What is Costco Thinking?

I like stores that sell a variety of items. It is fun  to go to one store and find a wide range of items. It is then entertaining to look at the random collection of items in the purchase. Therefore, before they closed, I used to enjoy shopping at a store called Building 19 1/2 (the half should indicate how quirky the store was), and a store called Spag’s. Despite not being membership-based stores, both (especially Spag’s) had similarities to Costco (e.g., big; no frills; variety of items; good prices). 

Anytime a store sells such a wide variety of items, there are likely to be some items that seem like odd picks to sell. Obviously, at a store like Costco that tests out items before adding them to the inventory, these seemingly random items have passed the test and sell well enough. However, I still wonder who is buying these items and are enough people buying them that they make the cut of limited items in the stores (Freedom of or from choice?)

I generated a list of ten items that I’d put on my “what are they thinking???” list.

What Are They Thinking?

1. Caskets

I mentioned in another post that Costco sells caskets (Even More) Tips for Shopping at Costco)). I imagine that caskets are not cheap, making them a good thing to buy for what I am confident is a good price at Costco. In addition, although Costco sells multiple varieties of caskets, the relatively limited amount of options is probably helpful during a time when I imagine people don’t have the emotional energy to make many decisions (Freedom of or from choice?) However, caskets seems like a weird item given that it is probably easier (even if more expensive) to just buy a casket through the funeral home, and because it feels a little “off” to buy a casket from the same store from which one buys items that include watermelons, pillows, dishwashers, and diamond rings. 

2. Kosher Beef Jerky

As someone who keeps kosher, I should be pleased by this product. Even though the idea of (even kosher) dried meat sticks sounds revolting to me, I should want Costco to sell any items that may appeal to kosher consumers and perhaps then lead to a wider inventory of kosher items. I am not opposed to this item being sold but it just seems so random. I find it hard to believe that enough kosher consumers seek out beef jerky that it makes it worth it for Costco to carry it. 

3.Metal Chicken

Hmmm…

I suppose there may be reasons for wanting a 22 inch metal chicken that can be used either inside or outside. However, I just can’t imagine what they are or that there are enough people who have these reasons that this item is a worthwhile item for Costco to sell.

4. Huge Candle

These candles have enough wax to burn for 150 hours and are the size of small trash cans. There are two scents (amber/vanilla and sandalwood/bergamot) that apparently change a little as they burn. I don’t love scented candles (although I remember when Yankee Candle was one of my favorite stores to visit in the mall and friends often included candles in birthday presents). However, my lack of interest in scented candles aside, these Costco candles strike me as an odd sell for several reasons. I view one of the nice things about candles to be  the small glass jars that can look pretty on a table or shelf. I also think that, given the strong scents of candles, people would want to be able to select from a larger variety. Finally, I can’t imagine wanting the same scent for so long, no matter how much one likes it. It is nice to have a range of scents. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to sell huge candles to use if electricity goes out. However, I think a neutral/no scent would be better in these cases.

5. 5 Tier Cheese Wedding Cake

I suppose it *could* just be because I don’t love cheese but this cake seems like a joke to me. 

Cakes are such a standard part of the weddings. Maybe I am boring or too traditional , but I even prefer real cake over cupcakes for weddings. I find it hard to believe that there are enough people who would choose cheese over cake to make it worth it for Costco to bother with a “cake” (really, it’s more of a structure than a cake) made of cheese. In addition, although, in theory, weddings are about the couple more than the guests, most people do think about their guests when making plans. Do people think their guests would want a cake made of cheeses (not a cheesecake!)? Two other disadvantages of this cake are not being able to have a formal cake tasting or deciding on the decorations. Finally, I have trouble imagining following the tradition of eating the cake a year later when it was cheese that has been in the freezer.

6. Engagement Rings

Engagement rings are another item at Costco that make me wonder what they are thinking. Engagements are the start of the formal wedding preparation process. Obviously many things have changed but traditionally it was the man buying an engagement ring for his (hopefully) fiancee. In these situations, it would likely be a benefit for there to be fewer options as most men I know don’t know or care too much about jewelry. However, now many couples shop together for engagement rings. People often have very specific ideas about what they want and therefore want a large selection. In addition, although likely not a huge deal, the setting of Costco (e.g., carts all around; people eating hot dogs; samples) is not ideal for buying fancy jewelry. 

7. Women’s Bathing Suits

Bathing suits can be expensive. Therefore, it makes sense to want to buy them at Costco where items are well priced. I have seen people in them from there and they are nice looking. However, given the set up of Costco, they seem like a weird choice for the store to sell. I imagine that it is easier for men to buy bathing suits without trying them on, as they are simpler and more like shorts. In contrast, buying women’s bathing suits can be quite a challenge. It can be difficult to know the right size or what will look and feel ok. Many women dread buying bathing suits and try on a lot before deciding on one. Therefore, buying a suit in a store without fitting rooms is not the ideal situation. Because of the easy return system (Returning at Costco); (Maybe they are too generous…)), people could certainly buy them and return if not what they want. However, it is not really practical if people want to try several suits (although too many options may be less of an issue at Costco than at other stores (Freedom of or from choice?). In addition, due to self consciousness about their bodies, many women wait until they actually have to wear a bathing suit before purchasing one (I am not advocating for how much worry people have about their bodies but it would be unrealistic to pretend that it does not exist). Finally, for people who do want to buy bathing suits closer to when they will wear them, the seasonal pattern of Costco items (Navigating Seasonal Items at Costco) is not ideal because the suits may be gone by the time summer begins.

8. Apocalypse Meal Kit

A new item at Costco that has me puzzled is a food kit for emergency situations. I wrote about a similar item before (Costco ‘s motto: Be Prepared) and here is another. This meal kit contains 150 servings of freeze-dried and dehydrated foods (80 entrees and sides; 30 breakfasts; 40 drinks). Produced by the company ReadyWise, this meal kit is advertised as a way to deal with inclement weather, job changes, or food shortages. The food in this kit can last up to 25 years. I find it very hard to believe that this meal kit is a popular item. Sure, Costco members tend to like to buy in bulk. However, there is a difference between stocking up on beans, pasta, and toilet paper and preparing for a disaster within the next 25 years. 

9. Schmura Matzah

During Passover, observant Jews eat matzah the entire week in place of leavened foods. The most religious Jews eat schmura (“watched”) matzah. This matzah is watched from the time of harvest to ensure that it does not come into contact with water, which could lead it to become leavened. Despite a decrease in recent years, the Costco stores around me tend to sell a good variety of foods for Passover. (Product Review x3: Meal Mart Passover kugels); (What do you think of the Passover selection?); (Product Review: World of Chantilly Passover 7-layer cake))). Although I have never bought it, I know Costco sells schmura Matzah for the holiday. I find it an extremely odd item for the store to sell, given the small group of people who would purchase it. Even among the small number of Jewish people, few celebrate Passover. Even fewer eat matzah the entire weeks, and even fewer eat schmura matzah. In addition, the product only sells for a few weeks each year. Although the other Passover items are also time-limited, there is a chance others will buy them (e.g., macaroons; potato kugel; brisket), whereas I cannot imagine others buying this matzah.

10. Largest puzzle in the World

I have always loved jigsaw puzzles. My parents tell me that, even as a young child, I was somehow able to pick out a piece and put in the correct spot without testing others beforehand. Although I am sure they are exaggerating a little, somehow, despite my absolutely terrible spatial abilities, I often can find the right piece from the box and know where it goes. I tend to do 2,000 piece puzzles. Whereas these puzzles are large, they are tiny compared to the $600 Costco puzzle made of  60-1,000 piece puzzles to create a 60,000 piece puzzle. Although a fun concept and nice bragging rights to be able to say one completed the largest puzzle in the world, there are several reasons for this being an odd item for Costco to sell (although I suppose if anyone sold a huge puzzle, it might as well be Costco). I put my 2,000 piece puzzle on a board and then a folding card table and the board hangs over the table. Therefore, this Costco puzzle really must be enormous. I put the puzzle on the board so that I can move the board and use the table because the puzzle obviously takes awhile to complete. However, I would not have anyplace to put the individual 1,000 puzzles if I were to do 3-4 of them, let alone 60! It is also obviously very common to lose a piece of a puzzle. It would be extremely frustrating to get so close to completing such a large puzzle only to have a few pieces missing. Finally, although one could view the individual 1,000 piece puzzles as separate puzzles, I think I’d get tired of working on the same overall puzzle for so long. I’m all for doing activities for the process and enjoyment rather than the outcome, but it still is a nice sense of accomplishment to see a completed puzzle.

What do you think of my “What is Costco Thinking?” list? Do you agree that these items are random? Any others you’d add to the list?