Costco shoppers across the US have expressed mixed opinions about the retailer’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid a broader corporate trend of scaling back such programs, FOX News reports.
Some customers believe that Costco should prioritize lowering prices over maintaining DEI initiatives.
“The price of groceries—yeah, too much. Too much. Are you kidding me? I mean, I’m working. I have a little pension, and I still can’t make ends meet,” a shopper in Harlem, New York, told Fox News Digital.
Robert from Madison Heights, Michigan, criticized DEI policies, stating:
“Baloney, to be honest with you. I think they should get rid of it. Puts people in there that aren’t qualified to do the job that they’re hired for.”
Clara from Tomball, Texas, and Laura, also a Texas resident, echoed this sentiment, advocating for merit-based hiring.
However, not all shoppers were critical of Costco’s DEI efforts. John, a Texas customer, expressed strong support for the initiatives.
“I think they need to include everybody. That’s where this planet is going. It’s truly about the whole and not the few,” he said.
Another shopper from Madison Heights emphasized the value of hiring practices aligned with DEI goals, stating:
“I would say DEI because the person is more important.”
Costco’s stance on DEI aligns with the company’s recent decision to reject an anti-DEI proposal brought forth by the activist group National Center for Public Policy Research. This move comes as companies like Facebook, McDonald’s, Walmart, and Harley-Davidson have rolled back their DEI programs following public backlash.
One shopper, who chose to remain anonymous, emphasized the historical importance of DEI initiatives.
“I think there’s a lot of ignorance out there. I really do. We have a history of just being discriminatory in this country, and I don’t think it improves anybody’s life if you don’t support programs like that,” he said.
