Rivalry between Wal-Mart, Costco also extends to national politics

[UpInArms]

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/07/25/riva... /

WASHINGTON -- Executives at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp., competitors in the $76 billion US warehouse-club market, have taken their rivalry to a new level: national politics.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer and owner of Sam's Club warehouse stores, gives more money to Republican candidates than any other company. Its top three managers, including chief executive H. Lee Scott, donated the individual maximum $2,000 to President George W. Bush, and Jay Allen, vice president for corporate affairs, raised at least $100,000 to reelect the president, earning him the Bush campaign's designation of ''Pioneer."

Wal-Mart -- two-thirds of whose 3,580 stores are in the ''red states" that voted for Bush in 2000 -- is backing White House policies on everything from trade to limiting overtime pay.

Costco chief executive Jim Sinegal, 68, is a Democrat who says Bush's $1.7 trillion in tax cuts unfairly benefit the wealthy. He opposed the Iraq war and supports Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts for president. And he's the only chief executive of a company in the Standard & Poor's 500 index to donate money to independent political groups formed to oust Bush, Internal Revenue Service records show.

...more...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Con. Boozman is in the pocket of Wal-Mart

They contribute more to him than anyone else. Boozman is a Repuke who is trying to get a law passed so that preachers can tell their congregations who to vote for and not lose their tax exempt status.

[Warpy]

2. I'd much rather give my money to Costco than to WalMart

I prefer the way they treat their workers to the way WalMart does and the quality of their products is superior in every way.

Alas, I live alone in a very small house, so the selection of things I can get there and manage to use up is pretty slim. Even paper products aren't a bargain when storage space is considered.

If you can possibly get a membership, though, do so. They're a wonderful aid to champagne living on a beer budget. WalMart just gives you beer in a champagne bottle.

[Ediacara]

12. You don't have to get *everything* huge at Costco

They have great prices on DVDs, video games, and wine.... Although granted everything else is a ten year supply

[Born Free]

41. Costco is similar to Sams

We switched from Sams to Costco this year, not much difference in what the stores carry, Costco just has a better reputation and that is important for people like me. When they asked me about why were joining, I told them we heard Costco is better to their employees than Sams; the customer service representative was surprised, then said, yes - well; thanks. We do still shop at BJ's as well, but never hear much about that warehouse chain, but if we learn they are like Sams, we sill stop shopping there.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

29. You can shop there at Costco.com

It's great

[SoCalDem]

33. Take two friends with you, and split the purchases

I do this with my friend.. We BOTH save money that way

[Feanorcurufinwe]

42. I wish they had a 'regular' supermarket.

[MaryBear]

45. Go in with a friend, Warpy.

It can be fun, and save you money.

[Merlin]

3. It's crucial that we support companies that pay benefits and a living wage

This is one way we can help assure a return of union strength.

US unions screwed up in the 70s by stonewalling vs. foreign competition. They've paid a huge price. The country is way worse off with unions crippled.

We need revitalized, sensible, competitive unions in America. Supporting retailers like CostCo and boycotting WallMart is one way to help bring that about.

[TheMightyFavog]

4. Now...

If we could just get Costcos here in Wisconsin....

[Blue_Roses]

6. and here in Arkansas

but good luck with the home of Walmart being here

I wish we had a Costco

[Ediacara]

14. Hey.... :-)

If Washington State can have walmarts in it, Arkansas can taste the sanity that is Costco.

[LeinesRed]

17. my thoughts exactly...

just where is the closest one? If you lived in the middle of Wisconsin...

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. Costco should expand their business! They have proven that....

the market desire's their services.

[ender]

15. costco is very specific where they open stores...

they target high-population density, high wealth neighborhoods.

costco's do not target low-income demographics - they just dont. costco's sell chanel bags, ralph lauren jeans, tommy hilfiger clothing, not to mention even higher-scale items such as oriental rugs, and high(er) end electronics.

costco's target a totally different market than walmart, and walmart cant seem to figure this out. but, its also why costco's can pay the wages they do - every costco is profitable and serves the needs of its community.

[SemperEadem]

38. Burbank isn't considered a "high wealth" neighborhood

and in fact, before they relocated to where they are now, their valley store was located in a low to middle income surrounding, next to the airport. I would say that where they are now is not considered a "high wealth" neighborhood, either--middle income more like it. Population is dense, yes... but not with wealthy people.

[playahata1]

39. The lone Costco in Jacksonville, Florida, is

in a high-wealth community on the city's Southside -- about 15 miles from my home, which is on the mostly working-class Northside.

[BJ]

7. Wal-Mart's moving into my neighborhood.

The background is this: in the late Sixties a "strip mall" was build in a slough at the intersection of two major city streets. Because the natural wetland was disturbed and paved over areas within the strip mall's vicinity regularly flooded.

This had been the state of things for nearly thirty years.

Then in 1998 a developer from Flordia purchased said strip mall property, most the stores long since vacant, with the promise of a new mall. Accordingly the city coughed-up $4.4 million for a massive water drainage and retention system to keep said property above water after a light rain.

In 2000, after the city council offered a generous "incentive package", word came from the developer that neither Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes or Home Depot were interested in building at said site because they had stores or were planning new stores with the area.

In the 2003 city council election the incumbent councilman, known for his petty corruption, accounced he would not seek another term. The result was a win by the vice-president/treasurer of a large regional dairy.

2004 suddenly Wal-Mart sees fit to build a new Supercenter in the vacant slough even though it is only three miles from an existing Wal-Mart Supercenter!

The difference?

Our new city councilman is a registered Republican.

[xultar]

8. I knew I liked Costco for a reasonn/t

[lottie244]

9. COSTCO All the way!!!!!!

I stopped shopping at SAMs as soon as I learned the Walmartons were Rethugs.

[PassingFair]

32. I let my Sam's Club membership lapse

...last year and started shopping at Costco, which is farther away from me. Frankly, I prefer the brands sold at Sam's, but I will never go back to a Walton company. I had already been "boycotting" Walmart proper, ever since they got caught scamming on their "Made in America" crap campaign. Sickening.
I'm happy to know that my money is going to a corporate culture that doesn't trample employees. I bet women are MUCH better off at Costco. Bullshit republican corporate values always seem to come with an unhealthy dose of misogyny.

[StClone]

10. Is there a map of Costco locations?

Nationwide? I have looked on the net with no success.

[minkyboodle]

11. Here is a listing of all their stores

http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/Location.aspx?country=U...

[UTUSN]

16. Thanks. The Nearest One to Me Is 300 Miles Away

There are three Walmarts within 3 miles of my house.

[LeinesRed]

18. Ick...me too

300 miles + away...and 3 Walmarts within 30-40 miles. We have one of those repulsive "super stores" but thankfully, my favorite Copp's grocery store is holding its own. But...we've lost three smaller grocery stores. in the last four years. God, that sucks.

[k in IA]

20. There are none in my entire state.

[2Design]

13. costco for me....although it is much further... I am going to get a

membership

[Jon8503]

19. Costco vs. Wal-Mart

We have used both Costco & Wal-Mart or Sam's Club. We now use only Costco as Costco treats their employees the way they should be treated. You know how Wal-Mart treats theirs.

Also, Costco is a much brighter not dingy looking store as Sams is.

Their products are better I believe also.

You probably have a little more of a savings at Sams but I would rather pay more and not shop at Sams and also for the employees.

[Nashyra]

22. We have a costco

and right down the street there is a walmart. I have only shopped walmart 2x's since it's been here, over 10 years. I do not shop at walmart. Our Costco is great, I buy all I can from costco for school and I let everyone know how much the assholes at walmart give to the repugs while keeping their employees at a less than living wage. They have taken b-scale to a new low.

[against all enemies]

Costco pays their employees a fair wage, and good benefits.

Walmart sucks.

[against all enemies]

21. I love the place even more now.

Walmart sucks.

[CO Liberal]

23. I Wish We Had a Costco Here in Pueblo

[devinsgram]

24. My daughter goes there a lot

Guess I'll have to go there too now.

[jobycom]

25. I've preferred Costco since they opened one a mile from my house

They opened it a block from Sam's. I used to try to shop at Sam's, but never liked their quality. I had also stopped shopping at Walmart in favor of Target, strictly because of quality.

Now to find out that the two stores I chose for quality are both run by Democrats is rather sweet. Also says something about both parties, I believe. Costco and Target believe that people with lower incomes still deserve the best quality they can afford. Walmart believes people without money should be happy with whatever crumbs are thrown their ways. It's not an accident.

[liberalmuse]

26. I ate cherries from Costco last night!

And they were delicious!

I've been boycotting Wal-Mart for years. I think the Costco vs. Wal-mart/Sam's Club thing is a microcosm of what you get when you elect a Dem or a Repub. Repubs do not give a fig about human beings--it's all about the money and profit.

What's sad is Wal-Mart is able to have the lowest prices because they run on sweatshop (overseas)/low wage labor, and people who shop there do so because they can't afford to shop anywhere else, all because companies like Wal-Mart will not pay them a living wage.

[hippiegranny]

27. my partner wanted to get a sam's card once

i told her NO! not only no, but hell, NO! we are costco people and until they turn repuke, will remain so.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

28. Shop Costco at Costco.com!

There is also a place to leave comments.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

30. Costco rocks! pays its employees a starter salary $10.00 walmart $5.25

costco allows employees to join a union...

[Keirsey]

31. Cosco's KC location

"they target high-population density, high wealth neighborhoods."

The Costco store on Linwood Blvd. in Kansas City is definitely not in a wealthy area. The one in neighboring Independence, MO is in a lower middle class area that is not densely populated.

[wryter2000]

36. Welcome to DU

[jmowreader]

43. Why would they need to?

If you pay your employees a good wage, offer good benefits and care about them, there is no need for them to unionize.

[Cha]

34. WooHoo! Costco is going to be out in Hawaii where

I am moving in about 2 years...and all that's around here in New York is wallfart. I try to go to Target but it's much further away..or another store.

[fortyfeetunder]

40. Costco in Hawaii

We've been to Big Island, Oahu and Maui and there is a Costco there. I think Oahu has 2...we've been to them all, and the prices are about the same as the mainland. Viva Costco!

[wryter2000]

35. Costco is the best!

They also work with Paul Newman to produce special products in his line of foods that benefit charity. We buy everything we can at Costco. Butter is $2.50 per pound in four pound lots (16 sticks), and the beef is delicious.

I decided to buy some stock just for the hell of it and discovered they have a deal with www.sharebuilder.com . If you register as a Costco member and buy some stock, Costco kicks a few bucks ($40 for executive members) into your account. I think you may need to register with sharebuilder through Costco's website. I googled "Buy Costco stock" to find the link.

[Demoiselle]

37. Thank you for this...

I knew nothing about Costco until today when I happened to read a description of their fair labor practices, compared with Walmart's horrors, in, I think the NYTimes. Their Montgomeryville PA store is within easy reach of me. I will shop there. (Makes me feel a little more empowered.)

[osaMABUSh]

44. I spent $200 in Costso today - Zero at Walmart

I think I'll start my own personal Walmart boycott and buy whatever I can from Costco. Here in Cranberry Twp., PA the two stores are nearly side by side.