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Economic Impact

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Submitted By Lawrencelam93
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ECON 310 Intermediate Microeconomics
Costco; Your Local Friend
Lawrence Lam
Cal State Fullerton

Superstores such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Home Depot have always been frowned upon by local businesses because of the competition it brings. Lower prices forces nearby stores to lower their prices until they shut down because of the negative profits from lowering their prices or because they don't acquire enough revenue to stay in the market. However ironically this feeling isn't shared towards the opening of Costco, another wholesale superstore. Costco's lower prices surprisingly causes local businesses to raise their prices. Even to the point where investors find area's relatively close to Costco to be an ideal location to start and open their own business. (Ann Arbor News) There are many differences between the way Wal-Mart and Costco works and what they provide to the community. To begin we will illustrate some benefits of Costco' entrance into a local town that is commonly known. As a wholesale store, Costco generates employees, from cashiers, stock associates, butchers, up to manager positions which provides job opportunities to the local area. In Pittsfield, the newly arrived Costco hired 180 employees out of the 1000 applicants, most which were locals. (annarbor) Costco indeed provides items at a cheaper price for the customers. This even applies to the top of the line brand's such as Sony, Samsung, Toshiba and more. Costco provides Kirkland brand items, an alternative brand, at an even lower price. Rewards programs are provided for purchases made inside the whole store. These are a few things that Costco provides that Wal-Mart does not. In that case why wouldn't Costco run people out of business as it enters a new town. The major reason would be Block Pricing, the packaging of units sold as one package instead of being sold individually.

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