Dave,
Thanks for the very detailed reply. I started to panic that Costco may somehow try and work up the cost of the Chicken. Definitely a great value. Really respect Costco for their business practice. Up until yesterday the Chicken has always been $4.99. Never more, never less.
Sometimes I go to Sams Club but I just don't get the same fuzzy feel like I do at Costco.
The Costco business model is limiting that rotisserie chicken price to $4.99. It has a good ring to the sound of it, and "everyone" knows they can get a good value cooked chicken that will feed several people, or last several days, for less than five bucks. Use it in other things you make, and there's dinner for not a lot of money.
You will never get the same fuzzy feeling from another warehouse that you do at Costco. It boils down to how the companies are designed. Costco was built from the ground up, with a clear vision. Sam's Club is a spin-off from Walmart, and is an attempt by the Waltons to capitalize on the warehouse concept originally put forth by Sol Price and Jim Sinegal. (Sol went on to found Price Club, and Jim founded Costco. A number of years later Costco bought Price Club, and it has never looked back.) Walmart may be able to claim they're the largest retailer, but their Sam's Clubs are a pale imitation of Costco, and will never be as good. The base problem with them is they don't pay reasonable wages to all those employees, and Costco does. The problem starts with employee attitudes and loyalty. A rank beginner at Costco, on their first day, starts out earning something like $13 an hour, and earns regular raises and benefits going forward from there. A Walmart (or Sam's Club) employee starts at minimum wage and has to work YEARS to get up to that level. They are taught during their employee orientation how to apply for food stamps. (What kind of multi-billionaire employer does that to their employees?) Costco is about profits to the members, Walmart is about profits to Walmart. It's an old argument.
Dave
