Brat
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I read an analysis of Costco's business plan earlier this year. It concluded the Costco makes $0 on its merchandise, the profit is in the membership $.
Net of rebates of 3-4%?? On average price of 3.50/gal, that is another .10/gal or more.
Nwsteve
My experience, too.Costco gas is always cheaper by $0.10 to $0.20
Costco also holds their meat suppliers feet to the fire with respect to traceability of their meats. The meat packing lobby likes to play a game where it all gets mixed together and no one is accountable.Costco also gets the better cuts of meat. They get the stuff that goes to the higher end restaurants (in the blue packages I think). Their regular meats are what normal restaurants get, and your local grocery store gets what the restaurants don't want.
A Costco butcher told me that Costco owns a meet packing plant in California. I know enough to know that employees aren't the most reliable source but I found that interesting.
During the membership spiel we got last Saturday, the Costco rep volunteered "we never markup any item more than 8-15%" and that's before other coupons or cash back.I read an analysis of Costco's business plan earlier this year. It concluded the Costco makes $0 on its merchandise, the profit is in the membership $.
Too soon old, too late smart (me)...Just think of all the savings you could have had if you joined Costco 30+ years ago as we did.
Published on Aug 28, 2013 Costco is famous for turning the experience of warehouse shopping into an adventure. Costco, one of the nation's top three retailers and the world's largest membership warehouse chain, has thrived by turning convention on its head. The company never advertises, charges its 64 million members to shop there and doesn't mark up any product more than 15 percent. It's a business model that works, generating $93 billion in annual sales.
These packs are great if you are having a party. Costco also sells an entire tenderloin at a good price, though I have not bought any. Alton Brown of the FoodNetwork had an episode a few years ago about tenderloins, and talked about buying and trimming Costco's cut into serving sizes.... they had some great looking steak that I wanted to buy, real premium stuff, but the packages were 5 or 6 big steaks, and something like $50 per pack. So I'd need to freeze some, and I'd prefer not to freeze such premium cuts...
And that shows up in their employees' attitude and demeanor. Another chain I have seen with happy workers is Trader Joe's, though there is not much known about how they are treated.Besides the Treasure Hunt approach, Costco also gives better benefits to its employees than many retail outfits. Even part-timers can get some form of medical, dental and vision benefits.
Well, there is this:And that shows up in their employees' attitude and demeanor. Another chain I have seen with happy workers is Trader Joe's, though there is not much known about how they are treated.
And that shows up in their employees' attitude and demeanor. Another chain I have seen with happy workers is Trader Joe's, though there is not much known about how they are treated.
PS. I owned Costco shares for a while. At one point, sold them for a profit and thought I would be able to buy back lower. Nope! That was a mistake.
Ah hah! There's a reason for everything. Also, as obtuse as I can be sometimes, my observation was correct.
Article about ACA and Trader Joe's: Trader Joe’s cut health benefits last week. Here’s its side of the story.
Sorry for making you feel bad, but perhaps Costco did not expand to the Northeast until later. Both Price Club and Costco originated from San Diego in 1976. They merged in 1993.Too soon old, too late smart (me)...
But there are downsides to costco. I avoid it like the plague around lunch time because too many people come to "graze" at the food sample-fairies... making it a traffic cart nightmare. I also make sure I'm there right when it opens during the Christmas season because there are too many looky loos clogging up the parking lot and store - when I'm just trying to buy the family groceries and get out.
I'm a costco fan. ....
As far as quantities - I resisted the large bags of flour and sugar - till I did the math and realized even if I threw away 1/3 (which I don't) I was still ahead on price per pound basis. Since I bake and make my own bread - it was a total winner. Storage can be an issue, though.
costco is a perfect example of the kind of place that makes it great to be retired. You can pick a time to go when the lunch rush and the hordes of weekend warriors aren't invading and the experience can be a fair bit more, shall we say, sane.
Another chain I have seen with happy workers is Trader Joe's, though there is not much known about how they are treated.