Tomorrow, June 17th will be my 23rd work anniversary for Costco Wholesale. Crazy, huh? That duration of work longevity and/or company loyalty is absolutely unheard of, outside the context of Costco.
I’ll be celebrating, (is that the correct term?) my 10th year in the warehouse environment while at my 3rd different building; Woodinville 747, Gilbert 481, Aurora Village 106.
The first 13 years were spent grinding away at Costco Travel. I almost wasn’t a Costco Employee 23 years ago!
In 2002 the world was still coping with the travel collateral damage created by the events on September 11, 2001.
I was furloughed by Metropolitan Travel after I spent 2-weeks tirelessly returning stranded clients (I was responsible for 4 to 5 corporate accounts) on September 28, 2001. It was Friday, and I’ll never forget that day.
It was the start of the longest I had experienced of not having a permanent job – it last 8 months, y’all. For those 8 months, I would bounce from job to job. All temporary, all paying the minimum wage. In fact, I would still collect unemployment checks because those job(s) wouldn’t exceed the threshold for receiving those! Charlene found a honest-to-goodness, tried-and-true, “want ad” for a travel agent to work for Costco. I didn’t believe, and I almost didn’t apply.
Considering the lack of options, I had to submit.
I remember receiving a message from a Devanie at Costco Travel, while I was working at Onvia, cold-calling construction businesses to sell them subscriptions to possible jobs. I hated it. I scheduled my interview right away.
On the day of the interview, I was a nervous wreck. I didn’t know much about selling cruises or land packages aside from Disneyland. In the waiting area, there was one other person. A female, blonde, blue eyes, and while beautiful, she was my competition. I didn’t know how many they were hiring.
After my initial interview with Devanie, she decided to advance me to the hiring manager, Lauren. I thought, “This is a positive sign!”
She escorted me back through a maze of cubicles, and moving boxes. Lauren was sitting at an executive desk of sorts. We exchanged polite pleasantries for an interviews, real surface words.
After a few questions, Lauren asked, “Why should we hire you, Carlos?”
“Great question, Lauren,” I cleared my throat. I’m gonna shoot my shot. “Tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. You hire me today. I will meet or exceed any daily sales record, or customer service satisfaction by the end of 90 days. If I don’t, I collect my last paycheck, turn my back to Costco Travel, and not say a disparaging word.”
“That said, though,” I clarified. “IF I do manage to do those tasks, then you’ve gotta promise to keep me.”
Her eyes widen to a big a pie pans. “Well, then, Mr. Bayne. That is a very bold and brazen deal. You seem very sincere about it, so I’ll accept your offer.” She extended her hand to seal the deal. I did so.
“Now then, there is the question of your start date. You will not have any vacation days, etc until 1 year from now, ” she mentioned. “And as you can see, we’re in the process of packing up to move to a different location. My offer to you is: do you want to be a Costco employee for 10 days here in Bellevue, then at the Issaquah location? Or do you wanna take the 10 days for yourself, and be ready to work 10 days from now at the Issaquah building?”
Without hesistation, I smiled, “I’ll take 10 days for myself, and be ready to work for you in Issaquah.”
First Day Fun
Remember when I agreed to take 10 days for myself? Yeah, well, I mentioned to my wife that this’ll be the last time for an entire year to take vacation. Where are we going?”
She decided Reno, NV of all places to kick it.
She booked the hotel, instead of flying there, it was cheaper to drive the 13-hours so we did that. We sat poolside, under an overcast / cloudy sky. Charlene suggested sunscreen, which I waved off, “I’m Filipino. I don’t need that.”
Such an arrogant statement.
I ended up with severe 2nd degree burns from my mid-thigh where the board shorts hit to the top of my foot. By the time my first day at Costco Travel, I was barely into the recovery process. Lidocaine was my newest best friend.
My trainer was a Quality Control Agent named Corrie. In a seemingly innocent gesture, she touched my thigh square on the burn, so I jumped up in pain. She was shocked, so I explained myself and apologized for startling her.
I excused myself for my first break. I spent 15-minutes in the men’s room stall with my khakis down to my ankles, a can of spray in my hands, that I would apply, wait for it to soothe my skin, and re-apply until my break was over.
I didn’t eat. I didn’t drink. I simply did this every moment I was given.
I would grind here at Costco Travel for another 13 years of loyalty. In the 13 years my roles varied from Inventory Control Specialist, Cruise Supervisor, Vacation Package Supervisor, Cruise Group Specialist, Cruise QC, and Cruise Reservationist.
However, on Black Friday, November 27, 2015, I clocked out for the last time at Costco Travel.
Woodinville 747 Costco
On Cyber Monday, November 30, 2015 was my first day at my first Costco warehouse: Woodinville 747. I was so amped! However, I wasn’t given a ton of direction so many of the tasks I assumed would be addressed later.
Costco Travel exists was a “virtual warehouse” as #806. So naturally, Woodinville payroll thought I was warehouse-to-warehouse transfer therefore didn’t need orientation. I arrived at 8am through the Receiving Door.
There was all sorts of commotion, people and equipment at this time of morning on the dock. I walked right down the concrete path which is later called the “racetrack“. I did this 3x before Trevor, the Floor Supervisor, approached me. Actually, more like STOPPED me.
“Hi, Carlos,” reading my name badge. “I’m Trevor.”
I smiled, and replied, “Good morning.” I stretched out my hand to hand shake.
“Have you worked for a warehouse before?” he pressed.
“Never. Not one day, er rather just these three days.” I answered.
He nodded, “We assumed from the warehouse number of 806 you were warehouse trained.”
I retorted, “Nope. No, sir. That’s a virtual warehouse location number so that Costco Payroll knows how to pay employees of Costco Travel. NOT to be confused with Corporate!”
“I see,” he continued, “Tomorrow and every morning forward, please follow the safety path so that you are not struck with a forklift, or electric pallet jack. Sound fair?”
“Message received,” I chirped. “In fact, I’ll start right now.”
I would work here for 9-years. FRONT END CASHIER from NOVEMBER 2015 – JANUARY 2017 , FRONT END SUPERVISOR JANUARY 2017 – SEPTEMBER 2018, MEMBERSHIP / REFUNDS SUPERVISOR SEPTEMBER 2018 – AUGUST 2019 , PHOTO CENTER SUPERVISOR AUGUST 2019 – FEBRUARY 2021, PHOTO CENTER SUPERVISOR AUGUST 2019 – FEBRUARY 2021, · MORNING MERCHANDISE SUPERVISOR FEBRUARY 2021 – APRIL 2022, PRODUCE SUPERVISOR | WOODINVILLE 747 | MAY 2022 – JUNE 2022, and lastly, NIGHTS MANAGER
At this point, I was merely existing. No ambition, no drive, and waiting to die. I decided that is no way to live this life I’ve been given. I looked at the map, knew where some friends are, and I set my sights on the state of Arizona!
Gilbert 481 Costco
SIGH. This is my 2nd transfer request, but it was projected to be my most difficult. Arizona is highly coveted area with many employees already with 20 plus years of seniority. Despite that, I refuse to say “No” for myself. And I followed the advice of the Costco Travel AGMM, Chris Hendrix, by having the advocacy of high level managers such as the AGM of Merchandise.
I was prepared for a protracted wait. I was prepared for a “NO”. I was prepared for a “HELL NAW, KICK ROCKS!”
Four days. FOUR DAYS! It was four days before my transfer request was accepted! I was stunned.
Apparently, at that time, and still at this time, the lack of drivers is systemic. So I had less than 28 days to pack a lifetime of items to move to another state.
I started work on March 22, 2023 as a Night Merch, Forklift Driver for Gilbert 481. I was re-certified by the resident forklift trainer on both the forklift and EPJ [Electronic Pallet Jack] I had a blast, as every night for 2 consecutive years was different!
My teammates were awesome, some even became friends outside of work. My leadership team wasn’t just managers, they were counselors, they were coaches, they were leaders.
Then? THEN … I met Jen.
Aurora Village 106
Six months into my relationship with Jen Welch, I knew I couldn’t live another day without her in my life. And honestly, I wanted to be next to her every day until I can’t … starting immediately. However, that decision raised an immediate question. (see what I did there?)
Who’s moving, and who’s moving where? Jen to Arizona, or Los back to Washington?
“Well,” I started. “Let’s follow the money since most decisions are predicated on the financial feasibility of it.” We started to figure out how to get Jen down here since I’ve already proven that I earn the same amount of money whether I’m in Washington or Arizona. (Thank you, Costco!)
To make a long story, very short, I moved back.
Thankfully, the systemic need for forklift drivers, especially at night, was still there. My transfer request to my preferred warehouse (Aurora Village 106) due to it’s proximity of where I would be living with Jen was accepted in 1-day.
After moving up with WCP (my sister), we arrived on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The next day I received a voicemail from the Admin Manager, Erin B, that I’ll be starting work on Monday, April 28, 2025.
WHAT! That was NOT the plan.
Most of the time, the plan detonates, and for the better. After 2 months of a Monday-Friday workweek, I am happier than ever. I emulate Jen’s workweek which means our weekends are truly our weekends.
The other Night Merch stockers (generally about 20 years my junior) started calling me Mr. 23. They are eluded to my almost 23 years of Costco Experience! But another pun layer is this: Michael Jordan, arguably the G.O.A.T. of the NBA wore the number 23.
Tanner mentioned that while I’m not goated, as far as the sample set concerned, I am the designated G.O.A.T. … for now. I smiled, “I can live with that. Let’s FAWKING go.”
Hopefully, as Captain Costco, I don’t have yet another 23 years to retirement.
los, Fil-Am Renaissance Man 