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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Another Post About Costco

Years ago I was a member of Costco, but for various reasons I didn’t renew my membership after that year was up.  A while back, however, a friend of mine started calling me every time she went to Costco to see if I wanted to go with her and mooch off her membership - and so I did.  About every two weeks.  Then she moved, and Costco went with her. 

This became a problem.

Every time I needed cheese I would look at the regular grocery store prices and think, “Hmmm…buy gifts for Christmas?  Or cheese.  Christmas?  Cheese.”   To compromise I decided just to buy cheese FOR Christmas and then everyone wins.  During this debate I began to weigh, once again, the pros and cons of renewing my membership at Costco.  One day after I spent the morning getting my hair done I thought, “Hey, my hair looks good and I put make up on this morning, this would be a great time to get my picture taken in front of blue poster board for the folks who introduced me to dried mangoes.”  And just like that, I re-joined Costco.

Now, as a full fledged paying member, there are a few things I’d like to say.

First of all, there’s basically only one thing I would change about this establishment if I had any power and that is that I would add an express lane.  How hard is it Costco people?  Make a sign.  Put it up in your far right lane, or your far left lane, or smack dab in the middle for all I care.  Everybody’s doing it!  Except the DMV.  You and the DMV. You couldn’t possibly be okay with that.

Second of all, the reason everybody joins this place is under the guise of how much money they save, right?  The thing is, all that money I just saved on cheese I spent on other stuff, because I didn’t know until I got there just how important it was to have chocolate covered pomegranates.

Finally, the samples.  Also known as, "Hello, Lover".  To take true advantage of this it is important not to go right when the store opens because the sampling people aren’t quite ready for you yet.  The single biggest disappointment next to finding out that Tiger Woods took the motto of one of his sponsors too far (Hey Tiger, when Nike says, “Just Do It” I don’t think that’s what they had in mind) ((Enough with the Tiger jokes?  Should I be done now?))  is walking through the pasta section and seeing the lady just getting her pots and pans out.  But I really want to try that spinach parmesan mushroom sausage cheese stuffed ravioli!  So then you try to meander around that section as if you’re intently shopping, when really you’re just waiting for the water to boil.  After a while it gets too obvious so you go to look at the couch on display as if that was your intention all along.  What?  No.  I’m not so pathetic that I’m waiting for your savory sample.  I just wanted to take a gander at the quality of this LEATHER!  

Seriously though, have you had the dried mangoes?

14 comments:

Jen said...

I visited Costco yesterday to get ONE item...Left with at least 7 items....one of which was CORNDOGs that my 12yr old manged to circle around and have enough "Samples" to qualify as an ENTIRE corndog.

Note to self *dont take the 12yr old to Costco

2nd note to self* you do not need those chocolate covered pomegranates - I don't care how yummy they sound - really!

ellen said...

Yes I've had the dried mangos. I got a Costco card recently (I'm done with asking friends to pick up one item for me) and I'm getting my reprints done there. Tonight I'm going to pick up photo calendars that I ordered and something else that costs $7.99. I heart Costco.

Heather said...

I love costco, but I am a 99% food buyer... I was 3 hours from a costco for so long, but I kept my cheap membership... I do think I will get my $100 back after the year is up...
BTW your hello lover sampler name is the best!

Rachel said...

I think if you're Mormon (or a member of any congregation that eats together a lot) you need a Costco membership. It's the easy way to provide "light refreshments" when they are called for. Which is like, every week, basically.

Also: the uncooked tortillas you grill at home, the fresh flowers are great, and the photo reprints (and enlargements) are unmatched. But more inexpensive? Definitely not.

Emily said...

I inhale the mangoes. And everything else. Except I've been mooching off my mom's membership for the past 5 or so years. Not only the membership, she PAYS FOR THE STUFF I GET when she takes me. And I'm 30 years old, but I have no shame. I accept the free Costco because who wouldn't? But then she got cancer last February, and had double knee replacements in November, so I've been an entire year with no Costco. I think it's time I broke down and signed up.

Mindy Gledhill said...

I have a seriously conflicted love/hate relationship with Costco.

Stefani said...

My dad used to go to Costco for lunch (not at the food court - at the sample tables) He always left full.

Also just for the record. Our DMV has an "appointment" line and a "non-appointment" line... you know, so those who plan ahead can get in and out in a shorter amount of time. A word to the wise, those who make appointments at the DMV have some serious and involved issues. And even though there may only be 2 people in front of you, they take a 1/2 hour each. I should have just bucked up and stood in the "non-appointment" line that only took 20 minutes even though there was 15 people in it.

And yes, I have had the dried mangos! YUM! And yes, you do have to have the chocolate covered pomegranates they are divine!

just call me jo said...

There's a nut mix/carmelized divine stuff that the church gave us when we moved. I've never dared buy it again 'cause I ate the whole bag. But they DO give it out sometimes as samples and I circle the table like a shark around fresh meat. It's truly sad to know all the items you spoke of. I do heart Costco, too, as I hang my head in shame.

Karen said...

One time I ate one of those mangoes and then the next time, (about ten seconds later) I ate the entire bag.

So strange.

Pitterle Postings said...

Yep, we live three hours from Costco, so it is an all day event to go. Usually hubby takes the girls "sample shopping" and I go get the stuff we really need. Let me just say, the kids love eating lunch at costco. I can think of several things I "need" right now, sounds like a weekend trip to me!!

violyngirl said...

I shop at Sam's.

~j. said...

Those dark chocolate covered pomegranates?

Hold me.

*katie said...

Our Costco is shutting down for NINE MONTHS!!! We're getting a new one which will be awesome, but seriously, 9 months is ridiculous! (and there's plenty of others fairly close by)
I made 2 trips to Costco on Tuesday, once with all 3 kids during the day, the 2nd at night so I could stock up on the big stuff. Spent over $150 each time! I'll probably save a fortune with the nearby Costco being shutdown.

Brent Taylor said...

Yeah, we've got those "joint" memberships at both Costco and Sam's. One of these days we'll do the restaurant hopping thing at both and end up at Coldstone for free sample dessert.