Forum Post: Costco-Unfair To Singles
Posted 11 years ago on June 11, 2012, 11:23 a.m. EST by nickm11
(27)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Love Costco, but I think they are unfair to singles who live alone. If your married or live with someone, even just a roommate who doesn't split food costs, you can get two cards and split the $55 cost, while a single person must pay the full $55 yearly cost. Just more corporate greed. Not fair!
If your a divorced mother with children, live alone or retired living on a small pension or social security, your stuck paying the price of two, the full $55. Was $50 until recently.
Not fair, that's why I started a Facebook Group, Costco - Unfair to Singles at https://www.facebook.com/groups/294185690676898/
I don't understand how they are unfair in your eyes. Their fee is $55 a year, for any person. They give an additional card if other adults live in the same home. Like a buy one get one sale, you have to buy the first card to get the free one. What would you have them do, eliminate the bonus card? How will your life be better if Costco makes it harder for other families to shop?
Maybe they should charge a fee and investigate every family and charge based on the number of people living at the address. Life's not fair, get over it and find a real problem to worry about.
Only on this site can a mutual and voluntary exchange between people be "unfair".
Actually, I see it the opposite way. You pay $55 for two cards, but if you live alone you dont get the second card. I'd have them give me two cards for my $55, to with as I like.
Why should you have to pay more for the privilege of living alone?
"Life's not fair, get over it and find a real problem to worry about.". Couldn't you say the same about Occupy? Why do you support Occupy....or do you?
Life is not fair, so you fight for what you believe is fair, at least I do.
I do find it interesting that the Catholic church is against contraception, but not against Costco for not just supporting living together unwed, but that Costco pays you for doing so.
I read it differently on their page, you buy one card and if you want they will give you a second card for the household. It sounds like it's a courtesy. I think AmEx does the same type of thing. They are a private organization and don't force you to join, but if you don't like the way they run things quit. Then you can be single for free.
You're actually equating what OWS is concerned about with the fee you are charged to join a petty shopping network? Part of the problem in the bigger picture is greed and the overconsumption made possible by these clubs. That's your choice though, you're free to join if you want.
You're certainly free to fight for this, if you think it's that big an issue. Because you posted it in a forum you may also have to face the reality that not everyone is going to agree that it's much of a problem.
The Catholic Church has a set of rules for the faithful, they don't step in and stop anyone from doing anything. They will tell you what they believe is a sin, but leave it up to the individual to either resist or give in to temptation. In any event, I don't believe Costco is part of the Catholic Church.
Try telling that to a single mother with three children and two jobs trying to making ends meet. Try telling that to a retired senior who's barely able to pay for his meds and goes to Costco, because it's cheaper. You think it's fair to price by the household, I think it's BS and just another business model that Costco makes work.
IMHO, OWS is for everyone who believes in fair and equal treatment for all. Again, IMHO, it's corps like Costco that find ways to get an edge or split people apart or take advantage of one VS the other that OWS is fighting against.
I have to say, this is something that has stuck in my craw for many years and now I'm just plain pissed about it. It's divisive and punitive, not to mention, just plain not right.
It's listed as $55 for a household, they don't count how many people in a household and give a second card to make life easier on larger families. Maybe if you fight hard enough they'll stop giving the second card.
Are you looking for things to be the same for everyone of simply a bargain for yourself? What would be fair to you? A family of 5 pays 5 times as much as you? Maybe they should weigh each family and you can pay by the pound, good motivation to fight obesity. Friendlyopposition is right this is definitely a first world problem.
The membership is for a household card. You aren't paying for the cards, you are paying for the membership. One address. What if you have 10 people sharing one household? The membership then becomes a very reasonable $5.50 per person.
What isn't fair about it? Sheesh...first world problems.
You only get two cards and they are for only two of the ten people in your household. Remember, they put your picture on the card, so they can and will refuse to sell to anyone not in the picture. Others at the same address must pay another $55 for two more cards.
When Price Club started, it was, if memory serves, $25 for one card and $35 for two. Then they figured they could make more money by forcing everyone to buy two cards at $35.
You tell me, would it be just as or more fair to charge $27.50/card?
Interestingly, my first reply on facebook was from a good friend who was worried they would raise his price, not make a reasonable deal for others. Costco is a business, if they could charge everyone more, they wouldnt hesitate one second.
Why should your fair be more fair then my fair?
If you think it's that big an injustice you have several options. Leave them, join another club, buy online where there is free shipping and save on the gas you could even make due with less merchandise.
My dentist charges $90 for a cleaning, but I've had my four wisdom teeth removed so i'm paying more per tooth then someone else, poor me.
Again, this is your best argument? How does that argument work with the banks? :)
You're not being clear about exactly what you mean about that argument working with the banks. The idea of shopping around? It's worked fine for me. Local credit unions provide most of the services I require and I keep my debt as low as possible.
All the same - the 10 people can still benefit from the lower food costs.
The fact is, Costco CAN charge more. It is a private business. They pay for the facilities, they pay for the staff, they pay for the product. Who are you to demand they charge less for membership?
Costco membership is not an entitlement...and it isn't a right. You are a consumer. Make your decisions accordingly.
This is your best argument?
It was sufficiently strong to counter your weak claims of injustice.
Of course, I could have told you what I tell my kids when they say something isn't fair: "A fair is a place to ride rides and eat cotton candy."
keep it on facebook
If your splitting a card with someone you dont live with, if asked for your address, make sure you give the the correct address on the card or they will take you off the card the next time you repay for the next year. Dont get caught or you will pay!
Compared to most other corporations in the food world, Costco is quite good. They are known to treat their employees fairly well, and they pay them better too. Those are important factors to me.
Are you using both cards?