Anyway, this is about Coke at Costco, not a show that “celebrates the beauty and sensuality of women”.  (That post comes later).

Coke is back at Costco, which is old news (always behind the times, I’d written about this little spat here and here).  The Coke products are more expensive than equivalent Pepsi products, but not by much.  So who won the battle?  Who knows, who cares.  It was a stupid fight to begin with (though I had to side with Coke). What I found noteworthy is the presence of Mexican Coca-Cola.

"Coke de Mexico" - it's like I'm back in California!

See?

Viva la raza, baby - it's the real thing!

I struck me as odd to find mexican Coke (not to be confused with mexican coke) in Costo.  Sure, there’s a decent sized hispanic population around here (Baltimore suburbs) but this is Maryland.  I’d be less surprised if I found Coke for sale in mason jars.

The magical Internet came to my rescue.  Apparently this is the Coke to drink because it’s sweetened with sugar and not high fructose corn syrup.  Double bonus – it comes in glass bottles.  You know it’s good if the New York Times wrote about it.

I was excited that Pepsi came out with their “throwback” formulation, also with real sugar…and I don’t like Pepsi (I gave it up after ODing on it in high school…same reason I don’t drink Budweiser, well, that and I’ve developed taste). 

Real sugary Coke in glass…well, smack my ass and call me Sally.  I’m buying me some of this love in a bottle.

I’ll have to keep it at work so my wife doesn’t find out…I’ve put on a couple (ahem) pounds over the last few months and she’s nagging me about it.  She’d probably be happier if I started using coke instead…until she saw my credit card statement. 

Wait, do drug dealers even take credit cards?

Crap, I haven’t had cash since my kids started buying school lunches.  I guess mexican Coca-Cola it is then.

I know that dealer takes credit cards…

What do you do when two people you love go their separate ways?  You split time between them.  Even if they’re both being buttheads.

Dramatic recreation of the tense Costco-Coca Cola negotiations.

It’s going to be like that with Costco and Coca-Cola, apparently.  Costco is probably my favorite store (#1 if spending is the yardstick), Coke (Zero) my favorite soda.  I went in looking to score a bulk purchase of Caffeine-Free Diet Coke (pleh) for my bride today and couldn’t find any Coke products, except in the food court.  One of the managerial types at the front end informed me that Costco isn’t carrying Coke any longer.  Coke was charging more than Costco wanted to pay.

I understand why Costco only takes American Express cards…the rates and fees levied by Mastercard and Visa are higher than Costco wants to pay and that’s not something that can be passed on to the consumer.  But to drop the #1 soda?  Geez, just raise the price.  So Coke is more expensive than Pepsi, who cares?  It’s still going to be cheaper than the grocery store.

I know, stupid rant.  Sometimes it’s the little things that matter.  Economy?  Health care?  Brother dies?  Eh, whatevs.  But no Coke at Costco?!?  Shit, I’d better write about that! 

My shallowness amazes even me, though it shouldn’t.  My next post plumbs the, uh, shallows of my character even further.

n.b.  I have not surveyed all Costcos…the above is true only for my local stores.  Please don’t write me to say your Costco carries Coke products.  Thank you.