I sent an email to the address you gave. Hope it helps.
MitziH

Horse Feathers! It is population and demographics that makes a store locate in any area. THE POWERS THAT BE don't own all the property in this area.

• Quote:

  Originally Posted by dan kachman (Post 1195314) I've communicated with Costco's field reps for years now as to establishing a facility in the Villages. I've been explicit in asking them to come and see the dynamic,burgeoning growth of the area. I've also let them know of the demographic stats and they've always turned a deaf ear to my pleas. Perhaps it has to do with the exposure to Sam's Club? In Miami we had a Costco,Sam's Club and BJ's that seemed to co-exist quite well in that they were not too distant from one another. Going to Altamonte Springs for a shopping spree at Costco is a bit of a stretch for many of us although we favor Costco.

Danny. Miami has a population of over five million according to this;


Miami Population 2016 - World Population Review


I am not saying that Costco isn't a great and valid wholesale store...I am just saying they aren't here because we aren't big enough to support them and Sam's. That is all. No conspiracy.

Costco
 

For those e-mailing to send to Costco, I can shed some information. I wish you much luck.
Prior to retiring and moving here 2.5 yrs ago, I worked for the company that printed the Costco Connection magazine. Since I also knew the Executive Editor of the Connection was retiring same time as I was, I wrote him about a Costco in or near The Villages. He directed me to their Executive VP for Business Development. We conducted a series of communications in which he told me even with our population and that of the surrounding areas, we did not yet meet their demographics for a Costco Warehouse. Ocala, for instance is considered a different geographic area. At that time in 2013, our area was still approximately 100,000 people short of their requirement. But he did say, "The Villages is on our radar", but it would be quite awhile before our area would be given serious consideration for a Costco.

Your post is absolutely believable. I'm sure for a number of reasons, Costco is very aware of The Villages.

I personally would not set foot in a Sam's Club, and the only time I visit a Walmart store is when they are the only ones who carry a specific item; fortunately this is rare. But that's me; I cannot judge for anyone else.

I read the Time article whose link was posted earlier in this thread, and if I understood it correctly, it sounds like at the bottom line--meaning prices--the two warehouses are very similar. So what's the difference?

Costco pays its employees a living wage, while at the same time I've been told that there was a collection of non-perishable food items being made at Walmart for its employees! To me, that's unfathomable. How glib it is to say that at least they have jobs.... So it may cost me a few cents more to shop elsewhere. Even if specific items are cheaper there, how can I afford to shop elsewhere? Well, I can prioritize; maybe I can eat out one time less, borrow a book from the library rather than buy it, and on and on. People find different things important; that's how I feel, and again I cannot judge for anyone else.

An earlier poster mentioned that the wage thing is "political." Political??? What on earth makes it political? I can see perhaps "social" or "economic," but how does political enter into something like this? I certainly hope we in TV haven't reached the point of callousness to say, as Marie Antoinette said, "Let them eat cake" when there was no bread available....

I have written to Costco Central any number of times about the demographics of TV and the surrounding small cities. I have now written the email as suggested in this thread, and I will send this info to all my friends in the area who may not see this thread for themselves. I would be delighted to have a Costco warehouse close by--and it certainly doesn't have to be directly in TV but in our area; Altamonte Springs is just too far.

I forgot to mention that you don't have to be a Costco member to use Costco Pharmacy, whether at a warehouse (inconvenient for us here in TV) or at Costco.com, the latter being a mail order setup. I have had prescriptions filled there when I've found that there is significant savings over using my Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan the way these plans are set up, believe it or not....

I would be nice to have a Costco, maybe it'll sink into some of the other retailers & they'll lower their prices a little bit. Not everybody is to high but I think some of the stores right in The Villages are a bit high & they take advantage of us!

I liked Costco in Miami... but don't find that much difference from Sam's.
If you ever need bubble wrap or bubble-padded envelopes Sam's has great prices.

For the Costco fans here is some info: http://addictedtocostco.com/costco-locations/

I went to BJs once... what a disappointment! :

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Ahhh yes. These issues are what I was talking about. I like Sam's and I like Walmart and I am glad the people that work there have jobs. My kids worked at McDonalds, for one it was her life work and we were and are very proud of her.


You call them social issues and I call them political issues. There will be entry level jobs and minimum wage no matter what is changed. You don't begin with all your dreams come true. None of us did.

???

Done, Hope it helps :)

I agree with you regarding both Sam's Club and WalMart, although I do buy gas for the car there. I never go inside, and have been in WalMart once.

I, too, would like to see Costco here, and will be sending an email as soon as I finish this.

never been a store groupie, nor do i beg stores to come and take my money.

Need a Costco in The Villages
 

This is strange...I just emailed Costco last week about this very issue. Costco's reply was that they forwarded my email to Costco's Real Estate Department and a thank you for my time.

Keep sending those emails to Costco...the more the better!