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I want to live like Costco people

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Re: I want to live like Costco people

#571

Post by Yhippa »

hparadiz wrote: post #212
nostrademons wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issue for many apartment-dwellers is storage. You can't store a year's worth of detergent, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies in an apartment. Costco really incentivizes shopping in bulk, from the huge value-pack sized portions to the focus on frozen & dry goods to the super-sized carts to the anxiety-inducing shopping experience. My wife and I shoot to go no more than once a quarter, just because it's a hassle.…

Yes I'm cognizant of that. Not everything I get there is a large item. The dishwasher detergent for example goes under the sink. Bulk is basically a two pack. Coffee also just throw it in the pantry. Ditto for other drinks and food items. And electronics. I've gotten a MacBook air from Costco only for the extended warranty they offer. Another perk is free installs which I guess doesn't apply for apartment folks but I…

Is it a requirement in Hawaii because of the generally high prices of everything there?

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#572

Post by Dylan16807 »

defrost wrote: post #444
ishouldstayaway wrote: post #415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How so?

Quantity. The original usage of Gourmand was synonymous with gluttony and excess; while a gourmet might be satisfied with exquisitely prepared micro portions tucked away within an expansive plate criss crossed by a drizzle of ??, a gourmand wants the full stack pyramided to the maximal stope angle.

> The original usage of Gourmand was synonymous with gluttony and excess; while a gourmet might be satisfied with exquisitely prepared micro portions

Even if you removed the word "might", they wouldn't be opposites. With it, they're even further from opposites.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#573

Post by testbjjl »

austinl wrote: post #361

Feudal Japan had a measurement called the "koku", which is roughly the amount of rice needed to feed a person for a year: about 330 lb. You can now buy 50 lb. of rice at Costco for $30, which is a few hours of work at minimum wage. To me, that is a modern marvel. I don't want people to buy things that they don't need, and I also don't like the crowds, but I can't help but feel grateful for a stocked grocery store tha…

> I don't want people to buy things that they don't need

What? This is 100% of 100% of us.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#574

Post by strix_varius »

jatora wrote: post #533
kemitchell wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish Costco were accessible to basically everyone. Among some poorer people I've got to know in the SF Bay Area, having the card and confidence in the means to use it are a mark of the middle class, an aspirational thing. Membership is an up-front cost. That excludes those who can't part with the cash for no immediate benefit. Depending on what you buy, and what else is available around you, breakeven can take a go…

I dont understand this. All Costco memberships are functionally $65 at most. How is this beyond literally anyone in America? Am I so out of touch? Why would corner stores have to pool together to get a membership when they absolutely negate the cost of the membership from the cashback? You only have to spend roughly $6,500/year for the executive membership of $130 to cost zero. That seems like something a corner stor…

> $65 is the cost of one or two fast food meals.

You mean for a family... I hope?

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#575

Post by niemandhier »

kemitchell wrote: post #503
austinl wrote: post #361

Feudal Japan had a measurement called the "koku", which is roughly the amount of rice needed to feed a person for a year: about 330 lb. You can now buy 50 lb. of rice at Costco for $30, which is a few hours of work at minimum wage. To me, that is a modern marvel. I don't want people to buy things that they don't need, and I also don't like the crowds, but I can't help but feel grateful for a stocked grocery store tha…

I wish Costco were accessible to basically everyone. Among some poorer people I've got to know in the SF Bay Area, having the card and confidence in the means to use it are a mark of the middle class, an aspirational thing. Membership is an up-front cost. That excludes those who can't part with the cash for no immediate benefit. Depending on what you buy, and what else is available around you, breakeven can take a go…

In many cases that is the desired effect:

Cashflow constraints are a good predictor for problematic behaviour.

Example: Being poor is not the reason for drug addiction, but drug addiction will make you poor in the long run.

The one good thing about this is: As low liquidity is often used as a classifier to gate access, a single kickstart payment can sometimes do wonders.

A security deposit for a flat and money for a Costco card can change lives.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#576

Post by Dylan16807 »

defrost wrote: post #552
huimang wrote: post #511

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This really gets on my nerves. ishouldstayaway provided a perfectly valid resource to support the initial statement that gourmand isn't just about quantity anymore. > Well, you had to go to #2 This is clearly a disparaging remark meant to discredit their comment. So what if it's #2? It's a definition in multiple dictionaries . This usage warranted its own definition. > in an American English dictionary Same thing her…

> instead of accepting that there are multiple usages Yeah, maybe slow your roll and think about that, along with everything else you've projected. Clearly I accepted there are multiple usages, I specifically mentioned multiple definitions above.

> Clearly I accepted there are multiple usages, I specifically mentioned multiple definitions above.

You mentioned it in a way that makes #2 sound irrelevant because it's not the "original and primary definition" and diminished it with "recent times".

This is what people are taking issue with.

You're not actually accepting that definition as a proper definition. You're treating it like a minor offshoot.

And I have no idea why you think they're projecting.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#577

Post by gib444 »

FireBeyond wrote: post #537
gib444 wrote: post #164

I've been to Costco (UK) a couple of times. It mostly seems to be: 4x the quantity for 4x the price (i.e. same price as any other store). I don't get it? I honestly think a large majority of people think it being in bulk MUST equal a saving? Is it just for like catering companies or families of 20 where the bigger size is kind of helpful? They do some nice discounts on Macs online though (can't say I'm a fan of their…

> They do some nice discounts on Macs online though (can't say I'm a fan of their customer service either though based on my experience returning a Macbook) That is one area where I think they're starting to crack down, here, thanks to abuse. My ex- returned a glass-topped sit stand desk after 5 years, when she finished her degree, for a full refund. "Anything wrong with it?" "No." "Any reason you're returning it?" "…

I didn't abuse anything fwiw.

I just returned it within a a few days, exercising my legal rights when purchasing an item over the internet. I wasn't that impressed with the device for the money having had the opportunity to demo it

The UK has almost nowhere that would accept a return for a refund after 5 years after having rented it for free.

You can barely exercise your legal rights when something breaks at year 5 of 6 (because of the burden of proof is on you that it was a manufacturing defect)

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#579

Post by defrost »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #576
defrost wrote: post #552

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> instead of accepting that there are multiple usages Yeah, maybe slow your roll and think about that, along with everything else you've projected. Clearly I accepted there are multiple usages, I specifically mentioned multiple definitions above.

> Clearly I accepted there are multiple usages, I specifically mentioned multiple definitions above. You mentioned it in a way that makes #2 sound irrelevant because it's not the "original and primary definition" and diminished it with "recent times". This is what people are taking issue with. You're not actually accepting that definition as a proper definition. You're treating it like a minor offshoot. And I have no…

I accepted it as a secondary definition (because, as numbered, it is a secondary definition) that also happens to support the primary definition;

  Additionally, "heartily interested" in English usage implies an enthusiastic excess, large amounts, etc.
I suspect the two commenters are reading more into my comments than was intended.

Re: I want to live like Costco people

#580

Post by defrost »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #572
defrost wrote: post #444

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quantity. The original usage of Gourmand was synonymous with gluttony and excess; while a gourmet might be satisfied with exquisitely prepared micro portions tucked away within an expansive plate criss crossed by a drizzle of ??, a gourmand wants the full stack pyramided to the maximal stope angle.

> The original usage of Gourmand was synonymous with gluttony and excess; while a gourmet might be satisfied with exquisitely prepared micro portions Even if you removed the word "might", they wouldn't be opposites. With it, they're even further from opposites.

> they're even further from opposites.

I made no claim they were opposites, read again, that was another commenter.

I answered the question as to the distinction between two words, I did not assert the two words were opposite.

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