Auto Shop Chaos

Who would have ever thought that a landmark exists that teems with such odd fumes that would make a body want to cough up its own lungs? or where stereos proclaim such irreverent music consisting of singers screeching hideously at the top of their lungs, similar to the screeching brakes of vehicles awaiting adjustment? or where the foreign textures of filthy air become visible, plaguing the very customer seeking repairs on their mini-van? This is the legacy of Costco’s auto services: a place of mayhem that very much mirrors the madness that ensues within the store itself.

At first glance, one might portray this auto center as a wonderful appendage to an already grand store. Indeed, the establishment itself attracts hordes of customers daily; reasonable gas prices, common household necessities, groceries, electronics, clothing, and much more are such items sold. However, red incandescent trash cans, placed about the entrances of Costco, compliment the mood of the store: impersonal, imprudent, and impolite.

Enter the auto center to the right behind the luxurious Dodge Charger on display: the very place where that vehicle will one day find itself needing adjustments. As soon as the doors open, the stench of rubber chemicals slams into one’s face from the tires on display. “Next!” grunts the grim employee behind the front desk. The manner is which he mumbles, “And how might I help you?” contradicts the very sentiments being vocalized. To the left of the desk, neatly stacked tires creates what looks like an endless walkway to the back doors; muffled noises from various machines can be heard from inside. Look up to see the metal wiring that hangs loosely from the ceiling like ice stalactites ready to fall in a moist cave. If you look a little more closely, a helpless baby chick tweets from above, as it lies stuck above the wiring with no one to help it.

Looking inside the shop from the parking lot, it is recommended to keep at least a fifteen foot radius from the area. A sign warns that there exists “hazardous chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects in the state of California” inside the building. Bright yellow cone structures separate the parking spaces of cars being worked on, as if telling customers to flee before allowing their vehicles into such a precarious place. An overenthusiastic employee pulls out a compressor with a long, tangled hose. As it is turned on, the sound rings in the ears of people walking by, like a merciless machine gunner mowing down troops by the hundreds.

When the sun begins to set, the light reflects off of the many reflectors that attempt to embellish the shop. The time of day is appropriate for people to purchase items from the food court inside Costco; the surrounding area, as a result, is left as a high school campus is after lunchtime, littered with trash and spills all over the place. The cracked brick columns that hold up the awning over the entrances to Costco say more about the exterior than it could say about itself. The nightmarish parking lot in front of the auto center, full of inconvenient speed bumps, phantom carts--due to the frequent gusts of wind--, and frantic drivers rushing to and fro, goes hand in hand with the rest of the store.

Repetition is a frequently spotted characteristic amongst all of Costco. Where there are spontaneously placed trees and shrubs, carts infest the ground on which the plants grow. Where there are signs that read “No Smoking”, two or three customers can be seen smoking in that very area. Where cars are backed up at least to four or more vehicles in each lane at the gas station, the gasoline trucker pulls in around the corner to replenish the oil. All of these things follow a specific trend: everything is absolutely backwards.

Astonishingly, this very attribute--being backwards--respects the values and culture of humanity in general. Perhaps this is the reason why Costco attracts so many customers on a regular basis. The comfort level of shoppers is not exceeded; they are able to ironically be at ease with their surroundings there. Just as a disorganized person enjoys having their desk messy, so too do customers enjoy having a spontaneous area in which they can enjoy their shopping. Realistically, the aspect of being able to be comfortable in frequently traveled environments plays a crucial factor for every person. Places such as Costco attempt to respect every person through its attributes as a store, regardless of background or history. It stands as a shining example to society to be less presumptuous of our fellow man and be more proactive in developing qualities of patience and tranquility.

-Nate