Like many children of immigrants, my father grew up relatively poor in Boston, Massachusetts. Unsurprisingly, he developed an eye for a bargain early on. Even in later years, when he was affluent, he loved to chase down a good deal. The stage has now been set for my confession: I love to go to Costco.
Though there are many Costco stores in San Diego, I am loyal to the original flagship store on Morena Boulevard. The parking is marginal, the building is old, and it always seems crowded, but I like the feeling I have when I go there. It reminds me of wandering through Haymarket Square in Boston on a Saturday morning when the vendors hawk their wares.
I like the fact you must show a card to get in. It's like being a member of the country club for a moment. All thoughts of exclusivity disappear as soon as I enter the store. First, there is the electronics department to peruse. I rarely make purchases there since mostly big-ticket items are for sale, but it's a fun area to window shop. I usually head down through hardware and sports until I reach the always-serious food and wine section.
The food area must be handled with great discipline because too many samples will ruin the enjoyment of the Hot Dog I always buy when I leave the store. The hot mustard, excellent relish, and bountiful supply of onions enhance the dog wonderfully.
The wine section is always fun. The selections are ample, and the prices are very competitive. Often, excellent Chiantis are available there, and when he is available, the department manager is helpful. The wine area requires concentration, so I may have another sample or two before heading to another important department: the office supply section. Here, they have the usual pens and pencils plus those hard-backed legal pads that are so handy. From there, it's onto the toiletries before entering the check-out line.
It takes a few years to develop an effective strategy for negotiating Costco. In the early years, I planned to pick up an item or two and walked away having spent $300. I would tell myself that I had saved a lot of money. Though this was a true statement, eventually, it struck me that I had spent $300 I hadn't planned to! Now, I try to shop from a list of planned purchases, which is a financially successful strategy but less fun.
There are other stores in the Costco category, like Wal-Mart and Target, but I have never been able to resonate with them. Martha Stewart says K-Mart is a good place, but she is in less favor. When I was recently on jury duty in Vista, I even went to Costco on my lunch break. Did I have a hot dog? Take your best guess.
This article was written several years ago.