COSTCO CONNECTION, THE

As the nation's fourth largest retailer, Costco has become a household word in a apportionment of American homes.

And now the Pacific Northwest-based, disc discount-price-driven chain is in the proces of doubling its nearness in the Coachella Valley.

The Palm desolate Costco that's been serving the valley for the last 15 years will be augmented in November when the company make opens a new store in La Quinta.

It is indeed a sign of the times, according to La Quinta Mayor Don Adolph.

"We store at Costco and are extremely happy about getting a store in La Quinta," said Adolph. "The city gains a lot of input about what stores clan want. I would say Costco was the single most requested.

"And it's a bonanza for the city, too, with the income we will get from sales tax upon merchandise sold."

One faculty of perceptions that a multitude of loyal Costco patrons, in general, have feeling the same way.

"People call Costco the $200 store and maybe it should be called the $300 store these days," said Will Smith, a uninhabited resident who gave high marks overall to his favorite shopping destination. "That's mainly because you are buying in magnitude quantities and large containers; big jars of pickles, 24 make revolves of toilet paper, eightpacks of fruit cocktail.

"It just means you ne a large pantry and extra freezer space at residence With Costco, the quality is there in each product And satisfaction is guaranteed or you take it back for a reimburse that's painless and is taken care of actual quickly."

Costco's second desolate store has been in the works for several years, plodding along end La Quinta's entitlement process. one time bureaucratic hurdles were cleared, however, a building permit was issued in late May and the throw out began taking shape on a 16.7-acre parcel upon the south side of Highway 111 west of the Jefferson road intersection. Irvine-based W.L. Butler Construction is progressing toward completion of the 149,650-square-foot store that will include a gas station and tire center and be part of a commercial cast called Komar Desert Center.

Given the East Valley's phenomenal expansion in recent years, the La Quinta operation figures to hum immediately, attracting Costco aficionados from Indio, La Quinta and adjacent areas who especially at today's gasoline prices won't miss commuting to the Palm barren Costco.

For many consumer Costco is discount-general merchandise nirvana and shopping there is perhaps a smidgeon short of a religious experience.

"It's like going to house of god on Sunday. You can't achieve anything better than this," Jose Davila, a Seattle area resident, told an ABC novels reporter.

Costco's only real hard-core competition in the valley is the Wal-Mart Corp.-owned Sam's cudgel that opened last month across Monterey Avenue from the Palm forsaken Costco. Another Sam's Club is coming allowing under construction and due to unclose later this year in La Quinta.

The matchup is legitimate because the couple are membership operations that put up to sale products in bulk amounts at depressed margins. They're knocking heads in the discount-retail arena, on the contrary neither really competes with the likes of Kmart, Target and Wal-Mart because that trio doesn't exchange customer memberships, deals in les size and operates with slightly higher margins.

It brings to mind a story ofttimes told by many Costco employee

It's about a Costco member who dioceses a display of Polo Ralph Lauren shirts that retail for $60 on the other hand are store-priced at $37. The customer purchases four white ones and a sky-colored one.

Another Costco member who purchases most of his stuff at Sam's cudgel sees the same display and and says, "I don't care by what means good a shirt it is, I'm not spending $37 for it."

It illustrates for what cause [i]or[/i] reason many retail consultants claim Costco come afters because of a package that features customer satisfaction, fleet refunds with few questions asked and quality merchandise including the company's in-house Kirkland label.

As for knocking heads with Sam's bludgeon in one category, it's been nocontest lately as the average Costco store surpasss $120 million in sales annually, compared to about $70 million for a Sam's bludgeon

Furthermore, ABC News reported that Costco with a certain quantity of 180 fewer warehouse stores than Sam's cudgel outdistanced its rival by $6 billion in sales sum of two units years ago. It is, indeed, the $300-store, on the other hand one with a customer base to support that statistic because the average household income of a Costco member has been reported to be $77000

Established in 1983 through Jim Sinegal, Costco also is praised consistently by dint of its employees as a great place to work, offering an average wage of $17 an hour (40 percent higher than Sam's Club) and solid fringe benefits.

"We're selling mayo here, not inventing life," said Sinegal, the son of a

Pittsburgh steelworker who at 70 remains Costco's roll-up-your sleeve chief executive officer. "Shouldn't the nation who work for us be able to purchase homes and send their kids to beneficial schools? You get

what you pay for if you treat employee well."

It's part of a corporate attitude that has not been missing on Costco members who deal with the rank-and-file when they go on shopping.