doodledee

We joined the big Costco store the other day. I went up there a couple weeks back with the neighbor lady so I could mooch her membership and buy a folding table and when I saw some of the prices on the other stuff they sell I couldn't resist joining for myself. It's insane. I will *so* save more than our membership cost us over the next 12 months. After that, well, we'll see about re-upping. No promises.

I've always enjoyed poking fun at people who shop at the big price clubs. After all, what am I supposed to do with a 25-pound bag of chicken nuggets? Or a 3-foot long sleeve of AA batteries? Or a 2-gallon can of chocolate frosting? The reality is that I don't need any of that stuff and now that I'm a member I probably still won't buy the batteries. But man, they sell milk for $2/gallon. And these huge bags of awesome salad for like $4. And all kinds of other good stuff like pants and xbox accessories and these really big hot dogs. Genius! Sign me up!

A couple observations after shopping there a few times:

• Everyone who is there is obsessed by being there. They're in some sort of matrix style mind meld with the store, almost to a state of worship. I prefer to call it "brainwashed by the brand", but whatever. Last weekend I had this urge to walk around and slap people's faces and remind them that they're still in a carefully managed consumer environment, but I got distracted by a free pot-pie sample and forgot what I was thinking about. Damn you home-baked goodness!!
• Getting out of the place sucks. The checkers are doofs in slow motion. Slowmodoofs. Bring a fistful of patience when you go, 'cause you're gonna need it to punch yourself in the face as you wait in line.
• Not everything is a deal. Some food items are cheaper at Cub and some prescription drugs are cheaper in Canada. And they don't price stuff in an obvious enough way (read: per unit) to make it easy to comparison shop unless you can do math. Sneaky pricks.

That's about it. Don't be surprised if in 5 months I'm kicking myself for joining, but hey, at least it's not Sam's Club.

Costco's Website [costco]
Wal-Mart = Bush. Costco = Kerry. Uhh, I'm just here for the ribs. [slate]