On Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 12:15:49 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Fri, 2 Dec 2016 17:29:08 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Friday, December 2, 2016 at 8:09:13 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Fri, 2 Dec 2016 12:36:05 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Friday, December 2, 2016 at 3:31:56 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Fri, 2 Dec 2016 15:04:14 -0500, "Percival P. Cassidy"
wrote:

On 12/01/2016 03:55 PM, wrote:

Why don't they have an express line at the food counter for people who
actually bought something from the store. I was standing there with
$850 worth of stuff in my cart and there were 30 people in the food
line, most who just walked straight in off the street, for a cheap
lunch. I just left hungry.

The 30 people "who just walked straight in off the street" might have
been planning to have lunch *before* doing their major shopping.

Perce

No it is a steady stream. I know because my father in law is one of
those people. These folks start at McDonalds for senior coffee, lunch
at the price club and then catch the early bird for dinner.,
They do not even make sure these people are paid up members at Sams or
Costco. If you have a 20 year old card with someone else's name on it,
you can get in and you do not show your card at the food court.
I think you could waive your AARP card and they would let you in.

We should build a wall and have BJ's pay for it. ;-)

The funny thing about that is they all have a wall in front of the
registers in the store. If you don't scan a valid card, you can't buy
anything except the cheap food they will sell people without a card.

A wall? What kind of wall?

BJ's has no wall. Anyone can enter the store and browse. You just can't
check out without a card.

The "food court" at the front of the store requires no card.

It sounds like a flawed business plan to me.

I don't know how "flawed" the business plan is. How many people actually
go to a wholesale club just to eat? Even if lots of people do, I'm sure
the profit margin is high enough for it not to be a problem (for them).
In addition, if they get just a few of them to join, they are that much
farther ahead.

You have to assume that if they are selling hot food at the food court
for barely more than it costs in the store raw, it is supposed to be a
service for the paying customers.

I would not make the leap that it is a "service" for paying customers.
If it was, then they would require a card like they do for the raw food.

The mere fact that they don't require a card means that it is open to the
general public.

Based on your assumption, would it be your assertion that if card holders
don't buy anything from the main store on any given day they shouldn't be
allowed to buy food on that day either?

If that is not your assertion (and I'm not saying that it is) then aren't
we back to it being a member vs. non-member issue? IOW, if you, as a "paying
customer" by virtue of having paid for your membership should be allowed
to buy food at any time, then that puts it into the "services offered to the
members only" category, which obviously the store has chosen not to do.

I'm not sure that reads the way I mean it...

Basically, it's gets down to whether or not members should be the only ones
allowed to use the food counter. Since the store does not require a card for
food purchases, then it seems like they don't consider it as anything other
than a "general use food court" or maybe a loss-leader to attract new
members.