costco impact felt today, page-4

People have bigger houses with far greater storage (including refridgerated storage) than ever before. Most would like to have the majority of the months shopping out of way in one hit. I live in Merimbula, so you are right, for rural Oz the impact will be minimal. We travel to Canberra fortnightly, and whilst there buy the fortnights fruit and veg from the markets. If you put just one Costco in Canberra it would service the whole of the ACT and its surrounds (and you'd be surprised how far people travel to shop in Canberra). Twenty Costco's nationwide would service 90% of the population.
The way people shop has changed. People and smarter (and lazier). If you can buy most of what you need for the month for a $1000 at Costco, and you know it will cost you $1800-2500 at the local Coles/Woolies, consumers will set aside that arvo once a month and get it out of the way. Then back to party/party.
The only change in Coles/Woolies is handing over a bigger denomination note for a smaller bag of stuff and LESS change.
I think Costco are onto something (and when you pay your monthly fee you are locked in psychologically)....they will become the whale and Coles/Woolies will devolve to the corner store.