Costco Connection - March 2012

MEDIA BAKERY

opt out of Social Security?”
Debate goes on
In response to the February
Debate, “Should you be able to

YES. I am 23 years old and feel as though I am giving money away when I contribute to Social Security because it sounds like it will be all depleted by the time I retire. It’s my hard-earned money; I shouldn’t be forced to just give it away.

Briana Toelke
Missoula, Montana

NO. The snake-oil salesmen are poised to come out from under rocks to feast on a vulnerable segment of Americans who can be tempted to rely on themselves and the private sector. This is the same private sector that gave us hustlers who created the derivative bundles of unregulated securities. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but a little periodic maintenance, lubrication and fine-tuning is required.

Roger Bissett
Reno, Nevada

YES. Each person can then have control of [his or her] own funds for the future.

Adriana Cruz
Whittier, California

Surviving disaster HURRICANES, FLOODS, tornadoes, wildfires—2011 had more than its share of natural disasters. How do you prepare for natural disasters? If you or your family’s life was touched by disaster, what worked and what didn’t? We’d especially like to hear your success stories for a future Connection article. Please send an email with a summary of your personal story and “Disaster” in the subject line to connection@costco.com.

MEDIA BAKERY

NO. If we are not required to put some money away, many will end up with no income and will have to be supported by taxpayers anyway.

Cindy Blair
Bend, Oregon

Member comments

Parking at Downtown Disney

In “Spend less money, have more fun”
[February 2012], you told readers “If visiting
the Disney theme parks, park at Downtown
Disney. It’s free. Then you can take compli-
mentary transportation buses throughout the
resort to get to your desired park(s).”
Disney discontinued direct bus transpor-
tation from Downtown Disney to the parks
[for visitors] for just this reason.

Pam Johnson
Chicago, Illinois

You are correct. Downtown Disney transportation now only takes hotel guests to the theme parks. Disney’s resort hotels offer guests the option of complimentary buses, monorails and boat launches that connect virtually all areas of the resort.—Ed.

A good StartUp to the New Year

Thanks for including tips for the new year from Rich Sloan of StartUpNation.com [Fresh Views, January 2012]. My sleepwear company, haralee.com, won the StartUpNation 2009 contest for Boomers Back in Business. Rich is very helpful for start-up companies, and the StartUpNation website is very informative. I was truly delighted to see one of my favorite business advisers in one of my favorite publications.

Haralee Weintraub
Portland, Oregon

Fed-Mart fan

The article about Jim Sinegal and Costco’s marketing and leadership was so enlightening. I had no idea that Costco was birthed from Fed-Mart. I have such nostalgia and (I know this sounds crazy) comforting feelings when I think of Fed-Mart. I grew up in El Paso, where I remember shopping at Fed-Mart weekly with my mother. That was

Have something to say? 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 email 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.

; DIALOGUEletters

where I learned the value of a dollar and the importance of comparison shopping. I have often wondered what happened to Fed-Mart, and your article answered that question.

The management values that proved so successful have continued to work for Costco. No wonder I like Costco so much! Thanks for your years of leadership, Jim, and I hope that the next leader has those “fair deal” qualities instilled in him also.

L.L. Graham
Glenn Heights, Texas

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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 Connection’s month of publication and are noted as in warehouse “early in month” (1st to 10th), “mid-month” (11th to 21st) or “late in month” (22nd to 31st).

■ All ads indicate whether a product is available in the warehouse, 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 items.

■ Costco.com carries few of the products available at the warehouses, but offers 3,500 additional items, including line extensions and supplemental products.