dants and stain guards found in synthetic
carpeting and upholstered furniture, PBDEs
[polybrominated diphenylethers] used as
flame retardants in most household electronics, including flat-screen TVs and computers,
and the myriad “caution”-labeled chemicals
in cleaning and “air-freshening” products.
You recommend plastic window treatments, but if made from PVC they will likely
contain phthalates and other synthetic compounds that can be absorbed by dust particles
and released into the air. Unless labeled free of
PAHs [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons],
wall paint, especially when freshly applied,
can cause negative health effects.
Costco carries many of these items. And
these are but few of the potential sources of
chemicals that worsen air quality in the home.
C.B. Phillips
Kamuela, Hawaii
Head in the clouds
Regarding the response [“Pie-in-the-sky
computing,” Dialogue, February 2010], I find
it interesting how people tend to make everything monolithic. When someone lumps new
attempts of innovation in information technology into a single monolithic term—cloud
computing—it is like saying I bought a car
and it was terrible, so all cars are terrible.
Not all “clouds” are created equal. However,
there are and will be successful cloud computing solutions.
Chaz Chastain
Springfield, Virginia
Reader’s guide to
product availability
ALL PRODUCTS advertised are carried
at Costco warehouses unless otherwise
noted; however, products may not be
available in all warehouse locations.
■ Products are scheduled to be available
during the period of The Connection’s
issue date.
■ All ads indicate whether a product is
available only in the warehouse, only
on Costco.com or both.
■ Prices are usually not listed in the
advertising because they have not
been finalized at the time of printing
and may vary from one part of the
country to another due to shipping
costs. We hope that members
know to check Costco first when
comparison shopping.
■ To keep prices low, Costco does not
offer a telephone service allowing
members to call in for prices or product availability.
■ Shop early in the month for best selection on seasonal products.
■
Costco.com carries few of the products
available at the warehouses, but offers
3,500 additional items, including line
extensions and supplemental products.
Benefits of membership
Costco membership has benefits galore! I
was having problems with my HP notebook
computer (a Costco purchase), so I called
Costco Concierge Services. Within 10 minutes of being connected, the rep had identified
the problem and connected me with HP. In
less than 30 minutes later, my problem was
identified and I was given options to have my
computer fixed at no cost!
Without the extended-warranty benefit of
purchasing the computer with the True
Earnings® Card from Costco and American
Express I would be facing a large bill or the
purchase of another computer, and without
the Concierge Services I would be stuck with
an unexpected computer crash.
John Scherberger
Spartanburg, South Carolina
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Readers are encouraged to submit letters
to our editors on any topic or issue covered
in The Connection. Please include your full
name and phone number or address. Send
an e-mail to
dialogue@costco.com; or write
to: Dialogue, The Costco Connection, P.O.
Box 34088, Seattle, WA 98124-1088; or fax
to (425) 313-6718. The editors reserve the
right to edit letters for publication.
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To subscribe to the Online Edition, an
electronic replica of The Costco Connection,
go to Costco.com and enter your e-mail
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Costco does not sell or share members’
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WAREHOUSE ONLY
APRIL 2010 ;e Costco Connection 9
