This is a quote from the head of Costco...

[Playinghardball]

[Curtland1015]

1. Wow! Awesome! Just wish I had a Costco around me...

All we have are Sam's Clubs.

[Scuba]

7. +1

[Skidmore]

12. I lobbied Costco for nearly 3 years, writing them frequently, and asking/begging them to open a.

store that was less than a four hour drive away from here. This June they opened a store 12 miles away. How great is that? Get a group of your friends together and ask them to consider it.

[Curtland1015]

14. Might not be a bad idea!

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

29. Me 2

Knoxville, TN coming in November. Yay.

[renate]

33. good for you!

You'll love it!

My favorite thing about Costco is the quality, more than the prices. I think food costs less at my regular (cheap, outlet-style) grocery store, but when you buy something from Costco you don't have to worry that you're overpaying for quality.

There are a few exceptions in the grocery section--the precooked bacon is a staple at our house, the tortillas are a fantastic bargain, and they just got Coke Zero (woo hoo!). Good deals on prepackaged snacks for lunchbags, like granola bars. And I do think the prices are lower than at a regular grocery store. But the really great prices, I think, are on OTC medicines (and I bet at the pharmacy too) and toiletries.

I'd love to hear what other people's favorites are!

[roguevalley]

61. I watched a show that detailed out people get their products into costco. The process is

grueling. People in the hierarchy go over the products every year looking for incredible quality and price possibilities. Only the best things make it and that is why they are so good to go to. Everytime I buy there I love it.

[wryter2000]

87. I won't buy beef anywhere else

Except, maybe very rarely, at the hugely expensive butcher shop. Supermarket beef might as well come from a different species of animal.

Plus, the cheeses are amazing! There's a cheddar brand, Costal, that's fabulous and cheap. They sell real Parmeggiano and buffala.

[catbyte]

97. Their rolled sandwiches and Italian cream cake are AWESOME!

Yum. Can you tell it's lunchtime?

[white_wolf]

48. Awesome. I'll have to check it out.

I know we got a Publix recently, but I didn't hear about the Cosco plans.

[xxqqqzme]

81. good for you

[colorado_ufo]

98. Great idea!

Our area surely needs one!

[demosincebirth]

28. Were do you live...Miss?

[struggle4progress]

34. The Costco around here won't let me do voter registration in their lot,

so I'm less than impressed with them right now

[glowing]

47. Do they allow anyone to do anything outside

of their store, i.e., girl scouts sellig cookies, local schools fund raising? Or it may be a "no politics" at all sort of decision. Not sure where you live? If you are in an area that is politically "charged", then the store's management may decide to keep the peace by not allowing anything politically related.

Often, at voter registration sites, there is also campaign literature. If a tea party turd comes by and sees something Democratic, it could cause an issue with people buying things from the store... It's still a business that is trying to make money.

Also, there was a congress woman who was shot outside of a grocery store at a "meet and greet". With all the mass shootings lately, highly charged political atmosphere, and the economy being so "depressed" still on "Maint St", they may feel it's best not to have anything political, even as innocent as a voter registration drive with NO candidate info sitting around at all.

[struggle4progress]

49. I live in one of the bluest parts of the country. It's true that many places have "no solicitation"

policies in their parking lots, but Costco is the only place that's every asked me to leave for offering to register voters

[digonswine]

60. I love what you are doing-

but I hate to be accosted by interests at the doors of a grocery store. I always am made to feel like a dink when I have nothing to give to the VFW, bell-ringers, etc. I am overly sensitive to these things, I know, but spare the introverts.
I even detest being harangued by the food sample people!

[struggle4progress]

63. I ask folk if they need to update their voter registration: I don't accost them, and

I don't harangue them: I'm not standing at the doors of the store: I ask from a bit of distance: "Are you registered to vote, sir/ma'am?"

What's wrong with that? It's noncontroversial civic-minded stuff. People oughta be able to cope with it. And most people can cope with it. Now and then, somebody can't -- and flies into a rage: I wish them a nice day

How else are we gonna register voters?

[digonswine]

66. That sounds fine-

I suppose "accost" was a bit extreme(from me). I am seldom accosted, but often harangued by people--I live in the middle of nowhere and have but few options where to shop, at times!
The one decent store near where I live employs a nonagenarian who has insulted my very normal clothing selections and will not accept "no" or "I just ate" as an excuse for anything. I just got off a construction-type job and she gave me shit about my shirt not being tucked in! Criminy!

[JDPriestly]

68. Wow! I've registered a lot of voters. Now one has ever been angry

at me for offering.

When they say they are registered, give them a thumbs up or a high five. It's important to make people feel good about everything having to do with voting.

[struggle4progress]

72. It's rare but it does happen

The thumbs-up works well

[JDPriestly]

67. Voter registration is not an "interest." It's a service to new voters,

voters who have moved and voters who want to vote absentee ballot.

And, by the way, DUers, don't forget to register or re-register. Do it now. Your local post office and/or library probably has some forms.

[digonswine]

69. please see post 66

[sendero]

82. I'm the same way..

.. and I'm betting this is an across-the-board policy because I don't remember ever seeing anything like that going on at Costco.

As long as they are fair (apply the same rules to everyone) I don't have a problem with it. Their main concern is their customers.

[BlueToTheBone]

84. You could go in with a copy of the Pruneyard decision

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0447_0074_ZS.html

1. This case is properly before this Court as an appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1257(2). A state constitutional provision is a "statute" within the meaning of § 1257(2), and in deciding that the State Constitution gave appellees the right to solicit signatures on appellants' property, the California Supreme Court rejected appellants' claim that recognition of such a right violated their "right to exclude others," a fundamental component of their federally protected property rights. Pp. 79-80.

2. State constitutional provisions, as construed to permit individuals reasonably to exercise free speech and petition rights on the property of a privately owned shopping center to which the public is invited, do not violate the shopping center owner's property rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments or his free speech rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Pp. 88.

[JI7]

54. i don't mind that too much as long as they don't allow others either

maybe they don't want right wing groups doing the same.

[struggle4progress]

64. Where do you think there's any public space nowadays?

When I was younger, there was widespread sentiment that shopping malls and such really were public forums

[cynical_one]

42. Love Costco!

lots of stuff available online and shipped to your front door

[renate]

77. yup, and Costco is AWESOME for holiday gifts, even to nonmembers

Welcome to DU!

[dgibby]

73. Go to their web site.

I don't have a Costco near me, but I joined online and order everything I can from them online. Service is great, as are their products and prices.

[spanone]

2. k&r...

[meti57b]

3. My thanks to Jim Sinegal!!! I do have a Costco fairly close by. I will plan to join and shop there.

[RKP5637]

4. K&R !!! n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. What's the Quote? I can't see it.

[Arkansas Granny]

20. It says:

“I’m proud to support him in this election,” he wrote. “Don’t let Mitt Romney’s misleading ads or false attacks tell you otherwise – President Obama’s support for small business owners is unwavering.”

[ElboRuum]

21. If you are using AdBlock...

...you may also have set it up to prevent Facebook cookies from reporting your internet whereabouts back to Darth Zuckerberg. Usually if I get that, turning it off for the page and reloading reveals it.

[lunatica]

6. That's where I shop for groceries

[madaboutharry]

8. Wall Street doesn't like Costco because they're too nice.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0412-08.htm

"Costco draws criticism from Wall Street for sharing its success with its employees, reported the Journal. "Public companies need to care for shareholders first," said a Wall Street analyst critical of Costco, noting that Costco stock traded at only 20 times earnings compared with Wal-Mart's 24 times. "Costco runs its business like it is a private company," sniffed this critic.

To that, Costco President and CEO Jim Sinegal replied, "I happen to believe that in order to reward the shareholder in the long term, you have to please your customers and workers."

Two different philosophies: One leads to the Waltons, the sheiks of Arkansas, by holding workers' salaries and benefits to bare minimums. The other allows workers to share in the profits of their company. Costco pays its workers about $5 an hour more compared to Wal-Mart and has about twice as many workers covered by company health care.

Oh, yes, and Costco has a store in Inglewood."

[pacalo]

62. How nice!

Another thing about Wal-Mart's greediness: Despite having around 20 checkout lanes, only one fourth or less of them are generally staffed.

My area will be getting its first Costco in 2014, I'm happy to say.

[samsingh]

9. that's the reason i spend about $12,000+ / year at Costco

[speedoo]

10. Mr. Sinegal is a great man.

MSNBC did a special on Costco recently and he was a big part of it of course. Costco gets almost all my retail business and they always will, because they take great care of both their customers and their employees.

First class outfit.

[Initech]

11. Welcome to Costco. I love you. Welcome to Costco. I love you. Welcome to Costco. I love you.

[thelordofhell]

19. Here's the video

[Initech]

24. "Yeah I know this place pretty good. I went to law school here."

"At Costco????"

[valerief]

26. My favorite scene in that fabulous film!!!! nt

[gateley]

39. What Is this?

[thelordofhell]

50. It's a 18 minute loop of 2.5 seconds from a film called "Idiocracy"

If you haven't seen the full movie yet.......I highly recommend it

[gateley]

70. Thanks -- haven't heard of it.

[MADem]

13. I love this, especially since I know a few wingnuts who SWEAR by Costco! nt

[rucky]

15. Cool, but I still don't like this trend of CEOs being openly political

and people enthusiastically using these figure heads to fight the culture wars.

We'll lose this game.

[99Forever]

18. I don't agree.

I prefer knowing if the dollars I spend are going to politicians that are screwing us or ones that are trying to better the lives of someone besides Wall Street. Secrecy blows fucking chunks and has driven this Nation off a cliff. No thanks.

Speak up, CEOs. Tell us where you stand, then we will SHOW you where we stand by if we do business with you or not.

Anyone that would change their vote because some figure head told them to, is a blooming idiot anyway.

[rucky]

22. I hope you're right but I don't think we have that much power as consumers.

Maybe the "free market" will take care of this on its own, but in the meantime, it's just giving business even more of a political voice than they deserve. Usually they have to pay millions for that.

[99Forever]

23. It's a double-edged sword.

I already like Costco, been a member for years, this confirms my opinion of those fine folks.

Ask me if I will ever eat chicken at that creep homophobe's stores or pizza from declared wingnuts chains.


I like transparency.

[Curmudgeoness]

44. You may be right about culture wars,

but I think that few people will have it in them to avoid Costco for long because of this. Costco customers usually love that place. Wish there was one near me----instead of 70 miles away for the closest one.

[louis-t]

16. LOVE their cake! Who'd a thought?

Gotta get me a membership.

[JSK]

17. He recently retired

The new guy was promoted from within. Sure hope he continues the same culture.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/01/us-costco-idUSTRE7805VW20110901

[valerief]

25. I've gotta get my ass to a Costco!!!! nt

[riverbendviewgal]

27. I love Costco

I moved into the rural boonies and don't have one near me. The nearest one is 3 hour drive. I miss it.
When I lived in southern Ontario I was a member.

[Populist_Prole]

30. Ha ha ha! My Wingnut father must be getting an ulcer over this

He thinks the world of Costco as far as being a customer goes. He loves that store, even if he groused at them "being kinda' left wing". This may push him to Mal-Wart though, since he already loves ( I shit you not ) their business practices.

Fun to watch the mental tug of war though. Heee heee heee!

[yellerpup]

31. Costco grants gift cards

to people holding fundraisers. I put together a letter along with a package of our certification as a not-for-profit, an invitation to the event, a copy of the menu and a form for them to fill out so it would be deductible for them. I don't think I needed to do all that, but in a couple of days they called to say I could pick up the gift card and we went shopping. The cards are for $25, but when you're trying to raise money that represents the price of a ticket. I joined when we lived in NC and was elated when one went up not too far from us when we returned to NY. Great products, great prices, and their employees are paid well and treated well. I think they have a 7% markup on prescriptions and that's it. Great company!

[progressivebydesign]

41. When i was distributing forms for Lymphoma Society, they treated me like a VIP.

Asking how they can help. Asking if we needed anything for the events. Etc.

UNLIKE Home Depot and Target, who acted as if I had put a live scorpion on their counter when I brought the in. Target has their own charities, but they are very rude if you're not part of it. Home Depot, the same way. Several banks.. refused to accept the brochures at all, even if they hid them in a break room for the employees.

Glad to hear that you've had a good experience with Costco, too.

[yellerpup]

46. They went out of their way to follow up.

They carry great products and have great prices on everything. I'm glad they treated you well. And thank you for the work you do for the Lymphoma Society. You deserve to be treated like a VIP!

[TheAmbivalante]

32. EXCELLENT COMPANY

They do fare better than most Sam's clubs (representing about 4% of WalMart revenues) in terms of sales even thought their 400-ish stores are outnumbered by Sam's 600 stores. But the true wealth of this company is in the loyalty and enthusiasm of its member base. Costco derives one-fifth of its revenue from membership. But, unlike Sam's, Costco members prefer to buy the executive membership to get more cash back and elevated access to services. Get this, 9 out of 10 executive members renew at that level. It's pretty nice to see that a company that strives for ethical product sourcing is succeeding. Personally, I don't know what I would do without them.

[GP6971]

36. Loyalty and enthusiasm of its member base

Don't forget the loyalty and enthusiasm of their employees......Costco treats them very well and it shows.....great customer service. Never have seen a disgruntled Costco employee

[TheAmbivalante]

100. That is SO true

Ya know, I owned a bar way back when. We paid our staff twice the going rate because I wanted them to be happy and not feel tempted to give away the bar or maybe skim a round for their pockets. What I got was a crew of people that were as vested in the success of the place as I was. Good pay nets GREAT results.

[progressivebydesign]

35. My stepdaughter worked for them -- they treat their employees WELL, and pay them fairly.

Love to support them.

[nxylas]

92. And pay 93% of their healthcare costs

As well as making a point of paying a living wage.

[HuckleB]

37. Kick.

I shop at locally owned stores as much as I can, but it's good to have a few business people out there who actually have a clue.

[Liberal_in_LA]

38. cool

[Hamlette]

40. Costco is and always has been 100% blue. Never given a dime to any republican.

My favorite Costco story: Friend's husband headed to Costco asks her if she needs anything. She thinks for a minute and says "nope, don't need anything". He says: "How do you know until you get there?"

For all things I bought and didn't need, but am still glad I bought. Love Costco.

[renate]

78. great story, and very true!

I've gone there just for milk and left with... well, let's just say a lot more.

[nancyfladem]

43. Costco is opening near me next week

In this very red smallish city. Can't wait to give my business to such a great company.

[renate]

79. you are going to have a GOOD time

Great quality... and what I really love is that the employees are happy to be there. They've told me so.

[AnnieBW]

45. Costco is a Solid Blue Company

And they treat their employees really well, too. One of my business classes researched different large retailers. My small group did Costco, and I really learned a lot about their business philosophy. In short, they're the anti-Walmart/Sam's Club.

[liberal N proud]

51. That is a big deal

Big business owner.

[JI7]

52. You can get a Huge Slice of Costco Pizza really cheap and it's better than Papa Johns

you can get the whole pizza cheap also .

for those who aren't members , if you pay with cash at the outside food area they will sell you the food. if you pay with credit card they will ask for membership card.

[maveric56]

94. Costco's outside food area...

Is the only place where you can get a 1/4 lb, Hebrew National hotdog, with all the condiments plus free sauerkraut and a 32 oz drink for $1.50.
Costco is Awesome!

[47of74]

53. Been a member since 2010

Even though the closest stores are over an hour away from where I live the membership has more than paid for itself. They have such an awesome selection. My sister and my future brother in law introduced me to the place - they have one about two miles from where they live in St. Peters, Missouri. First time we visited I signed up and make regular visits to Madison to do some Costco shopping. I'm going to give the Coralville store a try too. My sister and her boyfriend dropped their Costco membership for a while in favor of Sams Club but eventually rejoined after realizing that Costco was an all around higher quality experience.

[Honeycombe8]

55. Is this for real? Wow! nt

[lucca18]

56. I love this!! nt

[muntrv]

57. I knew there was a good reason to be a member of Costco.

EDIT: Here's another reason I like Costco.
http://positivesharing.com/2007/07/analysts-to-costco-stop-treating-your-employees-so-well/

[calimary]

58. Like this!!!

Thank you, Costco, and Mr. Sinegal!

[Drahthaardogs]

59. I love Costco!

Who can beat $2.99 lb of 90% lean hamburger, $23 a 40-lb sack of super premium dog food and $10 for a case of Pellegrino water? Plus I get 1% cash back. Costco is awesome!

[fortyfeetunder]

65. There's also an app for that!

I've been a Costco member for 25 years this year (I can't believe it!) and it's been a great relationship. I noticed in the savings brochure there is now a Costco app for both Android and iOS phones. I was hoping one would be available!!!

[renate]

80. I didn't know that!

Cool--thanks!

[progress2k12nbynd]

71. Is Costco considered a small-business?

I think we can all agree PBO's policies have been pro-corporate, but I don't know that the CEO of a giant corporation can speak for small businesses. That's gonna backfire as a commercial.

[SmileyRose]

75. costco exists because of small business

And costco got that big by listening to their customers

[Kablooie]

88. They supply small businesses. Many small restaurants get their materials at Costco.

[blackspade]

76. Word.

[eepatt]

83. The way it's supposed to be

Treat your employees well. Sell only quality products. Minimally mark up pharmaceuticals. Be nice to your customers. Do the right thing instead of what wall street gamblers want.

We grow a lot of our own organic food, but we maintain a "Costco list" and we use it whenever we can make the three hour (each way) trip to the Albuquerque Costco. We seldom leave the store without spending a couple hundred dollars, and we never worry about the quality of our purchases. I am certainly not surprised the Costco's CEO would support Obama's policies, but I am definitely pleased that he does.

[titanicdave]

85. Absolutely Fantastic...........

this makes me very proud to have Costco headquartered right here in the Seattle.......although it is just me and the cat these days and Costco shoppers buy in bulk, I try to shop at Costco whenever possible and now I will make a concerted effort to shop at Costco.....thank you Jim

[eaglesfanintn]

86. Love Costco

We have two near us and I was somewhat reluctant to get a membership there originally.
Two years later, I'm very happy with them (and even more so now). Between the quote from the head of the company, plus all the good things other DU'ers are saying and reading about how Wall Street hates them because they do things the right way, makes me want to spend more money there.
I'll add that I have recently discovered that their meat is really top notch. We've been buying the NY strip steaks and think they're at least equal to, if not better than what we can get at our grocery store and for a better price.

[Kablooie]

89. Costco's produce and meat is a noticeably higher quality than most grocery stores.

That's one reason we shop there.

They strictly limit what they sell and carefully choose only the best.

[MzShellG]

90. Wish there was a Costco in my city....

There's a lot of open land near where I live. They should build one out here.

[arthritisR_US]

91. It' time I got a Costco membership! n/t

[emmadoggy]

93. Wish there was a Costco near me. nt

[eppur_se_muova]

95. Find a Costco near you ...

http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/Locator.aspx

[marlakay]

96. I shop in a costco in a very red city

it will be interesting to see if any of these people care what this owner has said. It is normally full and crowded all the time…

I love the store even though my kids are grown. I figure if i just break even on their gas savings to afford membership that is all I want.

[cascadiance]

99. I love Costco, except for the political bent of their book selection...

... which I think reflects more that the right wing pushes overstock and cheap shipments of books to their liking that winds up at places like Costco.

You hardly ever find great books like those of Naomi Klein's on disaster capitalism, but every day you'll find at least 5-10 books from the Sean Hannity's, Laura Ingraham's, Glen Beck's of the world there.

I still wonder if we can make a campaign to get them to at least stock more of the books from our side at their stores to better meet the needs of their customers who are more aligned with our politics than the right's. Every time I see a book there by someone from the left, I make sure to scoop it up. I think the only one I've seen for months there was Rachel Maddow's which I bought immediately then.

I make sure that I get my gasoline from Costco (it's cheap and at least they take care of their people a lot more even if the gasoline they buy on the open market might not be from a decent source). Citgo is hard to find any more.

Also, they have a great price on cases of Mexican Coke, which is a lot better than other American made soft drinks when it uses real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.

[colsohlibgal]

101. The Anti Sam's Club/Walmart

I hate it that I ever spent money at Sam's Club, but that ended over a decade ago. Costco pays and treats it's employees as they should be treated, pays them a decent wage. The Waltons want to add every last nickel to their fortune and screw everyone else, pay them peanuts and treat them like cattle.

It's corporate greedheads vs...well less that way again in 2012, I wish it was more opposite but it's a long way getting back to that. Going to public funding of elections and IRV would be a good start, maybe in the lifetime of my children, not anytime soon.