We buy prime merchandise up front at the beginning of the season and charge a lower price, well under the department store, from the start.

The operation also paid people to buy merchandise with the cards.

What is more, one-third of gasoline customers also buy merchandise, the company says.

"The public is out there buying merchandise, and that means they want to be identified with what we're doing."

"And here you can buy merchandise by the each," medical talk for buying something like a wound pad one at a time.

But we would prefer people buy merchandise through our stores.

Does that mean I get to buy merchandise and view the corpse?

"If they have the cash flow available, they'll buy merchandise."

Audience members bought merchandise, though according to the group this felt more like an "empty gesture."

"They'll be coming east in the spring to buy merchandise."