Costco was forced to pay
Not unlike my 2% reward check from Costco, this week’s post is pretty lame. I’m a Costco member but I canceled my Executive Membership long ago. Why would I pay an extra $50 just so I could get inside Costco an hour before everyone else and get a 2% reward check at the end of the year? Firstly, Costco is one of my least favorite places to go and b) I would need to spend at least $2500 just to break even.
Imagine my surprise when I opened my mail yesterday to find a long lost 2% reward check from Costco. At first I thought Costco sent me the reward check because they appreciated me, but the enclosed letter explained, “We are sending you this additional certificate as a result of the settlement of a lawsuit entitled Mark Barmak v. Costco Wholesale Corporation…” Apparently, they never rewarded me for the last $55 I spent as an Executive Member. I guess it happened to Mark Barmak, too. Only he got pissed, hired a lawyer, filed and won a lawsuit. He must’ve spent more than $55.
Today I have $1.10 not because I am appreciated but because Costco was forced to pay. But here’s the thing: it’s not even real money—it’s a “reward gift certificate” redeemable only at Costco. Seriously? The only thing under $10 at Costco is a hotdog. So tomorrow when I’m settling down in the overcrowded, concrete floored, food-court with my gigantic Costco hotdog, I’ll take pause and silently thank Mark Barmak for taking a stand and making sure other customers (though not appreciated) get their reward.
7 Comments to “Costco was forced to pay”
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HELLO! I JUST RECEIVED MY CERTIFICATE FOR 5 DOLLARS AND 56 CENTS, AND, SORRY TO SAY NIKHITA, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUY FOOD WITH IT, BECAUSE ON THE BACK OF THE CERTIFICATE SAYS, THAT YOU CAN’T USE IT FOR THE FOOD COURT, GAS, ETC…… I KNOW, COSTCO SUCKSSSSS.
This is even worse than I imagined. Thanks a lot John Smithio.
Put it twards a pallet of hot dogs.
I’m sorry, Nikhita. I’m sorry to say that I LOVE Costco. I spend every Sunday morning roaming the aisles looking for samples. I love to buy huge quantities of toilet paper and Wesson oil (don’t ask). Where else can you go and find a tv and 12lb bags of frozen chicken wings? I’m sorry, but i am staying with Costco. Since you canceled your card, let me know if you need anything.
I’ve always felt I got a good value when ordering supplies for my business for the past 18 years from Costco. If your finances are in order and you are capable of using the quantities necessary to get the right price on the goods purchased, you would be hard pressed to find a better place to buy. Oh, and did I mention I actually earned 3 credits my senior year of college working security for the Price Club (former name of Costco). I’m an independent retailer that’s not big on category killers but they do have very competitive prices. I also heard that the bulk of their profits are generated by these membership fees so I have no problem with them making some money on me. I usually get back $200 or so so I’m a happy shopper!
I’ll take a monster hot pizza to-go please….
I think Costco is Great! I’ve always been able to make returns with no problems and that is the main reason why i prefer to shop @ Costco. If they sell something i need or want, i’ll buy it from them before buying from anyone else. It just makes more sense. I even saved a few bucks on our new Nintendo Wii. Other places can’t offer that. Go Costco!!
If you read the fine print, you can cash it at any of their cashiers…. Sorry that you took all of this time to bitch about something that would have taken you less time to read the back of the check…. dee dee dee