I just ran across this very interesting and informative article from Fortune Magazine. I subscribe to Apple News and it includes several magazines and newspapers in my subscription. The article is pretty lengthy and will take a few minutes to finish, but man it’s a great read! It tells us a lot about Costco’s operations and why they do what they do….there is a method to their madness. A lot of us here on AR have recently wondered/guessed about who makes the Kirkland Brand Charcoal…..spoiler alert, we’ll probably never find out. Anyway, if you have even a little interest in Costco I think you’ll enjoy this article.
The retailer’s hundreds of warehouse stores are overstuffed and overwhelming—and that’s all by design. We delve into the method behind the madness that turns shoppers into obsessives.
John "JR"
Minnesota/ United States of America
******************************************** Grills/Smokers/Fryers Big Green Egg (Large) X3
Blackstone 36" Outdoor Griddle 4-Burner
Burch Barrel V-1 Karubeque C-60 Kamado Joe Jr. (Black) Lodge L410 Hibachi Pit Barrel Cooker Pit Barrel Cooker 2.0
Pit Barrel PBX
R&V Works FF2-R-ST 4-Gallon Fryer *******************************************. Thermometers
FireBoard (Base Package)
Thermoworks ThermaPen (Red)
Thermoworks MK4 (Orange)
********************************* Accessories Big Green Egg Plate Setter
Benzomatic TS800 High Temp Torch X 2 Bayou Classic 44 qt Stainless Stock Pot
Bayou Classic 35K BTU Burner Eggspander Kit X2 Finex Cat Iron Line FireBoard Drive Lots and Lots of Griswold Cast Iron Grill Grates Joule Water Circulator
KBQ Fire Grate Kick Ash Basket (KAB) X4 Lots of Lodge Cast Iron Husky 6 Drawer BBQ Equipment Cabinet Large Vortex Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum Marquette Castings No. 13 (First Run) Smithey No. 12 Smokeware Chimney Cap X 3 Stargazer No.10, 12 ******************************** Fuel FOGO Priemium Lump Charcoal Kingsford Blue and White B&B Charcoal Apple, Cherry & Oak Log splits for the C-60 ************************************************* Cutlery Buck 119 Special
Cuda 7' Fillet Knife Dexter 12" Brisket Sword Global Shun Wusthof ********** Next Major Purchase Lone Star Grillz 24 X 48 Offset
Lang 48 inch Deluxe Patio Model (burns hickory splits)
PK 360 (burns premium lump charcoal with wood chunks)
28 inch Blackstone Griddle (propane)
Rubs I love:
Yardbird by Plow Boys
Killer Hogs by Malcom Reed
AP Rub by Malcom Reed
Meat Church (any)
Three Little Pigs Memphis Style for ribs
Would love to try Meathead's commercial rub
Sauces I love:
Gates'
Joe's
Pa & Ma's
Killer Hogs Vinegar Sauce
Disposable Equipment I use:
Disposable cutting boards
Tumbleweed chimney starters
Aluminum foil
Aluminum pans (half and full)
Latex gloves
Diamond Kosher Salt
Vice-President of BBQ Security, Roy
He's a pure-bred North American Brown Dog
He loves rawhide chewies
My wife calls me "Teddy" and I call her "Princess" and that's where "mrteddyprincess" comes from.
Dog food
Paper products in bulk
Glad storage containers
Aluminum pans (1/2 and full)
Brisket
Pork butt
Pork tenderloins (whole)
Chicken wings
Kirkland brand knock-off of Crown Royal (the handle is $18)
I don't eat at the food court. I don't browse. I already know the game they're playing.
"And NEVER go on a weekend"-- @JCBBQ
It may take hours to find parking, avoid all the other shoppers, and wait in line, but they feed you with all the samples.
Between family groceries, buying for my wife's business, and cheap hot dogs and pizza we are generally at Costco 2-3 times every week. And my kids are still at that point where dinner at the Costco food court scratches that "eating out" itch and we can feed all 6 of us for less than $15.
We have Lowes, Home Depot and Menards all within a mile of each other, but our Sam's is the only thing of its kind within a 50 minute drive. That puts Costco just far enough away to keep me from joining.
Love Costco, even though Kirkland charcoal is never available locally. I just wished that Texas state law would allow them to sell booze. I love a good cheap hot dog and Coke (aka soft drink in the south).
Remember, the charcoal is usually in the far back corner of the store near the paper towels and toilet paper. If you ask an employee if they have the Kirkland charcoal, and they tell you no, that’s not always accurate. Just the other day I asked if they had it and was told no, started looking around myself and found some.
What?! Sacrilege! LOL
Not only does every Costco in SoCal sell booze… But you know those holiday gift pack things with a bottle & a couple glasses and the like…a couple out here have those year round. Makes for a quick last minute gift.
Purc I did a little digging around and you were right. Being a publicly traded company, Texas law does not allow them to sell liquor, only beer and wine. Any Costco in Texas that has a liquor store attached, is privately owned and there is no membership required to buy from them.
I've been walking the isles of the Kirkland Costco wearing Kirkland Jeans and Kirkland socks for years. Definitely a loyal follower. And the stock has been good too.
Costco is my spirit animal, so I love this. Oddly, I have never had one of their hot dogs, once I'm out of the register I'm headed for the car. No stopping. I get almost everything but produce there, that I get from my local co-op. I moved to a Costco domain about 12 years ago, and never looked back. My only beef > their chicken wings are "party wings" that have that end piece chopped off. That is my favorite part, it gets crispy and I love it, so if I were going to start a campaign it would be to "save the entire chicken wing." Otherwise, my Vivy likes their salmon and sweet potato dog food, and they have everything else I need. AND I live 4 miles away, so if I'm lazy or busy, Instacart will deliver. My Costco also has liquor next door, but what is this I hear about store brand Crown Royal? I doubt I've had CR since college, but I would try again if I could find. On my shopping list. My Costco has the liquor store next door, and all the wine and beer in the main store. My state and county allow liquor sales 11-11 on Sundays even. The lineup at registers Sunday morning 10:45am is astounding. What else could you want?
I bought a large monitor for my computer. It was 80 dollars less at Costco than any other place I found. That's more than the basic membership price. Plus the delivered it two days later for free.
Neat article. I like the list of "You can buy that at Costco?" Gold Bar- never. Jewelry- not since 2000 and never again. Wine- once for cooking and never again. Vehicle- been 14 years and surely at least one more time so maybe I'll need a "once membership."
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