On 12/9/2011 3:12 AM, SMS wrote:
> > On 11/30/2011 8:49 PM, Thad Floryan wrote:
> >
>> >> Costco's checkers would get fired within their first 5 minutes
>> >> working in such a fast-paced environment because they're too slow
>> >> which is why I don't buy any refrigerated or frozen food at Costco
>> >> with one pre-planned exception: entering the store at 8:20pm knowing
>> >> in advance where everything I want is located, getting it, and then
>> >> checking-out with no waiting. With that written, Costco is not the
>> >> place to be shopping between mid-November and December 31.
> >
> > Bring an insulated bag with you. If possible put some ice in it. They
> > sell them for $6 at Costco.
That kind of kills any savings shopping at Costco.
Biggest problem I've had with Costco is stocking longevity.
What that means is they'll sometimes get a great product, I'll
try it, will be able to buy it one more time, and then it's
discontinued. This has happened time and time again with some
truly great food products which I later learned were overruns
of airlines' 1st class food services.
To avoid future disappointment I just don't buy any food products
at Costco anymore and stick with Andronico's, Draeger, Lucky
and Safeway which are all within 1/4 to 2 miles of my home -- between
those four I can get [almost] everything I want.
There's a TJ about 3 walking minutes from my home but one risks one's
life shopping at any TJs due to all the distracted drivers texting in
every TJ's parking area (Los Altos, Mountain View, San Mateo, etc.).
I'm not the only one with that observation:
<
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2011/01/why_everyone_at_trader_joes_hates_you.php>
"
" Every Trader Joe's parking lot everywhere is an effed-up jungle from hell."
The San Mateo TJ was about 200 yards from my office and I could see
the effed-up jungle from hell traffic there from my desk through the window.
Besides, TJ's produce is crap (almost always beyond expiration) and
they, too, frequently don't restock good items I've liked so I haven't
shopped at one in years.
Back to Costco:
> > Actually the times they have the shortest lines are the busiest times
> > when they put on more checkers.
Except at this time of year. My last Costco trip this year was early
November and I won't return until mid-January. Last year (2010) at
this time (early December), I saw every register open and each with a
line greater than 150 feet extending into the Sunnyvale store's aisles.
Needless to say I just left abandoning my cart without buying anything.
> > You also have to learn to size up customers when selection which line to
> > get in. Profile which customers are most likely to pay with a check or
> > cash, which takes longer than a credit card. Watch out for customers
> > that have no basket and that keep looking back because they are often
> > waiting for someone with a huge load of stuff that they will allow to
> > cut in line (a single line, with rails so no cutting with baskets would
> > be possible, would solve this problem, though hand carried items could
> > still be carried in).
Good points but not always possible. Entering the store at 8:20pm
still works best for me at the Sunnyvale and Coleman Ave Costcos;
Mountain View has really bad parking so I've been there only twice and
never again but the one in Foster City (when I worked in San Mateo) is
really good with plenty of parking spaces. Redwood City Costco has
really bad parking and it's difficult to get there for me.