20. Costco pays decent wages,

and looks for applicants who are friendly and outgoing.

I used to call it the $100 club. Now I call it the $300 club. Decide how much you'll spend in advance!!

When I was single, a friend and I split the large lots between us.

[freetobegay]

22. I want to thank all who responded.

I got alot of good feedback, thanks! I know i can always count on DUER's.

[salib]

24. Excellent Hotdogs

[yellowdawgdem]

26. yeah I'll second that /nt

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

28. I love it!

good service and product. Walmart sucks

[undergroundpanther]

30. I love the fruits

Mangoes,blueberries...and the cheeze section..And those chicken bake things at the snack bar....Yummmy! And thier pharmacy prices are damn good too.

[philosophie_en_rose]

32. I think I've eaten my membership fee's worth of free samples.

:) Costco has excellent produce, friendly people, and a respectful environment. People aren't crammed into aisles full of sweatshop-made, disposable items stocked by exploited non-union employees. Movies and music don't get cheaper (absent piracy, of course). When the government has failed to provide prescription drug coverage, Costco makes medication much more affordable (and you don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy). Aside from the massive size of everything, what's not to like?

[Bundbuster]

35. That's why I always go on an empty stomach

There are so many sample stands that you can eat & drink an entire lunch just walking through the place.

A butcher told me that their meats & poultry have NO growth hormones or injections, and are never frozen. I've taste-proofed his assertion that Costco meat is 1 or 2 USDA grades above anything you can buy at a regular Supermarket. Their boneless ribeye steaks are only $6.89/pound, and as good as any restuarant serves (don't trash me - I only eat red meat about twice a month). Every trip to Costco should always include one of their huge pre-cooked chickens: it's simply the best chicken I've ever had, for $4.99.

[Catshrink]

33. Two things:

rotisserie chicken and peach pie.

also, the best place to buy batteries, books, and DVDs.

[NMDemDist2]

36. yeah, but do they stock the same stuff all the time

like plastic cups and such? I hate to get used to an item for my biz then have them switch it up on me.