Tricks of the TradeTrump's Second TermMy EconomyI've Always Wondered ...

Loading...

0:00
0% played
Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!
Stories Tagged as

Costco

Costco's membership price hike is part of a trend in the subscription economy

by Savannah Peters
Sep 5, 2024
Shared memberships are out, and squeezing more value out of existing members is in.
In addition to an annual fee hike, Costco is also cracking down on membership sharing.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE
I've Always Wondered ...

Why does Costco sell luxury items?

by Jana Kasperkevic
Aug 18, 2023
Everyone loves a good deal.
A worker pushes carts outside a Costco Wholesale store in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Tim Boyle/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE

Retailers say customers are focusing on essentials

by Kristin Schwab
Mar 6, 2023
Between inflation and a possibly looming recession, some big box stores are on edge.
Retailers are shifting focus to match inflation-weary customers' preferences for savings over slurging.
George Frey/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

Inside the hectic post-holiday "returns season" at a Costco warehouse

by Kristin Schwab
Jan 26, 2023
A good portion never make it back to store shelves.
Costco is famous for its return policy: unlimited returns despite condition or purchase date, with some exceptions.
Eric Thayer/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

When consumers feel strapped, some brands do well anyway

by Kristin Schwab
May 27, 2022
Strong earnings from Nordstrom, Macy's and Dollar General suggest pent-up demand and a reframing of what people consider essential spending.
Dollar Tree said groceries made up a bigger part of its sales last quarter — which could spell trouble for retailers like Walmart and Target.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

Consumers turn to bulk buying as inflation hedge

by Matt Levin
Apr 12, 2022
The Costcos of the world benefit.
Food prices are climbing, and more people are turning to bulk stores for their needs.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE
I've Always Wondered ...

Why do Walmart shoppers enter on the left and exit on the right?

by Janet Nguyen
Dec 9, 2021
It’s a matter of directing heavy foot traffic, experts say.
A view of a Walmart store in Illinois back in the early 2000s, which shows an entrance on the left and exit on the right.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE

For public good, not for profit.

Donate

Stores are limiting purchases of some products. This time, blame the supply chain.

by Amanda Peacher
Sep 24, 2021
Restrictions on purchases can backfire, causing customers to want to stock up on limited supplies.
A shopper at a Costco store in Alhambra, California in August 2019. Costco and other stores are once again limiting the number of water bottles, cleaning products and paper supplies that customers can purchase.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE
I've Always Wondered ...

Do warehouse clubs like Costco save you money in the long run?

by Janet Nguyen
Sep 16, 2021
Buying in bulk can cost more upfront, creating problems for low-income consumers.
Shoppers walk the aisles of a Costco. Bulk buying can help your budget if you can afford the upfront costs, though it can also depend on the item and the size of your household.
Paul Kane/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE
COVID-19

Costco, hit especially hard by social-distancing rules, sees 90% bump in online sales

by Andy Uhler
May 26, 2020
The company's sales dropped for the first time since 2009 in April.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE