Massive complexity on a micro timeline Design 16 special order kiosks that showcased the unique attributes of multiple products and brands (everything from jewelry to garage doors). Warehouse and coordinate the assembly of over 2,000 SKUs of vendor-supplied merchandise, graphics and literature. Ship 4-6 kiosks every day to 260 different Costco destinations nationwide on a 6-month timeline. Customize product shipments according to each store’s choice of kiosks (managers could choose up to 13 of the 16 kiosks for their specific locations). Ensure that each kiosk was UL-listed. Plan for kiosks to roll off the trucks installation-ready for untrained store personnel to set up overnight. Kiosks started shipping at month 3, loaded onto trucks fully merchandised for no-hassle installation. Because of our logistical expertise, the project concluded early, in just over 5 months from start to finish. More about Fast Casual & Retail Kiosks >Many people who are not members of Sam's Club and Costco often say to me that they can't justify the $40 or $50 annual fee because they don't think they can recoup that in savings.
I highly doubt that. In fact, Consumer Reports has repeatedly found savings of an additional 20 to 30 percent at warehouse clubs compared to Target or Wal-Mart. But shoppers who often become fans of their warehouse club shouldn't blindly assume that everything represents a savings of 20 percent or more. I recently shopped Hunter Douglas window blinds. I had to have a designer come out to measure (sent by Costco). To my surprise, Costco's price on Hunter Douglas blinds was the same as places such as Hirshfield's, Aero Blinds and the Little Blind Spot. What this also taught me is that Hunter Douglas tightly controls its prices. In fact, the company has quit selling its products to most mail order businesses, which usually have significantly lower prices. I've never compared prices on Costco's carpet or cabinets because they're so difficult to do an apples to apples comparison. Anyone ever compared the warehouse club prices on those items? What other products offer little or no savings at warehouse clubs?
Soda pop for one. The price of Pepsi products can easily be beat at a sale at Cub, Rainbow, Target or Wal-Mart. Other consumer writers have complained about the high price of gasoline and paper products, but I disagree. Costco's gas prices in St. Louis Park are consistently about a dime less per gallon, and sometimes as much as 15 cents less than other stations in the area. But here's the caveat: You can find prices just as cheap if not cheaper in other areas of the Twin Cities. Prices area always less in Coon Rapids and Burnsville, for example, but it's not convenient for me to drive there. Earlier today, the cheapest price in the Twin Cities was $3.43 per gallon at Sam's Club and Costco stations in Burnsville, according to TwnCitiesGasPrices. Mary Hunt of Debt Proof Living believes that Costco's paper product prices (toilet paper, tissue, paper plates et al) are not competitive, but Consumer Reports found that Costco's party supplies were 20-30 percent less than Target.
I agree with Hunt that some of the bath tissue prices on name brands aren't that low, but the private label Kirkland Signature brand is priced lower than other private labels and is excellent quality. Any other especially good or not-so-good deals you've found recently at Costco or Sam's? Four sales worth the drive to Shakopee Veteran's Day restaurant and retail deals Maybe the best freebie of 2013 happens Saturday in St. Paul $25 tickets available for each "Wicked" performance at the Orpheum At $1.50 per gallon, you can't beat these milk prices Patios, Garages, & More Get inspired. Project ideas and photo inspiration to plan and start your retractable screen project. Support & Resources Become An Authorized Dealer Doors, windows, and so much more. Open up your home Ideas & Inspiration Service you can count on. Get all of your questions answered
by our dedicated product experts.Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Corrections & clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated roadside assistance for the new Costco Citi Visa card.Costco switched credit card providers to Citi Visa on Monday, ending its 16-year relationship with American Express, creating some big changes for many among the wholesale club's 81.3 million members.Now, Costco's TrueEarnings American Express can no longer be used. Instead, Costco is mailing out new Citi Visa cards, officially called the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. The changeover was automatic, with no credit checks required, Costco says. Also, all of its members' cash-back credits are being transferred to the new card accounts.Citi began the process of mailing out new cards late last month. Here are some other key facts about the new card:• Is there an annual fee for the new Visa card?
Costco includes the cost for the card as part of your annual $55 Costco membership, so there is no additional fee to get the new card and no annual fee to use it beyond your Costco membership.• Will other credit cards — such as from American Express, Discover or MasterCard — work at Costco? Visa is taking over as the exclusive credit card for Costco, which means all other non-Visa credit cards will no longer work.That said, you do not need to use the Costco-branded Visa card. Other Visa cards will be accepted. You can also still pay with cash, checks, debit cards, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and Costco Cash Cards.• Is the new Costco Visa card also my membership card? The Costco Visa card also doubles as a membership card. If you don’t have a Costco Visa card, you can still use your non-credit card Costco identification card.• What are the benefits for this new Visa card? Costco says its switch to Visa offers greater benefits compared to what was available from American Express.You’ll get 4% cash back on eligible gasoline purchases, including gas at Costco, for the first $7,000 in purchases a per year.