After seeing over 50 recent complaints about costco here at CB, I see that I am not the only long term, soon-to-be-ex-Customer who costco tramples on. I have been an executive member since 1996. Years ago, costco actually CARED about the Customers who keep them open. That is obviously over for good! The warehouse in Jacksonville, FL has management who are astounding rude.

This year, I bought several bags of the kirkland fruit and nut mix, (which has increased in price over 30% in the past 2 years). I would eat this once in awhile. Oddly, on some days this year, I would be stricken with stomach cramps and severe diarrhea, and have to hit the bathroom 10-12 times per day. I could not figure out why I was getting an intermittent diarrhea problem all year. So I started keeping a "food diary."

One day after eating this trail mix, I had the severe runs and cramps again. I looked at my diary and saw that I had eaten the trail mix the night before. I waited a week, and ate it again. You guessed it! I had severe cramps and diarrhea all the next day with over 11 trips to the bathroom. I looked at the ingredients and saw that costco puts sulfur dioxide in their dry fruits as a preservative. Here is what the noted Cleveland Clinic says about that:

>>>"Many dried fruits, unless they are organic, are preserved with sulfites or sulfur dioxide, a gas that prevents discoloration and growth of mold and other microorganisms. Yet sulfur dioxide may cause diarrhea and respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing and asthma, in sulfite sensitive people, according to the Cleveland Clinic."<<< Read more: http://www.livestrong[dot]com/article/331212-what-fruits-cause-diarrhea/#ixzz1Qt5XUwSE

So today, I returned the open bags I had to the jerks at costco. I told them of the severe cramps and diarrhea problem the kirkland mix had caused me on over 8 occasions this year. They then refused to refund a bag of the "DIARRHEA mix" because it expired 6 weeks ago. I explained I only come to the store every few months, as I live over 50 miles away, one -way. I explained that the bag was NOT expired the last time I had been to costco. I also said because of other negative experiences with the so-called Customer service desk at the Jacksonville store, I only spend a fourth of what I used to spend at costco now.

Only when I demanded to see a manager, did I get my $12.00 back for the Kirkland "DIARRHEA Mix." I had to ask for an apology. This embarrassing ordeal lasted for 15 minutes. I should have just contacted a personal injury lawyer for having over 8 episodes of severe cramps and diarrhea this year.

Bottom line, I am DONE with costco! Their prices save very you very little. I spend over $100 + $150 in gas just to drive there and back 6 times a year = total annual cost of $250.00. I can get better deals on food at Publix or winn dixie. Other stuff, I get get online. Between their high prices and obvious COMPANY-WIDE SHI**Y "SERVICE, " they have pissed me off for the last time!

costco - C-Y-A!!!

BTW - costco trolls who obviously post responses here - go eat some kirkland DIARRHEA mix, will ya?