The Land of Greed, Discounts, and Abundance

I walked through the open doors, flashed my step-father’s membership card, and was once again dazzled at the sight of the huge warehouse looming in front of me. Pushing the cart that was twice the size what it would normally be, I happily pranced towards the table covered in a red and white checkered table cloth with a smiling older lady wearing a white apron and a gauzy hair net who was standing behind it. She was pouring chocolate milk into single cups that resembled thimbles, and she was laying them out for other customers to sample. She smiled at me, and conveniently mentioned that this product was, “Organic two percent chocolate milk, made from chocolate cows. You can buy this delicious chocolate milk for six dollars.” and, “One box comes with twenty four single serving cartons.” I, along with blushing men and bustling mothers and bellowing children, reached for the transparent paper cup and tipped the liquid into my mouth. The creamy chocolate trickled down my throat, leaving me with a giddy, satisfied feeling in my stomach. I thanked the nice lady and ran to catch up to my mother, who was already lusting after the “new and improved” gargantuan, gratuitous, gaudy garden umbrella while talking to her new husband on her cell phone. I pulled her away from the umbrella but was unable to keep her eyes away from the mind-boggling amounts of cheap food containers, garden hoses, and hydration backpacks. Aromas, sizzles, colors – my mother and I were bombarded with sensory overload as we strolled down the aisles; the cacophonous nature of the excited customers only added to the experience of shopping in a warehouse who’s purpose was to sell to regular businesses, and thrifty residents.

Food that is sold is bulk has become the one of the main sources of American families’ grocery shopping; one can get lots of food for a cheap price. The problem with product sold in bulk is that many people buy what they think they need, not what is necessary for their survival: families will buy sickly candy, ill-fitting scratchy clothing, and mediocre products that go unused because of the cheap price. People that are caught up in the excitement of the hunt will also buy far too much food that eventually spoils and turns stale because the mass quantity that was bought proves too much for the family to handle. The trap in buying products in bulk is also that when buying excess amounts of goods, the amount of money starts to add up very quickly, effectively draining the savings of the struggling families attempting to save money by buying in bulk.

The enticing samples are also a trap for the unassuming customer; the demos lure the shopper into buying foods they would not usually purchase, not only introducing the public to more unhealthy foods, but also making the foods-which are filled with carbohydrates, fats, and sugars- a staple in daily life. The samples – delicious and sinful, unhealthy and fattening, irresistible and free – also distract the customers from the prices. If the company can make the foods taste scrumptious and appetizing, then the consumers would not mind paying the outrageous prices for the calorific foods.

The air around the sausage booths were hot and stuffy, the air in walk-in freezer was bitterly cold. The far end of the store where the dog food and toilet paper were packed was empty, but the near end where the ice cream, chocolate, and breads were stored was filled with people. The check-out stands were stuffed with many satisfied, happy smiles; the stream of incoming consumers had hungry, expectant expressions plastered upon their faces.

The cars outside lined up like cattle, waiting for the cheapest gas in town. Each car was an angry bull, ready to plow down anyone who got in his way of a bargain. The sky was filled with a bright white-blue and spotted across it were cotton balls of clouds; rays of golden, warming sunshine rained upon the waiting cars. Despite the previous weather being dreary, rainy, and melancholy, no one paid any attention to the beautiful conditions. The drivers were impatient, angry, and would cut in front of their peaceful peers to reach the magical potion in order to refill their automatic chariots. The car in front of us decided to make a particularly risky move: to take a left turn precisely were a sign indicated where there should be no left turn to be executed. Tires squealing, horns blaring, and hearts stopping, the car in front of us barely missed a fatal accident. My mother and I started at each other in silence for a few seconds. “You so called that,” said I, half laughing, as my mother’s jaw hung open with her eyes wide; right before the car had almost collided with the oncoming traffic, my mother had rooted, “Craashhh!”

The local Costco is a very beneficial place for those who know how to use it wisely. The people who shop there solely to shop are the ones who give the store its immense profits, but also waste its food and other products. Costco can be a place of joy, happiness, healthy living and bargain shopping, but if used incorrectly, it can be a place of sadness, money loss, weight gain, and a very bad deal.

- Meg