Warren Buffett's partner Charlie Munger has emphasized a principle for most of his life: discipline, patience, and smart decision-making. But few topics can make his eyes light up like Costco. In his last long interview, Munger explained in detail why this warehouse retail giant has become one of his favorite business cases. He believes that Costco's operating model embodies true business wisdom — through extremely strict cost control, a relentless pursuit of member value, and a long-term perspective, it has built an insurmountable competitive barrier. This way of thinking is worth deep reflection for every investor: the most profitable businesses often come from the simplest logic.
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CodeSmellHunter
· 12h ago
Munger is really confused by Costco's logic. To put it simply, they treat members as gods and costs as enemies. The simplest logic is indeed the easiest to overlook. Everyone is thinking about flashy growth, but little do they know, they have already lost.
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OnchainUndercover
· 12h ago
Honestly, how many companies has old Munger seen in his lifetime? In the end, he was still convinced by Costco... Doesn't this just demonstrate what "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" means?
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Selling cheap goods to make big money? Sounds easy, but few companies can stick to this logic.
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Membership system + strict cost control, indeed hard to replicate... Who else dares to do business so plainly now?
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The simplest logic is the most profitable, but most people just want to take shortcuts, which is probably why they can never make big money.
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I respect Costco's model; it’s about truly trusting customers and trusting in the long term... How many VCs can really hold onto this?
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It must be said, pure business logic can sometimes be the most brutal, much more reliable than those flashy fundraising stories.
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SillyWhale
· 12h ago
Honestly, Costco's strategy is truly solid. By sticking to straightforward cost control and focusing on member experience without gimmicks, they have actually left everyone else behind.
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governance_lurker
· 12h ago
Munger really got beaten by Costco's logic... Basically turning "stinginess" into an art form, haha.
Damn, it seems he wasn't just talking nonsense back then. Long-termism sounds simple, but how difficult is it to actually execute?
That's why Buffett can outperform 90% of fund managers; he's surrounded by people with clear-headed thinking.
Warren Buffett's partner Charlie Munger has emphasized a principle for most of his life: discipline, patience, and smart decision-making. But few topics can make his eyes light up like Costco. In his last long interview, Munger explained in detail why this warehouse retail giant has become one of his favorite business cases. He believes that Costco's operating model embodies true business wisdom — through extremely strict cost control, a relentless pursuit of member value, and a long-term perspective, it has built an insurmountable competitive barrier. This way of thinking is worth deep reflection for every investor: the most profitable businesses often come from the simplest logic.