Costco Connection - January 2007

costco.com items, and there’s no minimum-order fee. Some e-tailers start with competitive prices and then tack on a minimum requirement or exorbitant freight charge prior to checkout. Costco’s great prices don’t come at the expense of delivery speed. Products are shipped within 24 hours of ordering, with the aim of next-business-day delivery in most markets for orders placed before 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Everything and the kitchen sink

So exactly what products are available in the National Business Supplies Program? Everything is listed in a 576-page catalog, as well as in an online index. I received one of the first catalogs and hurried home to cozy up with my cache (I love catalogs).

The index reveals a strong focus on the “Office Big Six”: paper and pads; office supplies; ink, toner and ribbon; technology; cleaning and break-room supplies; and furniture. I began my shopping with paper products—I’ve always found a supplier’s paper program a great indicator of overall quality.

Costco.com’s catalog is crammed with hundreds of paper selections, from standard copy to specialty, photo and wide format. Industry-leading suppliers include Hammermill, Boise Cascade, HP, Georgia Pacific, Office Impressions, Wausau, Weyerhaeuser and Xerox. Paper in the new SPLOX system (it stands for “speed loading box” because the paper comes in easy-to-handle, injury-reducing cartons) is offered, too.

Also included is a full selection of Office

Costco’s business products cover every business need, at a great value.

Impressions products. This private-label brand of 107 top office supplies includes copy paper, envelopes, file folders, labels, pens, binders, etc. All are guaranteed to be top quality at great savings. (To check this, I did a quick search on the Internet and found a box of 500 brand-name No. 10 business envelopes for $14.50, compared to the same Office Impressions product at $4.99 on costco.com.)

I found bargains in the catalog on virtually anything a business needs: security paper to protect documents from fraud and identity theft, antimicrobial top-tab file folders that guard against bacteria growth, cordless rechargeable desktop keyboard and mouse, sleek stacking chairs (attention, schools and churches) and even typewriters—yep, typewriters.

One welcome category is environmentally responsible products. The wide selection of recycled items includes paper, calendars, desk trays, file folders and plastic clipboards. The Innovera line of remanufactured inkjet, copier and laser toner cartridges is intriguing. All are manufactured to strict specifications and meet all original equipment manufacturer standards. Typical savings run 20 percent.

The goal: upscale, diversified

“The aim of this program is to not only offer everyday office essentials but also include upscale business necessities normally not found with run-of-the-mill office supply retailers,” explains Ginnie. “We include corporate gifts, salon and beauty supplies, vending machines and products for a wide range of business categories: education, child care, catering, restaurants, hardware, health and medical, and more.”

As for the program’s nuts and bolts: It’s open to all members, and deliveries can be made to business or residential addresses. Orders are accepted online only. The program’s catalog is available at any warehouse membership service desk or on costco.com.

But you don’t need a catalog to begin shopping. All items and updated prices are on costco.com. Just go to the red “Shop for Business Products” box on costco.com’s home page and enter your zip code.

As for a guarantee of satisfaction, costco.com offers convenient returns on any items that you’re not completely satisfied with at any Costco warehouse. A form is also included in the packing slip, with a toll-free number (1-888-320-3277) for pickup or questions. Members can also send an e-mail to customerservice@costco.com for assistance.

This is another great program to save members money. Smart move for business, Costco. C

Business
delivery
Value on
the move

COSTCO’S REGIONAL Business Delivery Program covers the greater metropolitan areas of Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.

“We differ from costco.com’s model in that we focus on Costco Business Members only,” says Costco’s Phil Lind. “Our product lineup includes grocery products, cooler, deli and freezer, fresh meats and produce, and beverages. We take orders via costco.com as well as phone, fax or walk-in. Our fleets of trucks deliver within a local area of about 60 miles.”

For more about the program, go to costco.com, find “Customer Service” at the bottom tool bar and click on “Business Delivery Information.”

Expansion considerations to additional cities are under way.

Stay tuned.—PV

Connecting To access the National Business Supplies Program, go to costco.com, find the red “Shop for Business Products” box and enter your zip code. You can also pick up a product catalog in any warehouse or at costco.com.