Costco Connection - April 2007

Wigged out on value Another testimonial is a member’s timely letter to Costco from early January, reprinted below. Lori Roddey took the time to write to Costco about Costco services, and proceeded to detail exactly the type of savings that the services she uses have brought to her Coconut Creek, Florida–based online wig business, Lori’s Wigsite. Roddey worked for Costco in several warehouse locations for 12 years before launching her own business and feels that Costco instilled in her an invaluable customer-service ethic. Merchant credit-card processing was the first Costco service she enrolled in for her start-up ven-

ture nine years ago.

“While still working at Costco, I remember reading about NOVA in The Connection in the warehouse break room,” Roddey says. “I quickly learned that the savings described were genuine.”

Take the challenge

Space limitation prevents describing how hundreds of thousands of other members are receiving additional value from Costco service programs, but why not try it yourself? There’s nothing to lose and plenty to gain.

Check the full list of services on page 24, or visit the “Services” section at costco.com. C

Tip:

Each time the Wallet or Passport coupon book comes out, there are coupons with extra limited-time savings on many of the service programs. And keep watching for new services and features as covered each month in The Costco Connection.

Lori Roddey’s letter lists more than $5,000 in annual savings from using Costco services.

Dear Costco,

^The reason I write to you is because my online business is able to utilize many of the Costco services available to us with Costco’s Executive Membership. I am able to save a bundle of money every year.

^{• Weu}tⁱlizeValue Webhostingservices,whichcostsmybusiness$179.40peryearwithmyExecutive ^Memb^ershⁱp. Not only do I save with ValueWeb, I also receive more space, more mailboxes and great customer service if and when I need it. This is a savings of $421 per year compared to other hosting companies.

• WeareenrolledintheAmeripriseHome&AutoInsuranceprogram,whichsavesmeroughly_$1₁₈every six months ($236 per year) compared with other auto insurers.

• WewerereferredtoAmeripriseFinancialServices,andbyusingmyCostcoExecutiveMembership I am able to save $200 off the yearly fee.

^{• W}e^usethebusiness-checkprintingservice,whichsavesmeroughly$39peryearcomparedwithother similar check-printing companies.

• Themajorityofoursavingscomesfromthewonderfulmerchantcredit-cardprocessingthrough NOVA. This discounted credit-card processing program, with its 1.99% and 0.27-cent-per-transaction fee for

Internet orders, saves me more than $650 per year. In addition, I save $59.50 per year in statement fees alone, sⁱⁿce this charge is waived for Executive Members. Since I first opened my online business in March 1998, I’ve been completely satisfied with this company and its services.

• Last,andmostexciting,IparticipateintheAmericanExpresscashrebateprogram,whichearnedme a check for a whopping $3,892. And once a year I receive another check for my spending using my Executive

^Membership 2^% ^Re^ward, in the amount of $245. This amount varies each year. That was last year’s amount. Total savings per year: $5,683 (or $5,583, minus the $100 Executive Membership fee).