Q: does Costco sell pregnancy tests?
A: sometimes, but not in bulk or at wholesale prices
As many of you know, the home pregnancy tests available in most stores are needlessly and ridiculously expensive. So as someone who buys pregnancy tests and loves a deal, I decided to check out Costco’s prices (in person and online). But it turns out there weren’t any prices. Because they don’t seem to carry pregnancy tests. Note: it appears that some locations do carry one or two-packs in the pharmacy section at a comparable price to drug stores. But I can’t find any indication that they sell tests in greater quantities or at better prices than other retailers.
You might be thinking “???”. I was too. So I went down the following list of possible reasons why:
Incompetence. Because tbh it doesn’t seem like a great business decision given the estimated 20 million home pregnancy tests that are taken each year in the US.
A general lack of consideration for sexual health needs. But wait - they sell condoms.
A general lack of consideration for family needs. Hmm, but they sell diapers.
Is there some kind of pregnancy test lobby?
It’s probably some combination of these things. And of course, this is nothing new. We already know about the “pink tax” (ew) - which describes the tendency for products marketed to women to cost more than similar products marketed to men (the price discrepancy in men’s razors vs. women’s razors is a great example of this). But there’s also the moralizing undercurrent that surrounds reproductive health/choices that says:
“Why are you taking so many pregnancy tests? And why would you need to buy them at wholesale prices? You know you can just go to CVS and pay $4.60 for each test, right? Yes obviously that price is for the generic brand that is only available in a multi-pack.”
Which indicates a lack of understanding or care for when, why, and how often people take pregnancy tests - when trying to conceive, when trying not to conceive, when anxious, when scared, when hopeful, and on and on.
And yes, I know I can find bulk test strips elsewhere. But it’s the principle of it. If I can buy bulk prenatal vitamins, branded sweatpants, and a giant clamshell of croissants conveniently and for excellent prices, I should be able to buy pregnancy tests. If I want to take a pregnancy test every day for my entire fertility lifetime, that’s my business. And it’s something my Costco membership could and should help me with. So where’s the Kirkland brand tests?
some notable (and less notable) things
Shout Your Abortion opened the first Shout Shop in Seattle! It’s full of pro-abortion merch, and they’ll also be hosting pro-abortion events/craft parties.
I’ve been watching these Youtube videos of someone cooking as they might’ve in the 1820’s and cannot recommend it enough for relaxation and curiosity purposes. There’s no talking!
My first vegan recipe: Lemon Raspberry Cake! <3
This reminder:
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserDon’t forget to check out/add to the A Little Something Sweet readers cute pet thread!
This weird lie:
sure Todd I’ll be meandering my way from Santa Cruz to Portland in a couple of weeks and I’d love to sign some copies of my cookbook Baking by Feel along the way. If you’d like me to stop at your fave bookstore, let me know in the comments!
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a (snack) recipe
fancy peaches
This is a snack I made up that tastes almost exactly like peach pie, with none of the effort of peach pie. It’s super quick, easy, and yummy!
ingredients
1 large container jarred sliced peaches in light syrup
2-3 shakes (idk, like 1/8 teaspoon?) cinnamon
1 vanilla bean
the how to
First: eat a couple of the peach slices so you have a little bit of room at the top. Add your cinnamon and vanilla bean directly into the jar. Put the lid on and shake to distribute. Store in the fridge and eat throughout the week.
notes: You can use canned peaches if you can’t find jarred, just transfer them into a resealable container and then proceed. I suspect you can use a cinnamon stick for the same effect as the ground cinnamon.
weekly abortion affirmation
No matter what happens, we will always help each other get the abortion care we deserve.
oh, and:
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baking tip of the week
You can make aquafaba using beans other than chickpeas! I used the liquid from cannellini beans for my vegan raspberry swiss buttercream recipe with great success.
my current fave pic of Otie
xoxo,
your favorite becca
things that permanently live at the bottom of my posts:
Submit your secrets/sparkly moments here.
If you need help accessing abortion care, click here or here.
Grab a copy of my choose-your-own-adventure cookbook, Baking by Feel, here!
This is why I get the dollar store tests. They're exactly the same as the cheap, generic tests but significantly cheaper. I can confirm they are also accurate.