Costco has a business plan that lets the customer in on their economy of scale, since they can buy a zillion cases of everything. You just have to be careful not to make yourself their warehouse by overstocking on their wholesale quantities. Another of their "things" is not offering too many choices, just one or two good deals per category. Otherwise, they feel, the customer just gets undecided and doesn't buy anything. They may not be right about everything, but they certainly make it pay, and have many good deals. Their cognac, malt, and port sound delicious ... making me thirsty. I too am in North Carolina. The ABC stores here ... that's another story.