I think it's important to note

the following tidbits, from Wikipedia: Costco.

"Costco's success is a result of its focus on selling products at low prices, often at very high volume. These goods are usually bulk-packaged and sold primarily to large families, small businesses and small business owners' families.

"Costco is able to charge sometimes astonishingly low prices by keeping overhead low, returning savings to consumers. In fact, many senior executives, including Costco's CEO, use office furniture that was purchased from the Boeing Company when Costco was started. Costco doesn't have a public relations department either, believing it is unnecessary. The corporate jet is not used unless it is filled to capacity....Costco caps its profit margin on most products at 14% and allows itself slightly higher margins only on its Kirkland Signature store brand (a name derived from its previous headquarters in Kirkland) with a strict 15% profit limit.<sup>[1]

"</sup>Costco concentrates more on overall value than the lowest possible price for its product range. Many of the products it stocks are high quality at a reasonable cost instead of inferior quality at a low price.

"Costco is noted for providing full benefits and comparatively generous compensation to its employees. For instance, a cashier with four years of experience can earn more than $40,000 with full benefits, including medical, dental, Rx, disability, and life, and is even entitled to participate in a 401k program and purchase stock options....These perks are the highest in the industry and especially surprising considering Costco's price-centric sales strategy (similar to Wal-Mart's, a company criticized for its low pay and refusal to offer benefits to some employees). A recent estimate (New York Times, July 17, 2005) puts Costco's average pay at $17 per hour, or 42% higher than Wal-Mart-owned Sam's Club. Wall Street analyst Bill Dreher of Deutsche Bank criticized Mr. Sinegal in 2004, saying "it's better to be an employee or a customer than a shareholder."

"Costco has a very generous product return policy that allows customers to return most products indefinitely. Unlike other stores, Costco allows returns of opened media. Many people take advantage of this with DVDs, software and other media. Buyers effectively "rent" the product temporarily by buying and later returning it for a refund. Computers, which most retailers loathe to accept for a refund, have a six-month return period. Even the membership fee is fully refundable at any time. These policies are considered a significant factor in Costco's high rate of customer loyalty, although it is true that some people of questionable morals do abuse the generous return policy.

"Costco is also well known for its hot dog stands. These began as stand-alone impromptu arrangements outside of warehouses but are now built directly into current warehouses as actual mini-restaurants. The price of the hot dog and soda is still the same price as it was when they first opened ($1.50)- a price Jim Sinegal has stated will remain indefinitely. The hot dogs used are kosher and the brands used are Sinai Kosher or Hebrew National."

What a classy company. Such premium service.