One of the things this article talks about is how well laid out it is
"once you walk through Costco’s doors, the store is clearly set before you. It’s a carefully choreographed movement. The store--a three-acre, 148,000 square foot warehouse--at first glance appears overwhelming. The store layout however, offers a panoramic view of each of its shopping districts." read more
My Problem With Costco
Maybe this is by design so when you stumble over the onions to get your soda lid, it will make you subliminally want a 1.50 hotdog. No thanks marketing geniuses. Not this time.
It talks about "triggers". AKA, moving shit around and suddenly not carrying certain items on a whim to trigger your buying impulse.
"Costco rotates upward of 25% of its hard-goods and its products inside the racetrack as triggers. The result is that, of the 3,600 items for sale, a full 1,000 may be offered only for that particular moment and may not be available upon a future shopping visit. In fashion retail, Zara has mastered this version of perishability, which creates a high turnover of unique and current offerings that, when sold out, are replaced by a new set of fashion looks or unique new offerings.
The ensuing sense of urgency to impulse buy is stemmed by the fear that the item might be gone if you wait to reconsider."
But what they don't talk about is the blow-back of this tactic. If you get hooked on that $9.99 chicken garlic frozen pizza that you've just added to your family's bi-weekly family dinner plans you're shit out of luck because Costco decided that they are no longer going to sell it. They do this a lot with a ton of stuff and frankly it pisses people (me) off. And the irony is, for me at least, I'm not afraid to buy it before they run out, I'm afraid to buy anything just in case I want to actually buy it again next time. I went there to buy a bunch of stuff that I know I've seen there and they just have it at certain times or just that one time, ever. It's very annoying. Also, is moving the cat food to a new location in the store every god damned time I go there part of the wonderful choreographed dance this article is talking about? Apparently yes. This is by design so that when you go to look for your 100lb bag of Kirkland Cat Chow you make special monthly trips there for, you have to walk passed the 500 pack cases of Coke-a-Cola that you wouldn't have otherwise seen. But the rub is, I didnt come here after a long dat at work for a "treasure hunt" or soda, or 3 packs of hand lotion for that matter. I came here for Cat Food. And maybe some free samples of meatballs and taquitos. Fuck off and stop fucking around with my emotions Costco.
Don't get me wrong, Costco is the beekeeper's kneepads. They have tons of the stuff you need for the right price but there's just some stuff that is really annoying they do for what seems like no reason other than to fuck with it's members minds to try and trick (scare) them into buying shit they don't need.
That reminds me, I need to go to Costco next week. DAMN YOU COSTCO!!!!!!!!!!
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