The last 100 years or so have brought about some pretty incredible changes.
Modern medicine, air travel, computers, and cars have all revolutionized commerce and communication. Suddenly, the human experience is much more information-intensive and, in many cases, much richer than it may have been just a century ago.
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And while wandering through a giant warehouse on your Saturday, scoping out the best deals and samples for hours on end may not seem like a major innovation, Costco (COST) customers may feel differently.
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Costco has a passionate fanbase, and if you've ever set foot in one of those sprawling warehouses you may understand why. The entire store is designed more as an experience than just some humdrum retailer. Take a walk through your local Costco and you may find kayaks, blue jeans, diamonds, liquor, electronics, organic produce, wagyu beef, and over seven pound-chocolate cakes.
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Costco also sells a majority of its goods in bulk, so if you're looking for 380 sheet roll toilet paper or five dozen eggs, consider your wish Costco's command.
Image source: Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Costco shoppers are devoted fans
It's easy to understand why many Costco shoppers consider themselves more devotees than casual perusers. For many, a weekend well spent is a weekend going to Costco.
For instance, Costco's private label brand, Kirkland, is one of its most valuable assets. The generic brand brought in about $56 million in revenue for fiscal year 2023, which accounts for about 23% of Costco's business.
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That also makes it a more valuable brand than Nike and Coca Cola by revenue. And since Kirkland is known for undercutting competitor pricing — and maintaining top tier quality — it's pretty understandable that customers get excited about new Kirkland product drops.
Costco shoppers split over new product
One category that Costco continually dominates year after year is its liquor label. Costco is the one of the world's top liquor retailer, and many customers claim Kirkland's wines and hard liquors are some of the best available (for reasonable prices).
And Costco just dropped a new product, called Kirkland Vodka + Soda, which many customers say is similar to High Noon's Real Vodka + Juice canned beverages.
The product contains 18 cans filled with 12 ounces of spiked soda. Each contains about 4.5% ABV and just 100 calories per can. A pack costs $24.99.
And customers are just now getting their hands on them, with a wide assortment of opinions.
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"I love these...Better than High Noons imo. Taste is good but not overpowering," one Reddit user wrote on the Costco subreddit.
"Only flavor I'd be interested in is Pineapple. Not gonna buy a whole case just to only drink a third of it," another wrote.
"The flavors are great, but it is the least carbonated “soda water” my wife and I have ever tried," one commenter wrote.
"Ugh I don't know about anybody else but I hate these variety packs because there's always one trash flavor that gets thrown out of given away. Stop putting watermelon in everything! It's the worst flavor!" another suggested.
"Looks like a high noon! Very excited to try!" one wrote.
"Can't wait for this to hit my local Costco," another commenter wrote. "I get bad headaches from the seltzers made with cheaper alcohols and the High Noon vodka packs are expensive."
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