BGuthrie Photos: MD -- Costco @ Beltsville

MD -- Costco @ Beltsville:

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Description of Pictures: Several visits showing siege mentality at Costco because of Covid-19.

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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[1] COSTBE_200316_02.JPG	[2] COSTBE_200316_06.JPG	[3] COSTBE_200316_09.JPG	[4] COSTBE_200316_10.JPG	[5] COSTBE_200316_12.JPG	[6] COSTBE_200316_16.JPG	[7] COSTBE_200316_17.JPG	[8] COSTBE_200330_03.JPG
[9] COSTBE_200330_10.JPG	[10] COSTBE_200330_14.JPG	[11] COSTBE_200330_16.JPG	[12] COSTBE_200330_20.JPG	[13] COSTBE_200330_23.JPG	[14] COSTBE_200330_24.JPG	[15] COSTBE_200330_25.JPG	[16] COSTBE_200330_30.JPG
[17] COSTBE_200330_31.JPG	[18] COSTBE_200330_37.JPG	[19] COSTBE_200330_40.JPG	[20] COSTBE_200330_46.JPG	[21] COSTBE_200413_03.JPG	[22] COSTBE_200413_14.JPG	[23] COSTBE_200413_23.JPG	[24] COSTBE_200413_29.JPG
[25] COSTBE_200413_33.JPG	[26] COSTBE_200413_41.JPG	[27] COSTBE_200413_63.JPG	[28] COSTBE_200416_02.JPG	[29] COSTBE_200416_05.JPG	[30] COSTBE_200416_09.JPG	[31] COSTBE_200416_12.JPG	[32] COSTBE_200416_17.JPG
[33] COSTBE_200416_21.JPG	[34] COSTBE_200416_23.JPG	[35] COSTBE_200416_27.JPG	[36] COSTBE_200416_33.JPG	[37] COSTBE_200418_001.JPG	[38] COSTBE_200418_013.JPG	[39] COSTBE_200418_019.JPG	[40] COSTBE_200418_026.JPG
[41] COSTBE_200418_029.JPG	[42] COSTBE_200418_038.JPG	[43] COSTBE_200418_042.JPG	[44] COSTBE_200418_045.JPG	[45] COSTBE_200418_049.JPG	[46] COSTBE_200418_055.JPG	[47] COSTBE_200418_058.JPG	[48] COSTBE_200418_061.JPG
[49] COSTBE_200418_066.JPG	[50] COSTBE_200418_070.JPG	[51] COSTBE_200418_075.JPG	[52] COSTBE_200418_081.JPG	[53] COSTBE_200418_082.JPG	[54] COSTBE_200418_085.JPG	[55] COSTBE_200418_091.JPG	[56] COSTBE_200418_095.JPG
[57] COSTBE_200418_102.JPG	[58] COSTBE_200418_106.JPG	[59] COSTBE_200418_109.JPG	[60] COSTBE_200418_116.JPG	[61] COSTBE_200418_120.JPG	[62] COSTBE_200418_122.JPG	[63] COSTBE_200418_129.JPG	[64] COSTBE_200418_132.JPG
[65] COSTBE_200418_137.JPG	[66] COSTBE_200418_145.JPG	[67] COSTBE_200419_01.JPG	[68] COSTBE_200419_05.JPG	[69] COSTBE_200419_14.JPG	[70] COSTBE_200419_25.JPG	[71] COSTBE_200419_28.JPG	[72] COSTBE_200419_35.JPG

Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. COSTBE_200316_02.JPG: Out of Stock * Rotisserie Chicken * Flour * Toilet Paper * Nido [brand of powdered milk] * Rice * Lysol * Sanitizer Wipes * Bleach * Baby Wipes * Pasta Food Court (Take Out Only): * (no sliced pizza) * Only Serving: * * Hot Dogs, Sodas, Whole Cheese and Whole Pepperoni Pizzas Departments with Reduced Services: * Hearing Aid * Optical
2. COSTBE_200316_06.JPG: Barriers are in place to keep you from going into or out of the store from any door except the designated ones. All of the pull-down gates were closed except two.
3. COSTBE_200316_09.JPG: People wanting bottled water (which is limited to probably 2 per customer) need to go through a cordoned off area.
4. COSTBE_200316_10.JPG: Milk (all types) are limited to two containers per customer.
5. COSTBE_200316_12.JPG: The sit down area of the food court is gone. The only food being served in the food court is now hot dog/soda and whole pizza (cheese and pepperoni only -- not combo) and it's all to-go only.
6. COSTBE_200316_16.JPG: Parts of the parking lot are cordoned off to provide an area for long lines of people.
7. COSTBE_200316_17.JPG: Costco Wholesale Gasoline Regular: $1.95.9 Premium: $2.49.9 Gas prices, however, have dropped dramatically due to the production war between the child president's pals, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
8. COSTBE_200330_03.JPG: Costco Wholesale Gasoline Regular: $1.75.9 Premium: $2.05.9 Gas prices have dropped by twenty cents a gallon since my last visit. And the line at the pumps was very short.
9. COSTBE_200330_10.JPG: They've closed off most of the side parking lot and turned it into a waiting queue with palette stacks preserving social distancing. You can only enter from the side entry area.
10. COSTBE_200330_14.JPG: Eggs were limited to one per membership, having been limited to two on my last visit. Many products like milk and bottled water still had limits.
11. COSTBE_200330_16.JPG: Support our Local Restaurant Partners Pick-up, Curbside or Delivery Service Available P.F. Chang's -- Columbia We have temporarily suspended selling restaurant cards.
12. COSTBE_200330_20.JPG: The pharmacy has set up poles to make sure people stayed in their area. The yellow tape on the floor indicates six feet for social distancing.
13. COSTBE_200330_23.JPG: Frozen pizza was limited to one box per customer. It's a hot item.
14. COSTBE_200330_24.JPG: Every other lane is open. Someone directs you to the shortest one. There are plastic barriers to protect the cashiers.
15. COSTBE_200330_25.JPG: The food court is still limited to hot dogs, soda, and whole cheese or pepperoni pizzas. I thought of ordering the latter but would have had to wait in the store for it.
16. COSTBE_200330_30.JPG: More plastic guards protecting the workers.
17. COSTBE_200330_31.JPG: Most of the food court products are marked "Unavailable."
18. COSTBE_200330_37.JPG: Note that the warehouse hours were shrunk by two hours effective that morning -- it now closes at 6:30pm on weekdays instead of 8:30pm. They've introduced special early hours for seniors 60+ years or older three days a week.
19. COSTBE_200330_46.JPG: Out of Stock * Lysol * Paper towels * Sanitizer Wipes * Toilet paper * Soft soap * Bleach In Stock * Milk [although no skim or 1% milk] * Rice * Water * Eggs * Nido * Fresh chicken
20. COSTBE_200413_03.JPG: Lines to get in. While there were no lines at all at 10am, they had formed and were wrapping around by about 10:45. John, one of the door guys, said that there were long lines every day but I've always come early enough to avoid them.
21. COSTBE_200413_23.JPG: Costco Wholesale Gasoline Regular: $1.69.9 Premium: $1.99.9
22. COSTBE_200413_29.JPG: Returns will not be accepted on: Toilet paper Paper towels Sanitizing wipes Water Rice Lysol Thank you for your understanding.
23. COSTBE_200413_33.JPG: We are currently allowing no more than two people to enter the warehouse on each membership. This temporary change is for your safety and the safety of our employees and other members, and to further assist with our social distancing efforts. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
24. COSTBE_200413_41.JPG: The protective plexiglass barriers between the customer and the cashier have become more formalized.
25. COSTBE_200416_02.JPG: I hadn't seen toilet paper in awhile. The sign mentions "This item is not returnable" as Costco tries to face the hoarders and price gougers.
26. COSTBE_200416_12.JPG: Masks were now required to get into the store. Most of these people had masks that I couldn't find -- I had to make my own. Shoppers are routed through a serpentine line to get in. Once the store reaches a designated capacity, no one is allowed in until someone else leaves.
27. COSTBE_200416_21.JPG: Out of Stock * Bleach * Sanitary Wipes [I think they meant "Sanitizer Wipes"] * Sanitizer * Lysol In Stock * Milk * Rice * Water * Soft soap * Rubbing Alcohol * Eggs * Baby Wipes * Toilet paper * Paper towels Food Court (Take Out Only) No sliced pizza Only Serving: Hotdogs, Sodas, Whole Cheese and Whole Pepperoni Pizzas Costco We are currently allowing no more than two people to enter the warehouse on each membership. This temporary change is for your safety and the safety of our employees and other members, and to further assist with our social distancing efforts. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Departments with Reduced Services: Hearing Aid Optical
28. COSTBE_200416_27.JPG: Costco We are currently allowing no more than two people to enter the warehouse on each membership. This temporary change is for your safety and the safety of our employees and other members, and to further assist with our social distancing efforts. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Costco In compliance with the Prince George's County Executive Order effective 4/15/20 Customers must wear face coverings Customers without face coverings will not be permitted inside the warehouse. We appreciate your cooperation
29. COSTBE_200416_33.JPG: Costco Wholesale Gasoline Regular: $1.69.9 Premium: $1.99.9
30. COSTBE_200418_019.JPG: Out of Stock * Lysol * Fresh Chicken * Toilet Paper * Rubbing Alcohol * Sanitizer * Sanitary Wipes * Paper Towels * Soft Soap * Water In Stock * Eggs * Rice * Milk * Bleach * Baby Wipes
31. COSTBE_200418_026.JPG: Returns will not be accepted on: * Toilet Paper * Paper Towels * Sanitizing Wipes * Water * Rice * Lysol Thank you for your understanding Registers Open x 3.66 = Members to let in every 5 minutes
32. COSTBE_200419_05.JPG: Out of Stock * Bleach * Lysol * Fresh Chicken * Toilet Paper * Sanitizer * Sanitary Wipes * Rubbing Alcohol * Soft Soap * Water In Stock: * Eggs * Rice * Milk * Baby Wipes * Paper Towels
Wikipedia Description: Costco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the world based on sales volume, headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, United States, with its flagship warehouse in nearby Seattle. Costco's Canadian operations are based near Ottawa, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

History:

Founded by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman, Costco opened its first warehouse in Seattle, Washington on September 15, 1983. Sinegal had started in retailing by working for Sol Price at both FedMart and Price Club. Brotman, an attorney from an old Seattle retailing family, had also been involved in retailing from an early age.

In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club. Costco’s business model and size were similar to those of Price Club, which was founded by Sol and Robert Price in 1976 in San Diego, California. Thus, the combined company, PriceCostco, was effectively double the size of each of its parents. Just after the merger, PriceCostco had 206 locations generating $16 billion in annual sales. PriceCostco was initially led by executives from both companies, but then Sol and his son Robert Price founded Price Enterprises and left in 1994.

In 1997, the company changed its name to Costco Wholesale.

Costco today:

The main competitor in the membership warehouse space is Sam's Club. Although Sam's Club has more warehouses than Costco, Costco has higher total sales volume. Costco employs about 132,000 full- and part-time employees, including seasonal workers, and for fiscal year 2006, ended on September 3, 2006, the company's store sales totaled $60.2 billion of which $1.1 billion was net profit. Costco is #32 on the Fortune 500.

As of June 7, 2007, Costco has 511 locations: ...

Sales model:

Costco focuses on selling products at low prices, often at very high volume. These goods are usually bulk-packaged and marketed primarily to large families and businesses. Furthermore, Costco does not carry multiple brands or varieties where the item is substantially the same. This results in high volume of sales from single vendor, allowing further reduction in price, and reducing marketing costs. Costco also saves money by not stocking extra bags or packing materials; to carry out their goods, customers must bring their own bags or use the merchandise shipping boxes from the company's outside vendors.

Currently membership fees at Costco are $50 per year for Goldstar and Business Memberships, which can be upgraded to Executive membership for an additional $50 per year. Along with the additional benefits the executive membership has (e.g. car purchasing savings, home loans, car insurance, check printing services) executive members also receive an annual "2% Rewards Check" from Costco on all purchases made (excluding gasoline and tobacco).

Costco is only open to members and their guests, except for purchases of liquor and gasoline in some U.S. states due to state law; and prescription drugs due to federal law. Memberships must be purchased in advance for one year (as of May 5, 2007). Purchases made at Costco's website do not require a membership; however, a 5% surcharge is added to purchases made by non-members. Purchases made with Costco Cash Cards also do not require a membership, and there is no surcharge. To avoid credit card processing fees, United States Costco locations only accept American Express (not in the UK and only Samsung credit cards in South Korea), PIN-based debit cards (Interac in Canada), cash, and checks. Guests of members are not allowed to write checks.

Lighting costs are reduced on sunny days, as most Costco locations have several skylights. During the day, electronic light meters measure how much light is coming in the skylights and turn off an appropriate percentage of the interior lights. During a typical sunny day, it is very common for the center section of the warehouse to have no interior lights burning.

Most products are delivered to the store on shipping pallets, and the pallets are used to display products for sale on the retail floor. This contrasts with other retailers that break down pallets and stock individual products on shelves. Costco caps its profit margin on most products at 14% or 15%, but generally limits price markup on products from 8%-10%.

Costco Cash Cards:

Costco Cash Cards can be purchased in the warehouse and members can load them with money to make non-cash purchases at all Costco warehouses in the United States. Because Costco gas stations take only Costco Cash, debit cards, and American Express, people who normally pay for gas by check or cash must purchase a Costco Cash Card inside the actual Costco building before filling up.

Products:

Over the years, Costco has gradually expanded its range of products and services. Initially it preferred to sell only boxed products that could be dispensed by simply tearing the shrinkwrap off a pallet. It now sells many other products that are more difficult to handle, such as fresh produce, meat, dairy, seafood, fresh baked goods, flowers, clothing, books, software, home electronics, jewelry, art, hot tubs, and furniture. Many stores have tire garages, pharmacies, hearing aid centers, optometrists, photo processors, and gas stations.

Some locations have liquor stores, often kept separate in order to comply with liquor license restrictions. In some states (such as Texas), the liquor store must be owned and operated by a separate company with separate employees. In 2006, Costco won a court decision against the state of Washington allowing it to purchase wine directly from the producer, bypassing the state retail monopoly.

Costco also acts as an investment broker and travel agent. They have also introduced an automobile purchasing program where members can purchase new cars at specially arranged prices. They also have an agreement with Ameriprise for auto and home insurance.

In 2004 Costco offered a (single) original artwork by artist Pablo Picasso on their online store.

Kirkland Signature:

Kirkland Signature is Costco's store brand, otherwise known in the retail industry as an "own-brand." It is found exclusively at Costco stores and is trademarked by the company. The name derives from the fact that Costco's corporate headquarters were located in the city of Kirkland, Washington between 1987 and 1996.

To counteract the consumer confidence problem common in store branding, Kirkland Signature sometimes relies on Co-branding. According to Costco, while consumers may be wary of same-store-branding, they are less likely to be wary of brands that they are familiar with and trust.

Trivia:

* The very first Price Club location was an old airplane hangar, and is still in operation today (Warehouse #401 San Diego).
* The price of a kosher hot dog and a soft drink at the food court is still $1.50, the same as it was when (pre-merger) Costco first opened in 1983.
* Prior to the 1993 Price Club/Costco merger, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton wanted to merge Sam's Club with Price Club.
* In 2006, former Buckingham Nicks drummer Gary Hodges and bassist Tom Moncrieff helped form a rock band named Sinai 48 after the Kosher Polish hotdogs sold in the Costco food court. The four member band consists of three members of Jewish descent.

Working at Costco:

While some former Price Club locations in California and the northeastern United States are staffed by Teamsters, the majority of Costco locations are not unionized. The non-union locations have revisions to their Costco Employee Agreement every three years concurrent with union contract ratifications in locations with collective bargaining agreements. Similar to a union contract, the Employee Agreement sets forth such things such as benefits, compensations, wages, disciplinary procedures, paid holidays, bonuses, and seniority. As of March 2007, non-supervisory hourly wages range from $11.00 to $19.50.

Product-demonstration (e.g., food samples) employees are employed by an outside company. In the western USA, the company is called Warehouse Demo Services, Kirkland WA. Costco also uses Club Demonstration Services, based in San Diego, California. .
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