13 Things You Might Not Know About Costco

#1 They Once Had To Recall A Punching Bag Filled With Dirty Underwear

Through a manufacturing hiccup that may never be fully understood, Costco was forced to send out aÂ public recall noticeÂ after discovering punching bags made by TKO, Inc. were filled with dirty men's and women's underwear instead of sand. In 2007, FoxÂ reportedÂ that a Cincinnati family was distraught to find thongs, bathing suits, and bras inside of their new purchase. Anyone who bought the bag got a replacement and a shipping label to send the laundry back. Â

#2 They Consider Shopping To Be A “Treasure Hunt”

Costco's floor plan may seem haphazard, but like most things in retail it's been very carefully designed to maximize business. The companyÂ regularly relocatesÂ necessities like toiletries, light bulbs, and other frequently-replenished items so the customer has to begin a searchor "treasure hunt"for them. The strategy exposes shoppers to new areas of the store, and their wallets to new trauma.

#3 They Sell More Cars Than (almost) Anyone

CostcoÂ movedÂ nearly 400,000 cars in 2014, making it the nation'sÂ second-largestÂ car dealerbut they don't actually get a portion of the sale. In another attempt to provide value for membership fees, the company negotiates directly with a dealer for a set price, then acts as an intermediary for the customer. Â

#4 They’re Messing With Your Brain

Brainwashing is an unadvertised membership perk. Costco often stocks a variety of large-ticket itemsexpensive handbags,Â entire barrelsÂ of Jack Daniel's Whiskeynot necessarily because they expect to move those items, but becauseÂ retailers knowÂ that the desire and excitement they cause releases dopamine. Now you're shopping in a pleasure state and are more likely to splurge on items that grumpy and budget-conscious people avoid.

#5 They’ve Upset Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt has called upon Costco to stop selling eggs produced from cage-raised hens. In July, Pitt wrote to CEO Craig Jelinek,Â asking himÂ to set a timetable for a company overhaul of its bird policy. "Many major corporations, from Burger King to Unilever, are getting rid of cages," Pitt wrote, apparently hoping the shame of being less animal-conscious than Burger King would motivate them to action.

#6 Airport Security Will Accept A Costco Card.

With the Transportation Security Administration's strict security measures, you'd think a government-issued ID would be the only way you're getting through a checkpoint. But KPIX 5 in San FranciscoÂ discoveredÂ the TSA will accept everything from utility bills to Costco cards as proof of identity. The catch: you're more likely to get a pat down or a swab test than if you used your driver's license.

#7 You Don’t Actually Need A Costco Membership To Shop There.

Big-box stores like Costco and Sam's Club are able to offer low prices because of massive purchasing orders and profits that are subsidized by member fees. No membership card? No 12-gallon drums of mayo for you. But there is one loophole: If you know a member, they can purchase a Costco Cash (i.e. gift) Card on your behalf, which you can use at your leisure. Costco policyÂ statesÂ you don't need to be a member in order to use this payment method, but your success may be store-dependent: some employees get aÂ little irateÂ when you can't produce your membership card at the door.

#8 They Once Labeled The Bible As “Fiction.”

A Simi Valley pastor incited a minor Twitter flare-up in November 2013 when he was browsing in a Costco andÂ noticedÂ their copies of the Bible were labeled "fiction." The company deemed it a labeling error, and there is some corroboratingÂ evidence that points to a wider trend: the following month, a "memoir" from fictional, imbecilic newscaster Ron Burgundy wasÂ filed under "non-fiction."

#9 The Rotisserie Chicken Has Its Own Fan Page

The company moves 157,000 wholeÂ birdsÂ every single day,Â estimatingÂ they lose $30 to $40 million a year by sticking to a $4.99 price point in order to keep members happy and foot traffic high. DevoteesÂ tradeÂ recipe ideas for the chicken on a Facebook fan page. Â

#10 A Couple Got Married In The Frozen Foods Section

It's the day every bride dreams of: walking down the frozen foods aisle to meet her groom. Robert and Meredith Bonilla were married atop a pallet at a Santa Maria, California Costco in December 2014, a year after meeting at the store. Management gave themÂ permissionÂ to hold the ceremony after operating hours.

#11 They Have Horse And Buggy Parking For The Amish.

In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, anyway. The county is home to a large population of Amish, so the company decided to construct a livestock parking stall as a courtesy. There's a rail to tie the horses to, and a roof shields them from inclement weather. Per theÂ Addicted to CostcoÂ blog, the reserved space leaves an unanswered question: which lucky employee gets to clean up after the horses? Â

#12 They’re Secretly One Of The Biggest Pizza Chains Around

Because pizza is only one component of Costco's food service, it doesn't really qualify as a pizza franchise. Bend the definition a little bit, though, and they could make a strong case for industry dominance. WithÂ nearlyÂ 500 stores, they'reÂ amongÂ the top 20 footprints of pizza chains in the country. To keep up with demand, their stores are usually equipped with automated sauce spinners.

#13 They have everything you need for a funeral

Just because you're dead doesn't mean the savings have to stop. The retailer offers anÂ entire arrayÂ of funeral necessities, including caskets, urns, and flowers. The coffins are shipped directly to the mortuary of choice. For the easily confused, CostcoÂ remindsÂ members that they are not a licensed funeral home and "may not offer or perform funeral services." Yet.