Additional Costco services?

I have written before about items that I wish Costco would carry (Costco Wish-Lists.) Now I thought it would be fun to brainstorm other services seen in/provided by other stores that might be good additions to Costco. I have no power over Costco so I doubt these will happen anytime soon…but we can still think of possibilities. Of course, being the smart company that it is, it is likely that these ideas have been considered and deemed impractical, inefficient, and/or not cost-effective.

Some that I have thought of are:

1. Self check-out lines: Sure, this may seem silly for the many people who buy enough goods at Costco to fill multiple huge shopping carts. However, as someone who frequents Costco almost weekly, there have been many times when I have made purchases consisting of only one or two items. (Yes, it leads to some odd looks…”who goes to Costco and leaves with only milk and a pair of sneakers???”). It is true that the cashiers at Costco are extremely efficient, making each transaction very quick. Furthermore, I would estimate that it is rare to see two smooth transactions in a row at most self check-outs, suggesting that they are less than efficient! However, it might be a helpful service for the (competent at self-checkout) shoppers with very few items.

2. Manufacturer’s coupons: As a coupon lover, I would like Costco to accept non-Costco coupons (Non-Costco coupons). I recognize that accepting these would slow down transactions, but there are many times when I choose to buy an item at BJs or another store because I can get a better deal after using my coupon.

3. Reduced bakery: As I’m sure is probably all too clear by this point, I love a good deal…and I love desserts. Therefore, I am a happy shopper when I come across reduced bakery products in stores. One reason I was so excited when Market Basket opened in Waltham was because they tended to have good products (cake, muffins, cinnamon bread) for half price (or, if I caught them on an especially stocked day, for 50 cents!…yes, that extra freezer came in handy!) About a year ago, they switched to one third off, which is not nearly as much fun. I would like Costco to have a reduced bakery. Their products are already such good deals, so discounted chocolate cakes, muffins, etc reaching their sell-by date would be a great addition to their bakery line. It would be hit-or-miss but always fun to check out.

4. Additional car services: Currently Costco’s auto department only deals with tires. This is a helpful service. However, because I (and others) have so much trust in the quality of Costco’s services and products, it would be great if they would provide other auto services, such as oil changes, brake inspections, etc.

5. Babysitting: Sure, this idea may sound ridiculous, but Costco is a big store and, for people who do not go frequently, like to take time to look at new products, and buy a lot of items, a trip can take a long time. As I wrote about in previous posts, I used to hate being dragged to Costco (how times have changed…), which I’m sure made for a less-than-pleasant shopping experience for my parents (although I have always been a voracious reader, so I imagine I probably just parked myself in the book section). Therefore, with a babysitting service, parents could take their time shopping and perhaps even enjoy a lunch “out” at the food court.

6. Haircuts: Hey, Costco has an optical department. Why not enable customers to have their hair cut while in the store?

What do you think? Might you benefit from any of these ideas?

Any others?