Costco income up 21 percent

[medeak]

YAY! Our dem sponsor is thriving! Take that Walmart!

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (Dow Jones/AP) - Costco Wholesale Corp. said its fiscal first-quarter net income jumped 21 percent due to higher sales and membership fees at its warehouse clubs.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBXWJN3J2E.html

[JoMama49]

1. Is this because Costco is Blue?

And gives most of its corporate donations to Democrats?

[flyingfysh]

5. it's partly because of their target market, probably

Costco aims a lot of its products at higher-income buyers. For example, I walked in one the other day, and was given a page of coupons. One was about a $300-off coupon for a pool table, which brought the price below $3000. They also sell plasma TV sets.

I'm happy to see a Democrat company doing well, but their target market probably has something to do with it.

[Q]

13. I'm not sure that you're entirely correct about their 'target' market...

...being 'high-income' buyers. They may sell pool tables, pianos and plasma tvs...but they're also a great wholesaler of food items and other things for people on a budget.

I shop at Costco once a week for groceries, prescriptions and other common items. By the look of the customers in line with me...it seems that many have the same shopping habits.

Luxury and high cost items make up a very small percentage of the products available.

[trotsky]

17. I'll second that observation, Q.

We still haven't bought a "big ticket" item from there. All groceries, medicine, etc. What's nice too is that their store brand - Kirkland - is cheap AND generally a really good substitute.

[K8-EEE]

32. The Kirkland Laundry Soap Is Great -- No Dyes Or Perfumes

and CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP! I was used to paying a lot for specialty products like Planet because of my hub & daughter being prone to rashes. I was so glad to find this!

[K8-EEE]

33. Costco Pharmacy Will Mail Your Prescription,No Membership Required

They take our ins. co-pay too. Don't let Osco, Savon & other GWB supporting pharacies profit from your meds!

[leftynyc]

36. Kirkland coffee is also very good

I go to Costco a couple of times a month - books, DVD's, CDs and I've also bought a Sony DVD player that I'm very happy with. They also sell a great rack of lamb.

[fudge stripe cookays]

58. Yep, us too.

The Kirkland coffee beans are nice and moist. Still a little oily when you open them instead of being bone dry. reprehensor loves them.

FSC

[joeunderdog]

73. And they're serving up a heaping pile of shit to WALMART!

EAt that!

Walmart is advertising because business is down and public opinion on them is turning. They are not the corporate heroes they claim to be. And frankly, Dems like me are voting with their pocketbook. Our votes may not count in the voting booth, but they ALWAYS count at the cash register, don't they?

This has got their attention.

I'll NEVER shop at Walmart or anywhere where they don't treat their employees and customers well. I'm willing to pay more if I have to and you don't have to at Costco or BJ's.

[6th Borough]

46. And Kirkland pizza...

Mmmm...cheaper than any of the large chains, and they taste great. I occasionally run down to Costco (it's about 4 miles away) just to pick up a pizza.

It's worth it!:9

[musette_sf]

68. But did they change to the square pizza in your area?

We used to get them all the time when they were round. But our local Costco recently changed their format to square. Not square as in Sicilian, just square in shape.

It just doesn't seem as good. Plus it's harder to heat up portions on our pizza stone.

OB on-topic: I love Costco, just proves you can pay your people a living wage AND make money too.

[Stinky The Clown]

48. Chimpus Khan gives *me* a rash ...... your

hub and daughter must **really** be suffering!:)

[Quill Pen]

63. I'll third it...

I got through a period of unemployment last year on Costco goods: milk for $1.50 a gallon; bulk veggies; cheap TP, soap, shampoo & toothpaste; a dozen pairs of skivvies for $5.99; ground turkey for pennies a pound; printer ink cartridges, etc.

I also grabbed an application for employment from them on one trip, because if my unemployment checks ran dry before I could find a job (thank God, this didn't happen to me), Costco starts employees at $10 an hour and offers excellent benefits and multiple shifts. Their employees are well-treated and make a decent living wage.

[flyingfysh]

20. Costco is higher-end than some other similar warehouse stores

In my area we have both a Costco and a BJ's. I notice that the customers of BJ's appear to be lower-income than Costco customers. I never see really high-end products at BJ's. A couple of expensive computers and an HDTV or so, at most.

Costco is a great place to shop, though.

[6th Borough]

50. Something for anyone's budget. Store by me sells a $2000 bottle of Cognac

...but they also carry Milwaukee's Best. One of the reasons (IMHO) that Costco is a category killer (Sam's Club, BJ's, etc. has a long way to play catch up) is that they don't target a specific disposable income bracket. Canned food by the 6 pack, expensive cheeses, off-brand electronics, Mediterranean cruises...all under one roof.

At the location by me (and I assume it's the same way elsewhere), you'll find shoppers getting off of the bus to shop at Costco; others pulling up in Jaguars.

[Lorien]

18. I do most of my shopping there, and my income has been

pretty pathetic in the past four years. My VCR died recently, and I got a VCR/DVD combo there for $79. Their phone card are 675 minutes for $20, books are about 40% off (or more). I just got a huge side of salmon there for our dinner last night, and it was only $10 for about five servings (way less than the cheapest restaurant). Sure they have plasma TVs, but they also have 14 inch Sanyo TVs. There's something for everyone at Costco, and most importantly, it's BLUE!

[napi21]

39. For phone service you need to check out One Suite.

The link is http://www.onesuite.com/

The rates are great at 2.5 cents a min, you can print your own card, there's no monthly charge, it keeps a record of all your calls for you, and can be used everywhere. I've used this service for over 2 years and you really can't beat it!

My son is in Sicily, Italy, and when I called him on Thanksgiving, the call lasted 82 minutes and it cost me $2.46.

[alexisfree]

22. you can get

a diamond ring for the same price at $3000.:freak:

[klook]

29. I've bought several cars for far less than that!

Not from Costco, of course.

[SoCalDem]

40. They got $437.00 from me on Monday

I NEVER get out of there for under $300... But I love that place..Everything is fairly priced and there is stuff there that you cannot find elsewhere:)

[Philostopher]

8. I don't know if it's new, but ...

they come into an area before they open up and sell memberships through companies. The Mr. bought one a few weeks back through his employer -- apparently, they're moving into our area.

We drove 35 miles to go to the nearest one last weekend, and have determined that we can do a good deal of our regular staple shopping there even at that distance. Can't wait until they build their store closer to us -- we'll go! If we're willing to drive 35 miles, we'll certainly give them good business if they're within ten.

Although being a 'blue company' may be good karma for them, in many ways. I hope that's it -- that people hear they're good to their employees (better by a long shot than Sam's Club is), and they offer a good many services at a discount as well as products.

[fudge stripe cookays]

60. We got in the same way.

I got a freebie from my workplace the first year, when they opened in Plano, and then we were sold.

FSC

[SharifromOregon]

12. I'd like to know the answer to this too.

My husband works for our local COSTCO in Bend, OR. They seem like a pretty good company to work for...good start-up pay, benefits, opportunity to "move-up", etc. But I'd never heard about them being "blue". Any way to find out more about that?

[tanyev]

19. Good site

www.choosetheblue.com

[SharifromOregon]

28. Thanks for that link

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php?backlevel=002..001Choose%20The%20Blue.002costco&prodcat=Retail+Stores&brand=Costco+Companies&format=%3Ch3%3EProducts+in+the+%3Ci%3E%25s%3C%2Fi%3E+Category+are%3A%3C%2Fh3%3E

looks to be quite blue indeed!

[warrens]

27. The donate heavily to Democrats

And are outspokenly liberal. Like most retailers, they don't exactly wear it on their sleeves, but Sinegal (pres.) was quoted last year about minimum wage saying it would be unethical to not pay a living wage. I believe their starting pay is $11 after a training period.

[Bono71]

53. Their steaks are unreal. Costco is top notch (and Union friendly)

[Pirate Smile]

2. I wish they would open one where I live. I wonder what their requirements

are for determining where to open new stores?

[blm]

4. Call em up. Now would be the time to ask.

.

[Career Prole]

7. Go to Costco's site and find the "contact" page.

E-mail them and ask. Get your neighbors to ask.
I asked 'em for one where I live, and I'll keep asking! :)

[Career Prole]

3. Bravo, Costco and Costco supporters!!!!

This is very good news with great "I told you so" potential. :D

[The Zanti Regent]

6. You can join and shop Costco on line!

http://www.costco.com/

Send Whore Mart a Message and Join Costco!

[medeak]

9. thanks for that!

forgot to add.. do a lot Costcoonline...never had any problems ever.

[luaneryder]

16. Thanks!

I never realized there was a warehouse in Durham.

[reprobate]

37. I just bought a 15" LCD monitor for my wife's computer online there.

Under $200, one third less than anywhere else I could find. We've been members thru wife's work for five years.

We shop there about once a month for the staples, and a walk around the warehouse usually unearths something one simply could not go on living without. (hint: their tech prices are the best)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. I am buying as much as I can at Costco and as little as I can

elsewhere. And when I pay I tell them I am supporting UNION merchants and the cashier's face ALWAYS lights up.

[TahitiNut]

11. I do the same thing.

While I shop there only about 6 times a year (for bulk staples and gifts), I always tell the employees that I support CostCo because they are unionized, are liberal, and they treat their employees well. I then encourage the employees to "pass it on."

[trotsky]

14. We made the switch.

No more Sam's Club - Costco kicks ass! You can tell, too, just from the people who work there. At Sam's everyone is an asshole because they're treated like parasites. At Costco everyone is friendly and helpful because they're treated like investments.

[flyingfysh]

23. is Sam's Club affiliated with WalMart?

I thought I heard that somewhere.

[medeak]

25. yep.. Sam is Sam Walton n/t

[BlueOhio]

26. Yes.

Same Company.

[BeatleBoot]

31. We did too!

[SoCalDem]

41. We used to have both..but let the Sam's expire.. They actually called

and asked me to re-join.. I told them that I could not because they supported republican agenda of anti-union, and so many other causes I did not want any of my money supporting.. They quit calling :)

[trotsky]

49. We called Sam's to cancel...

and told them we preferred Costco's business model and their politics. The woman taking my wife's call made it quite clear she had been getting cancellations like that A LOT lately. Sweet.

[cliss]

15. Could - could it be?

Could it be that we are driving this? And Walled-in Mart's poor performance in November?

Wow, this is the best news I've heard all YEAR. If this is true, then we Dem's have a much bigger voice than we realized.

LONG LIVE THE BOYCOTT.

[CitySky]

59. When I joined last week,

I told the rep that it's because they support Democratic candidates and treat their employees well.

She told me, "I've been hearing that a lot lately..."

And this was in Houston. :)

[KayLaw]

21. I let them know

I joined in November and have already spent a good deal of money there. I e-mailed them and told them they would be getting all my Christmas business because I know they donate heavily to the Democratic. Someone wrote back and thanked me, assuring me she would make the executives read my mail.
We spent so much that the cashier who helped us last weekend convinced us to upgrade to an Executive membership. A supervisor had to okay this and my husband told her the cashier should receive a bonus for signing us up. The manager said, Where else can cashiers get $19 an hour around here? She also said the cashiers got two bonuses a year.

[medeak]

24. they have a scholarship program

besides being heavy dem supporters www.CostcoScholarshipfund.org

great idea.. am going to email them as well!

[wicket]

30. Does anyone here work at Costco?

I may be out of a job soon and am thinking of applying there, and am wondering what it's like. Thanks in advance for any info!

[rockedthevoteinMA]

34. I don't work there but my dad was thinking of applying when

he lost his job. He told me that they hire you on part time, and will offer full benifits very soon thereafter. I think he said they do a lot of hiring around the holidays.

I love the place, and it's one of the only places my family shops - to find out they're blue rocks! :)

[6th Borough]

51. I've heard the same...you have to start out as part time or temp.

Most Costco employees are full time workers; however, from what I've been told, every employee first gets hired as a part time or seasonal/temp worker (or nearly everyone). I have also heard that, if Costco finds you suitable (and vice-versa), switching to full-time is near guaranteed...in other words, if you apply for part-time but want full-time hours and benefits, the door is wide open.

[Triana]

57. My niece does...

...and she seems to like it - I mean I haven't heard her complain, that is. She's been there a few years.

[Mandate My Ass]

35. Costco is one of the investment companies included

in "Social Choice" mutual funds. TO be a part of this fund a company must meet certain criteria:

"Companies are evaluated and selected based on the following: respect for the natural environment; strong charitable giving and employee benefits programs; the presence of women and minorities in leadership positions; quality products and leadership in research and development; and the payment of fair wages and protection of the environment where they operate. Concerns identified in one area will not automatically eliminate the company from the portfolio.
The goal of the equity segment of the portfolio is to emulate the overall investment characteristics of the Russell 3000, while screening out companies that do not meet the account's social criteria. The fixed-income portion, which can also invest in foreign and domestic government securities, attempts to track the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index.

Also, this fund excludes alcohol, tobacco, firearms or miltary weapons and no utilities who rely on or have interest in nuclear plants.

The fund is doing quite well. :D

[Maat]

55. Link to Social Choice fund, please...

n/t

[Mandate My Ass]

61. Here's the link

scroll down to CREF variable annuities and click the link:

http://www.tiaa-cref.org

Issuer Name Quantity
Held Market
Value Percent of
Total Net Assets
$6,450,667,251

U.S. Treasury Bond 8.000%, 11/15/21 157,800,000 $216,930,816 3.36%
FNMA 2.250%, 05/15/06 115,800,000 $115,043,814 1.78%
Microsoft Corp 3,416,536 $94,467,220 1.46%
Johnson & Johnson 1,651,142 $93,008,839 1.44%
U.S. Treasury Bond 10.000%, 5/15/10 83,283,000 $87,328,890 1.35%
JPMorgan Chase & Co 2,016,984 $80,134,774 1.24%
American Int'l Group, Inc 1,157,136 $78,673,677 1.22%
Procter & Gamble Co 1,326,638 $71,797,649 1.11%
U.S. Treasury Bond 2.375%, 8/15/06 69,950,000 $69,719,164 1.08%
Int'l Business Machines Group

[Maat]

65. Thanks.

n/t

[xultar]

38. SHOP COSTCO is BLUE do your SHOPPING @ COSTCO this holiday

COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:COSTCO is BLUE :kick:

[6th Borough]

52. ...and unionized.

:thumbsup:

[Ernesto]

75. Not totally

In the Sacramento area there are 7 Costcos. 3 are organized, 4 are not.

[sendero]

42. I had a Sam's Club card..

.... that expired in Nov. I got my Costco card last week, and the wife and I made our first shopping trip there.

I like it - I'll be happy to buy from them and plan to try them first whenever I make any purchase.

Their prices seem comparable to Sam's to me, I'd happily pay more to buy from a company that treats its employees like human beings.

[juslikagrzly]

43. Not a one in Oklahoma

DAMN! We are so in the pockets of Wal-Mart. In the medium sized town I live in, it is almost impossible to avoid WallyWorld completely. It's the only game in town.

So, those who've used costco online---no problems? I may check into it.

My own person axis of evil - "Bush, Walmart and OU", according to my kids :)

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

54. If you live in the South of OK,

you could travel to TX -- we have COSTCO's despite our redness...

[TrustingDog]

44. I've heard that Costco doesn't treat their staff like crap like Wal Mart..

does.
This could also be having an effect on their upward sales. People may have turned to costco because of their demo contributions but when they find out it's a decent place to work as well...

2 damn good reasons to support it.

i generally don't like big box stores but am considering putting Costco down as an exception and start shopping there.

[Doohickie]

45. I switched from Sam's Club to Costco last month.

Just doin' what I can.

[Bouncy Ball]

47. I joined Costco on November 3rd.

And started shopping there immediately.

I have talked 34 people to date into no longer shopping at Wal-Mart and 17 of those people have paid for Costco memberships. Many of them also transferred their prescriptions from Wal-Mart to a local drugstore or grocery store.

I will continue in this boycott.

I will continue to support Costco as long as they continue to be Dem contributors and a good employer.

[Columbia]

56. Some stats

Costco vs. Wal-Mart
Comparing some workplace statistics, as reported by the companies.

Employees covered by company health insurance
Costco 82%
Wal-Mart 48%

Insurance-enrollment waiting periods (Part-time)
Costco 6 mos
Wal-Mart 2 yrs

Portion of health-care premium paid by company
Costco 92%
Wal-Mart 66%

Annual worker turnover rate
Costco 24%
Wal-Mart 50%

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/articles_2004/costco_employee_benefits_walmart.html

[CitySky]

62. cool stats.

Thanks!

[SammyWinstonJack]

64. I joined last month

Have shopped there a few times and love it. Glad to see their sales are up.

[Gothmog]

66. I love Costco

I am so happy that Costco is doing well. Lets keep supporting a truly blue company

[Riptide]

67. Costco is a great place to get glasses and contacts...

my daughter wears disposable (every two weeks) contacts. It would have cost me $180 for a year's supply at the doctor's office, but I got them for $105 at Costco.

I also got her a pair of glasses, and I let her pick out any frames she wanted, and they only cost $84.

I love Costco. It is my favorite store, ever! My husband hates to shop, but for some reason, he loves to go to Costco.

[Liberty Belle]

69. Let's fill out comments cards at Costco on why we buy there

Ditto at other "blue" stores!

[K8-EEE]

70. Excellent Suggestion I Will Mention It Over At...

the Economic Activism & Progressive Living forum!

[Liberty Belle]

71. Good. We can also cancel accounts at "Red" stores & tell them why.

[K8-EEE]

72. Yep! I Cancelled Pier One & Target Credit Cards

And sent them the print out from the "Follow Your Money" site -- I figure if the info is incorrect or something, they can contact me about it.

[K8-EEE]

76. WOW, Costco OnLine Rebates: Have You Tried This?

Here's another reason to love Costco. Today I bought some Adobe Photoshop software that was on my daughter's Xmas list. The guy at the register pointed out to me that there was a $30 rebate on it and that it expired 12/31 so he pointed out the section of the receipt with all the information needed to submit for the rebate at their online rebate center. He even wrote a reminder on the receipt with a little happy face, LOL...

So I get home, logged on to the site and in two minutes got a confirmation that the rebate had been submitted! All you need is you Costco number, the register & transaction number which are all on the receipt.

I HATE HATE HATE forgetting to send in for rebates -- THANKS COSTCO!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

74. Do they exist anywhere outside the US?

Edit: I found it. Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, UK. No Brazil. Bah.

This is an American corporation I'd have NO trouble whatsoever patronizing.