I have a love hate relationship with costco, I cant get out of there without spending 300$ and there are alot of items that are just expensive per unit volume as in the local store. That being said I love some of their items and they have great meats. Coleman organic uncured hotdogs from costco has turned me from a hotdog hater to an enthusiest


I do not think I could be friends with anybody who would use a lawnmower for a season and then take it back (if it still works)

My best success stories at costco have been home insurance and mattresses. They have saved us hundreds in these items

I audited them when they went public in 1985 and had 12 warehouses. They've certainly come a long way since then. I respect the way they treat their employees and in fact there are many of the same senior staff there from the beginning. They do a good job promoting from within, pay well, etc. Look at the name badges of the staff, many working the cash register or in store management have been there for a long time. Like anything, there are growing pains. Folks abusing return policies have caused major retailers that used to have super return policies to throttle those back, Nordstrom and REI for example. My stepson is in store management at Costco and if he heard an employee telling someone to buy/return like that, they would get fired or at least disciplined.

I believe you.

No Costco in NE Ohio (Sam's Club) but I lived in Anchorage in the late 80's. Bought a 1/2" Makita corded drill at Costco that today will still twist your wrist off and a straight shaft Homelight weed wacker that I call 'Excalibre". Works upside down.

They were expensive which peeps don't want to nut up for anymore.

I don't see how a return policy that encourages the low-lifes and have-nots to abuse the system is a good thing.

The honest people pay for the returns. I would prefer to shop somewhere with a stricter return policy.

I can't imagine using anything for one season and then returning it.

I believe the returns are billed to the original suppliers. Costco has absolutely outstanding purchasing and very strong agreements with their vendors. Their volume gives them clout.

So no one pays? We all pay...

yep. Vendors take the hit on the return. I have family friends who vendor for the baked goods. Some people abuse it (costco knows who those people are) , but then again they can't even put returned unopened goods back out on the floor...

As for getting into costco. I know people who pay 300k+ just to get a bread route.

+1
I've never dealt with Costco, by the similar Sams Club puts the onus on the supplier for marketing , returns - everything - in their stores. You just basically rent shelf space from then.

The generous return policy drives more sales for buyers with integrity even if a few abuse it

I ordered a ring for my wife's birthday not knowing if it was perfect for her, but it was an easy buy because I knew there was no risk to return.

Costco and Sams are a world apart. Sams / Walmart totally screws their employees.
Costco pays well above minimum wage, gives benefits and actually cares about their communities.
On the other hand, all the big box stores have a business model that inherently drives small retailers out of business, so there's that...

I've had a very good run as a Costco customer and often find quality products there. Not everything is a good deal or high quality (just like anyplace else) but overall seems to fit what we need.

Two Thumbs up for Costco Travel:

Put 3 cruises back to back on the same ship and did 25 days in the Mediterranean. Saw about everything, including the Adriatic Sea. Stopped twice at Naples, Rome and Sicily. Not a cruise ship fan at all, but visited some places I'd never drive or ride a ferry to get to. Their pricing was the best by far.

Don't mind spending a little extra there for that reason. Bought my 48" TV there several years ago and it needed a software update. Costco Concierge next-dayed it to my house free and it fixed the problem.

I know folk that do that with pawn shops and guns, lawn mowers, weed eaters, and welders. Guess it is more honest when you are buying it, using it, and selling it back and the shop is still making a profit.

I always use Costco travel for my rental car need.

Love Costco.

Anyone know if Amex took a hit losing the business?


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

Prolly. I'm really pissed how citi bank made the transition. So many games and on hold for hours for customers support.

Me too. I'm sure that whoever was the account negotiator probably no longer working for AE...

Don't know any specifics, but they did take a hit of some kind. My neighbor is a manager at Costco and I asked him about the coming change several months ago. He said Costco's agreement with Amex was "challenged" by other CC companies--better terms for Costco and customers--and Amex was unwilling to negotiate. Bye-bye to Amex.

Similarly, Coca-cola was pressing Costco for a different agreement regarding the use of their drinks in the soda machine at the food court. Costco simply replaced them with Pepsi-cola products for a time. According to my neighbor, Coca-cola virtually begged to come back and became willing to drop their "demands."

Same here.

Also used Costco to buy a new Jeep a few years ago. Better that the best price I was able to get otherwise.