Posted on 08/18/2011 2:40:25 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Back in the 1990s, when it seemed like electric vehicles were gaining traction with consumers, Costco did something unusual: the big-box retailer installed charging stations at many of its California locations. Now, however, those stations are being removed, and electric car fans aren't happy.
According to Plug In America, Costco has offered no official explanation for removing the charging stations other than the Xeroxed signs taped to each that read, "Please be advised that this electric charger will be removed on August 15th, 2011. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Costco's move seems curious for a couple of reasons. For starters, the California Energy Commission has launched a special grant program to fund the upgrade of older, AVCON charging stations to newer J1772 models that can accommodate modern electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. Costco would seem to be tailor-made for that initiative, so why not apply?
But apart from the fact that upgrading should be of minimal cost to Costco is the fact that sales of electric cars and plug-in hybrids are booming these days. At a time when other companies (even McDonald's!) are rolling out the red carpet for electric vehicle owners, why would Costco yank the rug out from under them?
(Excerpt) Read more at greencarreports.com ...
Where did I say less than a minute?
And Costco wasn’t “originally Price Club.”
The founder of Costco was the brains behind Price Club, but he left and founded Costco, then subsequently bought out the slowly failing Price Club.
Like that is a big SHOCK.
That's pretty old, you guys have got to learn to stay currant.
Post 70: "Most of my purchases take less than a minute to complete. "
Post 74, in response to an incredulous query about 60 people per hour (one per minute) going thru the avg Costco check line: "The two center aisles that line up with the departing main aisle have to do way more than that. "
If your friend is not misinformed about the $20000 profit per checkout-hour, then you misunderstood him. I find it very difficult to believe $20000 per hour in sales per checkout hour, and flatly refuse to believe $20000 in profit per checkout-hour.
And when I said “originally Price Club”, I meant that some of the buildings I enter labeled “Costco” originally had signs saying “Price Club”.
“(OK it was a reach...)”
.....
Reached far enough to tickle my funny-bone.
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