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COSTCO GIVES AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL THE BOOT - FReeper ALERT!!!
Eyewitness | 29 Sep 2004 | Robert Drobot

Posted on 09/29/2004 8:06:55 PM PDT by Robert Drobot

Note: I’m copping with some difficult medical issues, and had a disastrous crash of my hard drive twice in succession (worm). This is the reason I’ve didn’t have the opportunity to address this serious issue on FR.

It remains an issue today, because the San Jose Army National Guard will be conducting another 'Open House' in November. I think we are obliged to get behind an effort to show our men and women in uniform our gratitude for their service, without their getting a glove across the face for ‘trespassing’ on private ( COSTCO ) property.

On Saturday, September 11, 2004, I was returning home after participating in a Pro-America 9-11 Remembrance at Stevens Creek Road and Winchester Boulevard, when I decided to stop at COSTCO, Santa Clara to run an errand.

As I approached the entrance, I noticed three smartly dressed uniformed members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry representing the San Jose Army National Guard. They were assigned to distribute a flyer addressing an 'Open House' at the Hedding St Armory being held that weekend. I thanked them for their service to our country, took a flyer and planned to visit them the following day.

As I entered the COSTCO facility, four or five of the COSTCO staff walked past me, surrounded our men in uniform. One of them told the Guard they must stop distributing their flyer. He said this was COSTCO policy, and further told the Guard that they were trespassing on private property.

The Guard members, wisely rejected a public confrontation, withdrawing quietly befuddled.

The following day my son and I went to the Armory. I asked those present if they were aware of the shameful action by COSTCO. They somberly responded they were aware of it, but chose to put an optimistic face on the incident by relating the positive response and welcome they received at the Great Mall in Milpitas, California.

The bottom line is San Jose Army National Guard was given the boot by COSTCO!

I’m asking you to help change this cock-eyed Un-American COSTCO policy ( if one actually exist ), and demand:

A) A letter of apology be sent to the Guard’s 185th Infantry in San Jose from the founder and chairman of COSTCO Jeffrey Brotman.

B) Take a minute to let the local print media - The San Jose Mercury News know how you feel toward the action COSTCO Santa Clara took against the men of our armed forces.

John Swartley, Editorial pages letters editor: jswartley@mercurynews.com

....and drop a word or two of support to:

Company C, 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry
San Jose Army National Guard

251 W. Hedding Street Telephone: 408 295 0952
E-mail: eric.barocio@ca.ngb.army.mil

C) Call and or write to:

COSTCO Santa Clara
1601 Coleman Ave.
Santa Clara, California 95050
Telephone 408 961 3900

COSTCO’s Corporate mailing address is: Head Office:
Jeffrey H. Brotman, Founder and Chairman COSTCO Wholesale Corp.
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah WA USA 98027
Phone: 425 313-8100
Toll Free:
Fax: 425 313-6593
Email: investor@COSTCO.com

Community Relations / Charitable Donations
Kim Cross
Community Relations & Administration
Phone: (425) 313-6182
Email: kcross@COSTCO.com

Annual Sales:

For the 52-week fiscal year ended August 29, 2004, the Company reported net sales of $47.15 billion, an increase of 13 percent from $41.69 billion during the prior fiscal year. By comparison, COSTCO's 1999 sales reached $27 billion 13% from the previous fiscal year.

COSTCO currently operates 288 warehouses, including 218 in the United States, 58 in Canada, seven in the United Kingdom, three in Korea, one in Taiwan, and a recently opened warehouse in Hisayama, Japan; and 16 additional warehouses in Mexico with a joint venture partner. The Company also operates COSTCO Online, an electronic commerce web site, at www.COSTCO.com.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Canada; Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Front Page News; Government; Japan; Mexico; US: California
KEYWORDS: antiwar; businees; costco; customers; dumb; military; onthehomefront; policy; stupid; unamerican; unpatriotic
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Below is a copy of an e-mail I sent to the founder of COSTCO:

Dear Mr. Brotman,

This past September 11th, the day all of America, but for the Congress of the United States, set aside to ponder the horrific loss of life on the most tragic day in American history on that day in 2001.

I was returniing from a somber memorial in San Jose, California, remembering the senseless loss of life and the mayhem brought to our national soil by barbarian terrorists; the vast majority of whom were insane sub-humans with Saudi Arabian citizenship - the entire band of murderers were muslims.

It was on this very special day that your representatives chose to act against those men and women who are now protecting you, your assets, your employees, your customers and those assets, employees, and customers of every single business in these united States of America.

I watched in total shock as three smartly dressed uniformed members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry representing the San Jose Army National Guard were told they must stop distributing their flyers. Your representative went on to say this was a COSTCO policy, and further told the Guard that they were trespassing on private property.

The Guard members, wisely rejected a public confrontation, withdrawing quietly befuddled.

That moment was for me -when linked to the memorial I had just left - the most devastating I have ever witnessed as an American Citizen.

Mr. Brotman, it is my opinion the men and women of our entire military, and specifically the members of:

Company C, 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry
San Jose Army National Guard

251 W. Hedding Street

justly deserve a letter of apology from you for the un-American and shameless decision by your Santa Clara staff.

Further, if indeed you have a policy forbidding the distribution of flyers on your private property, I strongly urge you to amend that policy relative to the public relation exercises undertaken by your American military personnel.

Please be advised this is an open letter posted to the internet. I want to believe the actions of your Santa Clara staff were the result of an overzealous and less than patriotic staff - that they’re actions were in no way representative of your business acumen.

1 posted on 09/29/2004 8:06:56 PM PDT by Robert Drobot
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To: Robert Drobot

COSTCO management contributes to Kerry and Congressional DemocRATS.


2 posted on 09/29/2004 8:08:46 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Dan Rather's got to go!)
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To: Paleo Conservative
THAT PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL!!!!

But I'll be damned if I'm going to let them treat our boys like that rapist president did!!!!

3 posted on 09/29/2004 8:12:31 PM PDT by Robert Drobot (God, family, country. All else is meaningless.)
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To: Robert Drobot

I got an executive membership with these guys for all the food I buy with three hungry teenage boys. I will send in a letter and some receipts and complain that their treatment was unjust and they better change their ways or Sam's Club will get my business.


4 posted on 09/29/2004 8:12:48 PM PDT by trashcanbred (Anti-social and anti-socialist)
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To: Robert Drobot

Costco is scum, I do not use there stores, and will spread the word to prevent them getting business from any friend of mine.


5 posted on 09/29/2004 8:13:05 PM PDT by aft_lizard (I actually voted for John Kerry before I voted against him)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; bentfeather; MoJo2001; tomkow6; HiJinx; ...

Hammer them PING


6 posted on 09/29/2004 8:13:37 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
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To: Robert Drobot

I also have a feeling that the SJ Costco has an aversion to hiring straight people.


7 posted on 09/29/2004 8:14:31 PM PDT by uncitizen
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To: Old Sarge

Bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!


8 posted on 09/29/2004 8:14:37 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
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To: Robert Drobot

Why would you be surprised? The execs at COSTCO are some of the biggest Kerry supporters out there. Trade your COSTCO membership in for a SAMS CLUB membership.


9 posted on 09/29/2004 8:14:48 PM PDT by McGavin999 (If Kerry can't deal with the "Republican Attack Machine" how is he going to deal with Al Qaeda)
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To: Paleo Conservative

Before you go on with this you ought to know that Costco ws following a standard practice which any lawyer would tell them to follow--No solicitations on the property. No matter how good the cause, the minutes they allow it for one group, they can be forced to allow it for all. And they know that customers like me will not be happy wading theru solicitations everytime I go shopping.


10 posted on 09/29/2004 8:15:40 PM PDT by the Real fifi
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To: Paleo Conservative
COSTCO management contributes to Kerry and Congressional DemocRATS

What would you expect from the management of a "store" that gets morons to stand in huge lines buy 5 gallons of Mayonnaise at a time?

Costco sucks.

11 posted on 09/29/2004 8:16:00 PM PDT by Rome2000 (The ENEMY for Kerry!!!!!)
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To: trashcanbred; All

I've already gone with Sam's Club :D

Note: The media outlet information in my user profile my be of use to contact some newspapers on this issue and cast some light on it.


12 posted on 09/29/2004 8:17:29 PM PDT by Tempest (Click on my name for a long list of press contacts)
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To: Paleo Conservative

COSTCO management contributes to Kerry and Congressional DemocRATS

TRUE! Turned my membership in. The last straw was them promoting kitty kelly's bull-f'ing-shi# book about the Bush family on the front pages of their website.


13 posted on 09/29/2004 8:18:07 PM PDT by rineaux (hardcore for W04)
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To: McGavin999

I already did!!! Feels much better!!!


14 posted on 09/29/2004 8:19:19 PM PDT by SierraWasp (I'm gittin as mad at the CA Republican Party as Zell is at his!!! In fact, I'm madder than ZELL!!!)
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To: Robert Drobot
Company C, 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry
San Jose Army National Guard

251 W. Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Telephone: 408 295 0952
E-mail: eric.barocio@ca.ngb.army.mil

15 posted on 09/29/2004 8:20:24 PM PDT by Robert Drobot (God, family, country. All else is meaningless.)
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To: Robert Drobot

What a bummer!

We don't have any COSTCOS anywhere near us here in Hot Springs, Arkansas!


16 posted on 09/29/2004 8:25:25 PM PDT by steplock
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To: the Real fifi
***Before you go on with this you ought to know that Costco was following a standard practice which any lawyer would tell them to follow--No solicitations on the property. No matter how good the cause, the minute they allow it for one group, they can be forced to allow it for all. And they know that customers like me will not be happy wading through solicitations everytime I go shopping.***

Thank you for posting this.

17 posted on 09/29/2004 8:25:51 PM PDT by mrs tiggywinkle (AMERICA, LAND OF THE FREE **BECAUSE** OF THE BRAVE.)
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To: Tempest; All

Me thinks it is time to move on then. I wasn't aware they
were big supporters.

I don't mind cause the prices were not really that much better anyway.


18 posted on 09/29/2004 8:26:03 PM PDT by trashcanbred (Anti-social and anti-socialist)
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To: uncitizen
You are so right, I worked at Costco for years, and, my co-workers were predominantly gay.
I am going to write to Costco and express my thoughts.
19 posted on 09/29/2004 8:26:17 PM PDT by joyce11111
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To: Robert Drobot

Brotman is actually in charge of MAKING the Kerry Kool-aid.


20 posted on 09/29/2004 8:27:34 PM PDT by Petronski (DEMS: Kim tested, Osama approved.)
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