I think that if others on this board were to "check out" the parking lots in other
areas they will find as I have on many occasions ... Costco is just plain BUSY!
On that note here is an aside and evidence of a potential problem, perhaps, for shoppers, yes, but perhaps for the bottom line.
Last week I was in the Pharmacy at the Kirkland Costco. Over heard a gal talking about the fight she just saw in the parking lot over no less than a parking space. The response from the employee confirmed that indeed there has been a lot of that sort of thing. Another employee chimed in, "Tis the Season!" with a cynical tone.
At that point I felt obliged to tell my tale of the old woman who had deliberately tapped my rear bumper with her car in order to get me out of the way while I was waiting to access a parking space being evacuated. I turned around and mouthed, "You hit my car!" and she sat there and showed no emotion. While I was considering whether to get out of my car to check the potential damage, which I felt would be slight since the tap was minimal, the old gal got out of her car and came to my window. I was expecting an apology but instead she demanded, with no remorse that I could detect, that I should move my car out of the way so she could pass. She did assure me she would not take my spot. Not being the confrontational sort I bowed to her wishes and moved over (Yielding to the admonition to, "Obey your elders"). My Volvo suffered no damage by the way.
Further evidence of aggression has been seen in the store where shoppers routinely cut off their contemporaries with their carts.
Granted, this activity is practiced by a minority of jerks. But if allowed to continue will dampen people's enthusiasm to shop at a place that is admittedly already difficult to access?
Lastly, a young man I know working in the parking lot at the Issaquah store said that they make a habit of being on the scene of a fight within moments of its outbreak.
IS this the chink in the armor for competition to capitalize on?
Fascinating, or what?!
PS, If upper management reads this thread, I hope no negative action against any employees will be attempted because they spoke about these things with the customers. I would hate to hear that someone was upbraided for confirming a problem which everyone is becoming acutely aware of. One thing that I do enjoy and it makes up for the heavy traffic is the warm and friendly faces I deal with at the entrance, check stands and elsewhere. Those folks work hard and long to make the experience a good one. |
