Costco - boon for homeless people?

[Exterous]

As a relatively new member I was surprised at how many samples they offer, esp on the weekends or around lunch time. Yesterday it occurred to me, as I was munching on my third sandwich slice having eaten two containers of potato chips and on my way to the juice samples, that for $55 a year you eat pretty well.

Sure it might take some time to get the money necessary but there's free food every day. There are also couches to sleep on and TV to watch

Around here there are a couple of Costco's so if you are worried about being recognized you could easily migrate to another one in around a day or so by foot.

Some of the riftier riff raft might get turned away but I'd think it would work for some...

 

[Cal166]

Can't beat the $1.50 HotDog+Drink!

 

[NetWareHead]

Homeless people near me are not interested in food donations. They want cash donations instead.

 

[SandEagle]

get a job you lazy bum

 

[waggy]

Can't beat the $1.50 HotDog+Drink!

and its not a bad hotdog either.

 

[EagleKeeper]

As a relatively new member I was surprised at how many samples they offer, esp on the weekends or around lunch time. Yesterday it occurred to me, as I was munching on my third sandwich slice having eaten two containers of potato chips and on my way to the juice samples, that for $55 a year you eat pretty well.

Sure it might take some time to get the money necessary but there's free food every day. There are also couches to sleep on and TV to watch

Around here there are a couple of Costco's so if you are worried about being recognized you could easily migrate to another one in around a day or so by foot.

Some of the riftier riff raft might get turned away but I'd think it would work for some...

You will get rousted for sleeping in any store - no matter what the sale ads show.

I can not say about CostCo, but Sams does not have areas around the TVs that can be sat in and watch a show.

They have a food/snack area that is nto close enough for watching.

And I suspect that control of the channels are not available.

Homeless people near me are not interested in food donations. They want cash donations instead.

True
I have offered cans of food and get the response "What am I going to do with this?" Yet, they have popoff lids and crackers with the tuna.

 

[mmntech]

Can't beat the $1.50 HotDog+Drink!

They're usually about $2 - $2.50 from a food cart just for the tube steak itself. Kirkland hotdogs are actually pretty decent. Stay away from the Polish style ones though.

 

[Vic Vega]

Homeless people at Costco? No, they wouldn't allow it. Many people shop at Costco simply to avoid Walmart and the people who shop there. Typically when I am at my local Costco I am driving one of the oldest cars in the parking lot. I thought it was obvious why Costco and other discount clubs have a membership fee, to discourage certain types of shoppers. In addition to the fee, buying in bulk also discourages certain types of shoppers. Some folks don't have $30 for a pack of hamburger, even though the per pound cost is cheaper than Walmart the up front cost keeps certain people away, they can't invest $30 just for hamburger.

Costco is a walled garden, everyone knows this. I like it that way, it's why I shop there!

 

[slayernine]

This thread would make more sense if you were proposing cheap ass college students get their parents to buy a Costco membership and they eat for free all semester.

 

[Mixolydian]

Never seen any homeless-looking people at Costco. Around here typically it's the upper-middle class that shops there.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Yeah, the membership fee keeps poor people and the riff-raff out of the stores! Now, if they could just do something about the old people.


Think of this, paying $55 for a year of access requires planning. Why do so many poor people buy so much crap from convenience stores when it would be so much less expensive at a grocery store or WalMart? Convenience? They got too much to do? Or lack of planning?

There are even evolutionary arguments that colder climates and/or the Ice Age lead to higher intelligence for those who were forced to deal with it. They had to plan ahead. Same rules apply to Costco. Natural selection.

 

[Exterous]

They're usually about $2 - $2.50 from a food cart just for the tube steak itself. Kirkland hotdogs are actually pretty decent. Stay away from the Polish style ones though.

Lies - the Polish is amazing - esp with the sauerkraut!

This thread would make more sense if you were proposing cheap ass college students get their parents to buy a Costco membership and they eat for free all semester.

That would work too

Homeless people at Costco? No, they wouldn't allow it.

I'm not necessarily talking about the ones living on the street who are filthy and wearing tattered clothes. There are those that are living in their car or bouncing from place to place that don't always have the 'homeless' look about them

 

[MontyAC]

Can't beat the $1.50 HotDog+Drink!

:thumbsup:

 

[TXHokie]

We call it the Sam's dim sum.

 

[Pheran]

Our Costco normally checks membership cards at the door (though it's rather cursory).

 

[EagleKeeper]

Our Costco normally checks membership cards at the door (though it's rather cursory).

Sams also.

1) to ensure that you are legit
2) to avoid the potential issue that the OP suggests
3) To avoid people coming in and trying to convince someone shopping to purchase for them because they "forget" their card.

 

[drebo]

Homeless people at Costco? No, they wouldn't allow it. Many people shop at Costco simply to avoid Walmart and the people who shop there. Typically when I am at my local Costco I am driving one of the oldest cars in the parking lot. I thought it was obvious why Costco and other discount clubs have a membership fee, to discourage certain types of shoppers. In addition to the fee, buying in bulk also discourages certain types of shoppers. Some folks don't have $30 for a pack of hamburger, even though the per pound cost is cheaper than Walmart the up front cost keeps certain people away, they can't invest $30 just for hamburger.

Costco is a walled garden, everyone knows this. I like it that way, it's why I shop there!

I don't know about that. Pretty sure you can pay your membership fees with EBT.

Lots and lots and lots of unemployed welfare Mexicans and white trash at the costco in my town.

 

[Brovane]

This works when my kids are hungry. Just take them to Costco on a Saturday and they can graze around at the different sample tables.

 

[alkemyst]

most hotels have free food and drinks each night and morning...seems to me it would be easier than buying a membership (which requires giving a home address).

 

[mmntech]

Lies - the Polish is amazing - esp with the sauerkraut!

Oh don't get me wrong. My mouth thinks they're amazing too. My colon on the other hand disagrees.

 

[highland145]

Oh don't get me wrong. My mouth thinks they're amazing too. My colon on the other hand disagrees.

I think you're doing it wrong.

 

[Exterous]

most hotels have free food and drinks each night and morning...seems to me it would be easier than buying a membership (which requires giving a home address).

Not sure how many hotels you could visit on $55 a year

 

[Exterous]

I think you're doing it wrong.

D:

 

[Phokus]

THe costco near me checks for ID, but i guess you can say, 'oh my wife went in already' or something to bypass that and they'll let you through (i've done this a couple of times, but my wife really did go in before me with the card)

 

[Slew Foot]

costco is f'n awesome. All the poor people magically stay out