Costco, Firearms Prohibited

Thanks for letting me know that they support anti-gun organizations.
I was not aware of that.
By the way, the last couple times I bought anything at Costco was because a family member wanted something they sold (tools, etc.).
Costco does offer some packaged products you cannot find elsewhere.
If someone says I want that blank blank they have at Costco, I will probably get it for them.
I don't like to substitute gifts.
My membership, which was a gift, ran out over a year ago and I have not purchased anything from them since.
I don't see myself shopping there any longer though.
The more I read about Costco, the more I dislike.
I have no complaints about my Sam's Club.

BTW, I have noticed very few firearms prohibited signs in the Phoenix area.
Many carry here, mostly concealed, but open carry is not uncommon.
 
Chris,
The ones I have seen (older, roll-up door Costco's) are low on the wall, 2'-6" to 3'-0" off the ground.
They are usually placed between the entrance and exit doors, closer to the entrance door.
There is also usually steel poles coming out of the ground, the sign cannot be seen from certain angles because of this pole.
Also if you are entering when others are entering, there is a real good chance someone will be blocking the sign.
Their placement of the sign is not in plain view, IMO.
 
I just drove right by the entrance of the Silver Lake Costco in Everett, Washington, looking for any such sign, using the above poster's location notes.

There are no such signs. I have not seen any such signs on any Costco here in Washington state. This again leads me to wonder if this is something unique to Arizona or some other states due to something in their state laws.

The only signs related to firearms carry prohibitions that I have ever seen in Washington are on bars and taverns, courthouses, schools, Federal or State government buildings, some healthcare facilities and military installations. I just don't see them on other private businesses, unlike I did in Dallas, where I just returned from a seminar.
 
At least one CostCo in Colorado has no-firearms signs. Doesn't affect me at all because I have never been inside a CostCo, Sam's Club, or similar stores.
 
If you are unhappy with Costco's policies on firearms or anything else, take yourself and your business elsewhere.

You can also drop corporate headquarters a polite note explaining things, if you choose, however hitting them in their pocketbooks might be the best way to go.

Are gunowners really their own worst enemies? Might prove interesting to find out.
 
Thanks for the heads up. The costco card just went in the shredder next to the desk. Letter will be mailed tomorrow.

Even though my local store doesn't have such signs, the apple doesn't land far from the tree.

Some things are gonna be more expensive now, but that's OK.

Sorry for the sidetrack but I do have one holdout--Levis' jeans. I know they are anti-gun, but I just can't find thier equal. :(
 
If a store simply chooses to prohibit firearms from their store "because" I will either not do any business with them, or do as little as possible with them. If they had a shooting, accidental or other, I can respect that decision and continue to shop there.
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Huh???

If there had been a shooting there, wouldn't that be more of an indication that you should be armed?

And if it was "accidental"... what does the fact that somebody else misused a firearm have to do with me and my sidearm???
 
Ben Shepherd and any others who might be interested:

I suspect that such policy decisions come from the corporate offices, and are not the wet dream of local store management.

In any case, the policy in question, which I disagree with, is a matter for the owners, it is the business that they own, and if it turns out to be a "publically owned company", stock having been sold to the general public, then the stock holders might have something to say to management, for instance, TAKE A HIKE.

Otherwise, and I have long wondered as to what might happen, legally speaking, in a case such as the following. You, being a good fellow or gal, are licensed by your state to carry a concealed weapon. In the course of doing some errands, shopping, that sort of thing, while about to enter the local Costco outlet, you notice their posted policy. O.K., you leave your "pet blaster" locked up in your car, and enter the store, defenseless, and innocent. Another person is not so disposed, for they, being a criminal, intent on robbery are armed. In the ensuing events, you are injured, possibly killed.

Would you, if you survived, or your family if you didn't, be able to bring action against Costco, for it was their stated policy that rendered you defenseless in their business premisis? Not being a lawyer, I cannot say. Does anyone know?

Of course, as I had noted in my earlier post, you the customer could have declined to patronize the merchant, Costco in this case, after all, there is likely nothing Costco sells that you couldn't buy elsewhere, perhaps a little more expensively, which brings us to a question I had asked earlier. Are gun owners really their own, worst enemies, or put in other terms, are a few pennies, nickles or dimes more important to you than principle? If it turns out that they are, go in peace friend, and may your chains rest lightly on your shoulders.

Many people complain about one aspect or another of Wal-Mart, yet these same people continue to patronize Wal-Mart or Wally World as it is also known. The savings they obtain there seem more important than principle to them. I've often wondered as to exactly how much money they actually save, which is another way of asking how cheaply are they willing to sell their principles, assuming that they had any. Of course, given that some find nothing at all problematic with Wal-Mart, the above considerations do not apply to them.

Might be interesting to find out if gun owners really are, their own, worst enemies.

End of rant.
 
jnojr said:
Huh???

If there had been a shooting there, wouldn't that be more of an indication that you should be armed?

And if it was "accidental"... what does the fact that somebody else misused a firearm have to do with me and my sidearm???
Click to expand...

Let me restate that:
If there was a shooting in which an innocent person was hit, I could understand the store adobting such a policy. I wouldn't hold that against them.
If there was an accidental shooting, someone hit or not, I could understand the store adobting such a policy.
Many people are scared of guns. If one goes off in a store you better believe management and corportate is going to be dealing with a lot of unhappy customers.
Let say the particular location has issues with gun owners not being responsible, lifting up their shirt and flashing weapons, making threats while armed, adjusting their weapon while in view of others (some may take this as a threat), etc. I could understand the store adobting such a policy.
All of the above would be a result of someone carring a firearm and not acting correctly. It does happen far to often. its not the proper solution, but an understandable one.
Now by saying I wouldn't hold that against them, doesn't mean I would still shop there. I carry a firearm with me almost all of the time. I avoid business that do not allow me to carry.
After some reading and talking with others (some not on this board) I have decided not to shop at Costco.
 
Did not know about Costco, but not surprised since it is a Seattle area company and many folks in Seattle area are left-leaning. So I will not be renewing my membership. I live in the same neck of the woods as Mill Creek and have seen signs in same places. So I choose to sit in the dining area where guns are allowed instead of the bar area of some of these establishments.

A comment about Wal-Mart/Sam's Club: at least the ammo that I have bought from them is all American made, Federal Self-protection rounds for home defense (just got lucky they had it on closeout sale so bought it), and lots of Winchester and Remington ammo for practicing. It seems most of the outdoors stuff (my primary reason for shopping there) is US Made. I won't buy Chinese made stuff (just like I won't buy French wine, no matter how cheap). Being in the service, and having spent time in the Middle East, I choose to buy from countries that support our coalition (so can buy S&B ammo too).

We all can and should make businesses aware of the impact of their policies on their bottom line. Somewhere I read that 1 unhappy person tells 10 folks, while 1 happy person only tells one or two.
 
Here is Costco's email reply:

"
Thank you for your email to Costco Wholesale.

In reference to your inquiry on our policy disallowing the carrying of
firearms in our warehouse stores.
Costco does not believe that it is necessary for firearms to be brought
into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law
enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and
employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure
a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace. Our policy is meant
to protect our members and employees in all warehouses around the world.
This is not a new policy and we do not customize the policy for each
individual city/county/state/country where we do business.
Bringing a firearm into our warehouse does not enhance the shopping
experience. We are sorry the message you are hearing is that "we don't
want you." It is the firearms that we exclude in the warehouses, not the
carriers.

Sincerely,

Camille W.
customerservice@costco.com
"
 
Ahhhh, Camille.

Such a sweet person! She's just looking out for the rest of us. I'm so happy that we have good-natured people like her watching out for us mindless idiots, making sure that we have a safe, pleasant shopping experience. Obviously, if people were allowed to express their constitutuonal rights, there would be reckless homicidal rampages down every isle of the store.

You can tell what side of the fence she landed on, and I'll wager that I know who got her vote in the last election, and who'll get it in the next and the next and the next.....

What a verbose, ass-kissin' bimbo.
 
Get friends to sign a petition. Also contact the NRA. Years ago Blockbuster had the same policy. After heat from the NRA and citizens they canceld it.

Kevin
 
There are nuts and incompetents out there who have concealed carry permits. Forbidding every concealed carry permit holder from carrying will eliminate some of those nuts and/or incompetents from carrying in the store
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I don't consider that a valid argument. There are nuts and incompetents out there who don't have permits and are carrying guns in their stores.

Also, while I agree a company like costco has, or should have, the legal right to exclude guns, certain people, umbrellas, or tshirts or anything from their premises, they have to consider their market. If enough people make a noise it will be heard, and maybe the policy will be changed. I doubt it.

I'm getting tired of this anti-gun, anti-defense mentality that persists in corporate America even after the WTC and Pentagon attacks. But it's so widespread, I don't know what to do except ignore the policies and do what I think is right.

Quote:
What a verbose, ass-kissin' bimbo.


Yes, she should quit her job on principle.....
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Do I detect a note of sarcasm?

Honestly, I don't think I could send an email like that to somebody. If I had to send something to save my job it would have to end with a thinly veiled message about the lack of metal detectors and concealed carry.

Moot point,'cause Ms.W is not me. It's pretty obvious to me she believes what she wrote.

Gotta say I like this one:

Bringing a firearm into our warehouse does not enhance the shopping
experience.
Click to expand...

It could. They could put in an indoor range. And a gunshop. That place is huge, I know there's room for one. Giant packs of Captain Crunch, 9mm, hot dogs, and 45acp. All in the same store.

Kevin:

Blockbuster, huh? I remember reading about a shooting in central Florida a couple of years ago. Fortunately, the manager's father was waiting around at closing time armed.

But I'm sure nothing evil could happen in Costco or their parking lot. Safety in numbers, like a school of fish. Shark always gets the other guy.
 
At the possible risk of asking a dumb question, someone care to explain to me what this "shopping experience" is? Seems as if a lot of people talk about it, and not knowing what it is, I wonder if I've missed out on something interesting?

Regarding the Costco letter appearing above, the following is a copy and paste of my response to it.

Gentlemen:

The following proports to be a copy of a response had from one of your people concerning your "no firearms" policy.

Here is Costco's email reply:

"
Thank you for your email to Costco Wholesale.

In reference to your inquiry on our policy disallowing the carrying of
firearms in our warehouse stores.
Costco does not believe that it is necessary for firearms to be brought
into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law
enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and
employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure
a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace. Our policy is meant
to protect our members and employees in all warehouses around the world.
This is not a new policy and we do not customize the policy for each
individual city/county/state/country where we do business.
Bringing a firearm into our warehouse does not enhance the shopping
experience. We are sorry the message you are hearing is that "we don't
want you." It is the firearms that we exclude in the warehouses, not the
carriers.

Sincerely,

Camille W.
customerservice@costco.com

------------------------------

Here and there, in commercial drivel, I've seen references to "the shopping experience", a phrase that frankly leaves me curious. One of these days, perhaps some kind soul will trouble to explain this phraseology to me.

As to the closing couple of lines in your explanation, justification, rationalization or whatever you might choose to call it, you said the following. We are sorry the message you are hearing is that "we don't
want you." It is the firearms that we exclude in the warehouses, not the
carriers.

If that is what you all really think, fair enough. It sounds phony to me, but it is your store. Having said that, I'm a mature adult, who often carries a concealed handgun on my person, and by the way, I have done so for the best part of 20 plus years. My reasons for so doing are sufficient to myself. Stipulating, as I've already done, that it is your store, I might add the following. Your statement about excluding firearms, not the carriers is so much hogwash.

Respecting your stated position in this matter, I do not currently shop at any of your stores, nor am I likely to do so any time soon, for the only message I can reasonably take away, given your stated policy is that clearly, you do not want me.

One continually makes choices on their way through this life. You have made yours, and I've made mine. There does not really seem much more to be said.
 
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