Costco has a reputation for stacking ’em high and selling ’em cheap. From toilet rolls to bread rolls, the warehouse store has built its reputation on providing its customers with the basics of modern life at rock-bottom prices.
But on Wednesday the United States company, which has branches in Britain, did something to shake off its utilitarian image: it sold an original Picasso drawing for $39 999.
The childlike crayon rendering of a smiley face signed by the artist and dated November 29 1970 was offered on the fine art section of the store’s website a week ago.
The buyer of fine art at Cosco faces none of the drudgery of going to an auction house and bidding.
Nor is there the tension of online auctions, where closed bids are lodged against a deadline.
On Wednesday an unidentified buyer simply clicked on the ”add to cart” button, entered credit card details, chose the delivery options (shipping and handling included, delivery not available to Alaska or Hawaii) and sat back before the computer, the happy owner of an original Picasso.
And the buyer can rest assured that, like the rest of the panoply of products offered by Costco, the Picasso can be returned to any one of its branches if it does not give satisfaction.
Even if the buyer has lost the receipt, the company will make a full refund.
”We do the same typical Costco guarantee that the artwork is in good condition, that it is authentic, and for any reason whatsoever, a buyer may return it with no questions asked,” a company executive, Ginnie Roeglin, told the Los Angeles Times. – Guardian Unlimited Â