Costco's selections are far more extensive than the dismal offerings at Sam's Club, their nearest competitor. They carry many items that Sam's used to carry, doesn't carry at all or only in sub-standard brands. Their house-brand Kirkland hot dogs are excellent, and throw rocks at Hebrew National; and their Kirkland vanilla ice cream is in a class by itself, definitely over the top of the scale.
On the down side, their prices are the highest in the retail industry, even before factoring in their usurious membership fees. But the peeves that reduce Costco to a 1 Star rating are the abusive, manipulative company policies that demonstrate an arrogant disregard for their members.
Costco runs from hot to cold, bordering mostly on cold. Here's why Costco is the most dysfunctional, high-priced retail chain in America.
* They provide NO customer service whatsoever.
* They refuse to publish their hours, addresses, or phone numbers, even on cash register receipts.
* They refuse to provide express lanes for members with few items.
* Their usurious membership fees are the highest anywhere.
* They don't advertise 'low prices' because there aren't any.
* They refuse to place registers at their membership desk, forcing members with only a few items to stand in long lines of members, many with two loaded carts of stuff.
* They refuse to place signs or other indicia identifying what's on each aisle.
* They have no conscience about lying to members when something they're out of is going to be restocked, which is usually never. They'll consult a dummy computer screen, strike a few random keys, then say "OK, it shows here we'll get more of those next week," which usually means never.
* They never restock anything in the same place, so each time you go in, you're shanghaied over to something you don't want.
* Ask a clerk where something is, and they'll put their index finger on their chin, look around at the horizon as if expecting a storm, and say "Gee, I dunno..."
Costco's explanation for this very bad business model is "to send everyone on a scavenger hunt", as one Door Greeter in Bakersfield, California, put it with a devilish smile. It gives a fresh, new meaning to the term "customer abuse".
If it weren't for their perceived quality, this abusive, slippery outfit would have deep-sixed itself years ago after they acquired it from Price Club.
In summary, I do not find a Costco membership provides any value whatsoever. I've had better luck getting floor help at Walmart. So far as service, quality and pricing is concerned, WinCo has Costco beat by a hundred miles.
Sorry, Costco, but when I need groceries, I'm not in the mood to go on an Easter egg hunt, while your employees can't find anything more productive to do than stand around babbling with each other. read more