America’s Last Bastion Of Co-Ed Shopping: Costco

I’d hate to think people watched me on an 80″ TV. Too much Geoff. I was built for the small screen.

Where were we?

IMAG1269

Helaine’s car had a date with the upholsterer yesterday. A small tear on the side was growing. When we picked the car up today she asked if I’d go to Costco with her?

Costco! Be still my heart.

It’s the last bastion of co-ed shopping. Where else can a couple go?

I’m not really a store guy. Maybe Barnes and Noble. Do they still exist? Bookstores were my mall refuge.

FB_IMG_14054570239748519If you’ve never been, Costco stores are huge and aesthetically lacking with high unfinished ceilings and bright lights. Merchandise is piled on pallets to the ceiling. Many items are specially packaged to suit Costco’s way of selling–directly out of the shipping box.

“You can walk around,” H said after flashing her Costco card at the door. I turned right and walked to an aisle of huge TVs. The largest were 80″. That’s nuts… though appealing.

I’d hate to think people watched me on an 80″ TV&#185. Too much Geoff. I was built for the small screen.

IMAG1266Where were we?

I looked at monitors and printers and electronic add-ons of every variety. There’s no new technology screaming to me right now. There was no urge to buy.

People are getting home security systems with video. It’s like living in the Real World house. Thinking of my own home in that split-screen monitor is creepy.

Boredom had begun to set in when my pocket began vibrating. Helaine. “You know,” she said, “there are a lot of samples over here.”

FB_IMG_14054570449786734Mango and blueberry. Chicken Fajitas. Salsa. Lemonade. I sampled, then sampled again.

Most of my shopping is online. It takes an occasion to get me in a store.

I missed you Costco. It was nice to see you today. Let’s not to be strangers.

&#185 – Maybe more interesting to wonder is what people were doing while watching? Wasn’t part of my job description, ‘nightlight’?

2 thoughts on “America’s Last Bastion Of Co-Ed Shopping: Costco”

  1. There are certain things that make a Costco membership worth it. Are you guys coffee drinkers? The house brand (Kirkland) of bagged coffee is outstanding. And Costco’s price on Starbucks whole bean French Roast is eye-catching (by my calculation, at least 1/3 below typical supermarket prices).

    We also got better deals on our android smartphones by getting them at Costco than by going to Best Buy or the Sprint store.

    And finally, I was seduced by a camera. For well over a month, a Canon Rebel t5i DSLR “bundle” (with carrying bag, zoom lens and second battery) caught my eye as effectively as any starlet. It convinced me to offer my older model xsi to my daughter, a newspaper reporter who had previously borrowed it for her work. She took it, giving me the excuse I needed to buy the newer model.

    That’s the one thing a “bricks and mortar” store can give you — the visual impact of seeing the item in person.

    The one drawback — that despite their massive buildings, they carry a small number of products. I was surprised to find they did not stock the size of tires that my Honda Fit uses. Having no other option, I wound up going to a tire store, having no other choice.

  2. I have a membership with BJ’s. It is closer and I got the membership as a borough employee. Sometimes their gas is cheaper too, although it is based on what the Wbry rate is—Naug. is always at least a nickel cheaper.
    Yes, Barnes & Noble still exists–Walden and the other one (name won’t come to me) have gone under. I enjoy going to B&N —sometimes good bargains available. Now a days, with town libraries shortening their hours, it is the only thing left. BJ’s has a fairly good book section too. Walmart used to, but like Stop and Shop, when they expanded, the book section was compacted to near zero.!

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