inside
costco
The online
treasure hunt
PHOTODISC
Just click for
deals and
delights for
the holidays
on costco.com
By Steve Fisher
ONE OF THE MOST exhilarating aspects of shopping at Costco is the sense that a trip to a warehouse
is like going on a treasure hunt. While one might
have an idea of what one can expect to find, every
step of the way provides pleasant “can’t live without
it” surprises. And if Costco’s brick-and-mortar operation is a veritable treasure hunt, costco.com is a
virtual one, and even more of a surprise than most
people expect.
“Members will find some things they see in the
warehouses, but they’ll discover a whole lot more online, including accessories for items they purchased
from their local Costco,” says Ginnie Roeglin, senior
vice president, e-commerce and publishing. “Our
goal is to offer our members great value on an additional selection of merchandise on costco.com.”
For instance, due to space availability, warehouses may offer ink and toner cartridges for only
the latest models of printers. On costco.com, you’ll
find a wide array of ink and toner for almost any
printer. Thousands of other such products are available through costco.com’s office supplies program.
The same holds true for seasonal items. Costco
warehouses typically display some items, such as
furniture, grills and sporting goods, on a seasonal
cycle. On the other hand, costco.com offers them
year-round.
During the holidays, costco.com is a great place
to look for gift choices. The site features a wide
selection of gift baskets, corporate gifts, stocking
stuffers such as CDs and DVDs, the latest tech gadgets and even a deluxe vacation package through
Costco Travel.
The jewelry choices on costco.com are worth
considering as well. The jewelry category on the site
features one-of-a-kind stones and settings—as well
as a complete selection of rings, bracelets, necklaces
and more for all occasions.
Costco’s buyers are experts at finding fantastic
deals on spectacular items available in a limited
quantity. If there are not enough of these items to
stock the warehouses, but the opportunity is too
good to pass up, costco.com is the logical place for
them. A few examples of these “treasure hunt” items
are spectacular diamond rings, custom wine cellars,
tickets to professional sporting events and high-end
pool tables, to name just a few.
Costco.com also has a full selection of the latest
in electronics: TVs, GPS units, computers, cameras
and more. You’ll find great values in these choices,
along with the convenience of getting product information and specs online.
A hallmark of Costco shopping is the security in
knowing that any purchase is backed 100 percent by
the company. Members who are dissatisfied with
a purchase need only return it to receive a full
refund. Purchases on costco.com are backed by
the same policy. Large items to be returned can be
picked up from the home or office (upon request,
Costco sends a mailing label and pays for both initial shipping and return shipping charges), or members can take items to the local warehouse for a
faster return and refund.
Selections available at costco.com—products,
services and features—are constantly changing.
Members who register their e-mail address receive
regular messages highlighting new content and special offers. (Costco does not share e-mail addresses
with third parties.) The supply may be limited or
one-time-only, as with test runs or special purchases.
Savvy shoppers should not hesitate but should snap
up an appealing deal quickly, to avoid being plagued
by procrastinator’s remorse.
So what’s exciting this year? Check out holiday
chocolate-covered strawberries (a dozen for $29.99);
cool tech gadgets such as the Garmin nüvi 750 GPS
($199.99 after $100 off) and the Viewsonic 8-inch
digital picture frame ($79.99 after $40 off); and
something practical such as the Skyway three-piece
luggage set ($89.99 after $60 off). C
Cool tools at
costco.com
Costco.com is not just a place
for products. Here are a few
other destinations.
• Product reviews: You
can see how other shoppers
rate particular products, and
you can submit a review
yourself. (Click on the item.)
• Photo Center: Organize,
edit and order prints of your
photos for pickup at your
local warehouse. (Click
on “Photo.”)
• Costco Travel: Choose
from a wide selection of
fantastic vacation packages,
from cruises to theme parks.
You can now book certain
vacation packages online.
(Click on “Travel.”)
• Services: Get information or sign up for a variety
of services for your home
or business, including real
estate, emergency roadside
assistance, life and health
plans, car rentals and
credit-card processing.
(Click on “Services.”)
• Membership stuff: You
can renew your Costco membership online, or buy memberships for family members,
employees, etc. You can
also buy Costco Cash cards
in increments from $25 to
$1,000 online. (Click on
“Membership.”)
