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Non-Tech : Costco, slow but sure? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Curbstone who wrote (912)	8/12/1999 3:16:00 PM
From: Carmine Cammarosano	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1147

Same store sales for month of July '99 up 11% compared to July '98...WOW!

To: Curbstone who wrote (912)	8/16/1999 1:24:00 AM
From: Mel Fox	Respond to of 1147

Hello Aloha Mike! I ran across the following on the Yahoo quotes site as news under Costco! Hope this helps ....... still looking for anyone that knows anything about the Executive membership program... going good, or not so good???? Kickin' myself again for not buying COST at 71 a few days ago!!! !~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~! Wednesday August 11, 6:42 pm Eastern Time American Express-Costco Card Planned By TIM KLASS Associated Press Writer SEATTLE (AP) -- Costco Cos., a leading wholesale warehouse club operator, will issueco-branded credit cards with American Express this fall. It is the first foray by American Express into sharing its brand with a retailer. Starting in November, consumers with a qualifying credit history can purchase an American Express card that will double as a Costco membership card, the companies announced Wednesday. Cardholders will earn cash rebates at Costco for purchases charged at the warehouse discount stores. Businesses with Costco accounts will be able to obtain an American Express corporate card, providing discounts on purchases at Costco. Both cards will carry no annual fee, other than what it costs to join Costco, and both can be used anywhere that accepts American Express. That's in contrast to the annual fee of $55 for the basic ''green card'' offered by American Express. Interest rates and other details will be announced in the fall, the companies said. Costco president James Sinegal said there would be no price increase or additional charge to members as a result of the deal. Costco currently has its own branded credit card and accepts Discover cards, but does not accept MasterCard or Visa and said it has no immediate plans to do so. David C. House, president of American Express Establishment Services, said the arrangement will boost his company's charge-card business ''outside the traditional travel and entertainment markets.'' He said Costco's customer base is ''the most affluent of any of the warehouse club stores and growing rapidly.'' Based in Issaquah, Wash., Costco has 220 outlets in the United States, 4 million business customers and 17 million member households worldwide. Its competitors are Sam's Clubs, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and BJ's Wholesale Club Inc [NYSE:BJ - news]. The Sam's Clubs chain has a store credit card and accepts Discover Card. It discontinued a rebate program which it found too costly, a spokeswoman said. BJ's accepts Visa and Discover and has a co-branded card with MasterCard. Next month, BJ's will cut its rebate program to 1 percent from 2 percent of purchases, a spokeswoman said.