[OhioBuckeye]

I'll believe it when TV post it in the paper & tells us. I hope we do get one. They're a lot like Sam's but I think they have some different things & the prices are a little better.

[renpan]

I would love for a Costco to locate here. We always stop @ Costco when we visit family in Atlanta

[midmorj]

Lets petition COSTCO and tell them we want them here. Maybe that would help get the ball rolling.

[bilcon]

I thought I read all these posts a few months ago. Nothing new here.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by bilcon

I thought I read all these posts a few months ago. Nothing new here.

[gigberk]

Hello everyone. About 2 years ago my wife circulated a petition and got 2300 names of residents on it that we sent to Costco. A few weeks later, I called them. They returned my call and I spoke with a corporate exec who makes the decisions on store locations. We spoke for several minutes and I tried to convince him that the 750,000 folks that live in Marion, Lake and Sumter counties deserve a Costco. His reply was that they just opened the Wesley Chapel location and while we might be a future location, it's not a given. He mentioned that they were even looking at Gainsville and he also said that he was aware of just how good the local Sam's Club is in TV. He was very knowledgible on our area but would not committ. If you want his name and want to call him directly, let me know and I'll get it for you. I've decided that unless it's extremely necessary, I'll go to Costco only when I'm going to Orlando or Wesley Chapel. Otherwise, it's Sam's. I suggested he survey buyers just to see how many come from TV. No comment! gigberk@gmail.com

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Henryk

What is Sam’s lacking that Costco would provide?

That's something you'll have to check out for yourself. Some say prices, some say selection, some say the food is better. Personally I think the prices are a little better. Also I find better deals at Costco! Since we don't have a Costco yet, & if we get one, that'll be the last time Sam's will see me. This is just my opinion!

[EnglishJW]

Originally Posted by Northerner52

Doubt they would come here. The homes are too small to stock up on supplies.

True - but at least many of us have SUVs so we can get the stuff home!

[Boomer]

I cannot imagine Costco coming in because a bunch of Villagers want them to. Contrary to popular belief, TV is not the center of the universe. (Sorry)

TV has possibly been on Costco’s radar — sort of. Maybe the company has even run the demographics. They know you gotta know the territory if you want to sell stuff — lots and lots of stuff.

If Costco has ever been interested, they would have run lots of demographics. My guess is they would look at income, spending habits, ages, density of population within whatever the acceptable radius is for them, seasonality of the population, and competition, along with other things I am not thinking of this morning.

Then there is the usual inventory offered by Costco. They might sell a lot of rotisserie chickens but they would not sell many boxes of Pampers.

Also, the produce, and other food, too, are usually packaged in amounts to fit a family. TV does not have growing, hungry, teenage boys.

If Costco built here, I think the opening would be very successful — the literal opening — for a while.

But soon the Costco customer base would winnow itself down with a percentage going back to Sam’s most of the time and maybe stopping by Costco for a hot dog deal, once in a while, — and to look around to find a few things they did not know they needed.

If given the option of choosing between buying at either Sam’s or Costco, within a reaasonable distance, consumers develop definite preferences.

I am not a business expert, but I don’t think the ROI would be what Costco looks for when they invest in a location. I just don’t think the stats would add up to success.

The Sam's competition is ensconced here. Publix and Wal-Mart absorb a lot of everyday business. Costco would be a novelty or a sometimes thing. There is just not enough broad-based business here.

Therefore, “When you’re not with the one you love, love the one you’re with” — or at least make do. (Sorry)

Boomer (who is now ducking out for a while)

[EdFNJ]

Agreed (unfortunately). My feeling is if they haven't opened on one in Ocala they won't open one here first. They couldn't survive selling toilet paper & chickens to Villagers. We make a monthly trip south and hit our "big 3" --- Costco, Trader Joes & Whol;e Foods then one of the Malls. It's a P.I.T.A. 3hr RT + gas and tolls but it's good for a change.

[stujake]

Some Sam's Club locations are closing, but the one in Lady Lake just spent a lot of money remodeling and they seem to have upped the quality of some of the products they sell. The best examples of that are in the meat and fish departments, where some cuts of meat are priced at more than $30 per pound. Fish is also costly. Of course, I don't know how many people are buying these expensive products. The bottom line is that the residents of The Villages are doing a pretty good job of keeping Sam's Club in business here. Many of us long term Costco buyers would give up our Sam's membership in a heartbeat if Costco opened here. Costco is a far superior operation than Sam's Club. We reluctantly take the ride to Costco in Westley Chapel/Lutz, FL because we love Costco's merchandise and service quality.

[stujake]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I cannot imagine Costco coming in because a bunch of Villagers want them to. Contrary to popular belief, TV is not the center of the universe. (Sorry)

TV has possibly been on Costco’s radar — sort of. Maybe the company has even run the demographics. They know you gotta know the territory if you want to sell stuff — lots and lots of stuff.

If Costco has ever been interested, they would have run lots of demographics. My guess is they would look at income, spending habits, ages, density of population within whatever the acceptable radius is for them, seasonality of the population, and competition, along with other things I am not thinking of this morning.

Then there is the usual inventory offered by Costco. They might sell a lot of rotisserie chickens but they would not sell many boxes of Pampers.

Also, the produce, and other food, too, are usually packaged in amounts to fit a family. TV does not have growing, hungry, teenage boys.

If Costco built here, I think the opening would be very successful — the literal opening — for a while.

But soon the Costco customer base would winnow itself down with a percentage going back to Sam’s most of the time and maybe stopping by Costco for a hot dog deal, once in a while, — and to look around to find a few things they did not know they needed.

If given the option of choosing between buying at either Sam’s or Costco, within a reaasonable distance, consumers develop definite preferences.

I am not a business expert, but I don’t think the ROI would be what Costco looks for when they invest in a location. I just don’t think the stats would add up to success.

The Sam's competition is ensconced here. Publix and Wal-Mart absorb a lot of everyday business. Costco would be a novelty or a sometimes thing. There is just not enough broad-based business here.

Therefore, “When you’re not with the one you love, love the one you’re with” — or at least make do. (Sorry)

Boomer (who is now ducking out for a while)

Boomer: Every negative you mention is, in my opinion, is not valid. If Sam's can make it here, Costco will also make it here. The quality of Costco's merchandise and quality of service far surpasses that of Sam's and because of that, there will be many converts. I have lived in areas where Costco and Sam's Club are only a few miles apart. While Sam's Club was occasionally busy, Costco was always busy. All of our friends here in The Villages would go to Costco before they would go to Sam's if there was a Costco here. At the present time, each time we or one of our friends goes to Costco in Wesley Chapel/Lutz FL, we ask each other if we can get anything for them. There are many things that Costco carries that Sam's Club does not carry.

[ColdNoMore]

General observation;

For those who have been members on TOTV for a long time, I'm sure you've seen numerous threads regarding Costco/Trader Joe's/Etc. coming here (and a plethora of other subjects) ...and are 'bored' with them.

Some of us though...don't feel the same way.

Might I suggest for those of you who are tired of seeing threads with subjects you've seen many times previously, that instead of complaining about them in a post...you just silently ignore them instead?

Thanks.




PS. I LOVE Costco and am hoping...they come here soon.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

General observation;

For those who have been members on TOTV for a long time, I'm sure you've seen numerous threads regarding Costco/Trader Joe's/Etc. coming here (and a plethora of other subjects) ...and are 'bored' with them.

Some of us though...don't feel the same way.

Might I suggest for those of you who are tired of seeing threads with subjects you've seen many times previously, that instead of complaining about them in a post...you just silently ignore them instead?

Thanks.




PS. I LOVE Costco and am hoping...they come here soon.

So there, Mr Wilson...……………………….

[TheWarriors]

20,000 more homes coming with a lot of disposable income, Costco will be here in a few years or less. I belong to both Costco and Sam’s as each offers good items the other doesn’t . Expect many more conveniences as the community continues to grow.