H likes to buy clothes at Costco. He’s not a big shopper and hates going into department stores, so he likes to get clothes at Costco when he’s already there buying other stuff. I buy socks for S there as well and I’ve gotten stuff for myself.
We like the samples at Costco too. But, I would never go to a Costco just to have free samples and not buy anything. I only try the free samples if I’m already there buying something. My mother would be appalled at people who only go to stores to eat the free samples, I guess I inherited that from her! I’d let my kids try some when they were younger and we were at Costco, but I wouldn’t let them take 3 helpings…
My stepfather loves the big containers of Kirkland mixed nuts. There’s always a container on the top of his fridge!
I returned a backup drive that failed. Didn’t think it was very old but when they looked it up it was over 6 years old. Oops. Pretty sure the cashier rolled her eyes at me, but did give me the refund. When I bought it, the guy helping in the computer section said it wasn’t part of the computer/tv restricted return policy, they do eventually fail and just bring it back.
I saw someone return a very beat-up foam surfboard that was so old that it wasn’t in their system. They did take it back with a refund from the closest similar item they could find. Everyone behind the counter was grumbling about that return.
What I especially like about returning stuff to Costco is that you don’t have to keep the receipts–there’s a record of your purchases that they see when they scan your card. As a one-person household I go once a month or so and just keep stuff in a bag to return as necessary. I buy a lot of clothes at Costco and it’s so easy. When I find something I really like that fits well, like leggings or sweats or jeans, I sometimes order more of the same item online.
Our Costco is in a ‘challenged’ area. Homeless shelters are a few blocks away, and those who don’t like the shelters hang out on the street lining the Costco parking lot. This is the only Costco which I have visited which has very, very limited samples and even then during limited hours of the day. Never before 2:00 p.m. I think some locations get inundated with freeloaders.
I think Costco, like TJ’s can easily become a place where certain folks look for freebies - at least neither of them has the obnoxious petition signers blocking your entrance. It wasn’t big issue at Costco but TJ’s had to take legal action.
" I think some locations get inundated with freeloaders."
My Costco checks membership cards at the front door.
Every Costco is inundated with freeloaders, it’s just that in most places the freeloaders aren’t homeless, they’re just general members. I know I’m in the minority here but I’d be thrilled if they completely eliminated free samples. Why everybody is willing to endure the massive human roadblocks and virtual hand to hand combat required to even get around the sample stands for a dime sized bite of food is beyond me. It’s bad enough living in a community with a disproportionately large share of retirees who have no time pressures and view every shopping excursion as an “entertainment” outing so feel no need to get out of any store in less than two hours, but adding free samples to the mix just adds to the misery for those of us who just want to get in, grab our groceries and get the heck out.
They all check membership at the front door but you can still go in if you want to. You can get a one day pass at the front, or you can tell them you are just going to the pharmacy or eye doctor.
At least in CA if you say you are going to the pharmacy or to the independent ophthalmologist they have to let you in without a membership. Amazing how many of our homeless get eye checks and legal prescriptions on a daily basis.
OTOH, the SF location refused to let my son without a membership card. Period, end of statement. I think they are just fed up.
I absolutely love their coffee beans from Rwanda. I am no coffee expert but I would say the coffee has a hint of chocolate flavor. As its a specialty item, they only have it in stock a few times a year. I always get two bags when they’re available though I should probably pick up more.
I second the fuel at Costco. It is a huge savings compared to my local Shell/BP/etc,
I"m fine with the samples at Costco and enjoy having a couple when I’m shopping (though I pick and choose) and it has introduced me to some new products which I like. What drives me batty is how people become oblivious to other shoppers - or even people wanting to choose a sample - they stand with their enormous cart blocking the sample stand and the area around it so people can’t get by. It’s usually pretty clear who IS there to scour every sample.
And your son couldn’t figure out how to get past the top notch security at the door? A guy with a clicker?
Half the time I just wave any card at them and walk in.
I have the membership to both Sam’s Club and Costco, and although I like to shop at Costco more than Sam’s, I wish that Costco emulates what Sam’s does well: 1) anyone can walk in without having to flash the card; 2) wi-fi availability; 3) self-check out stations; and 4) self-check out using the cell-phone app. I was at Costco yesterday, and I immediately missed all these four areas of convenience.
Costco, at least the one closest to my house, just started self-checkouts in the last week.
@ProfessorPlum168
That’s a good news. It means the rest of the chain will implement the self-check out system soon. We have two local Costcos and neither has it, yet. What’s even better, though, is the cell phone self-check out. Literally, no waiting in the line.
My Costco (Colo) has had self check out for over a year. It is not faster. I really do not like it at all.
Along those same lines, self-service payments for the Food Court has been in effect at a couple of the Costco’s that I frequent since the beginning of the year. I feel that the operation could be made a bit more efficient if there were a way to do automated soda cup dispensing upon purchase. That would save time for everyone. Or just have hotdogs already ready - no reason why one should need to wait for a hotdog.
We were at Costco yesterday (on vacation in Hawaii, so not our local store) to pick up more of the Kirkland bottled water (48-16 oz ones) and they were all out. As we were getting in the checkout line, we saw the workers wheeling in pallets of the water (at least 4 or 5 pallets with the water stacked up on them).
We thought they were bringing in/restocking the water, so asked if we could grab 2 cases and the employees said to take as many as we wanted. Then we heard someone say that this was all water being returned - someone had bought too much for 4th of July! If this was the amount that they were returning, I can’t imagine how much they must have bought!!
In hindsight, that makes sense as they wouldn’t be bringing in new stock from the front of the store. But thinking about it now, I am surprised that they would be able to resell bottled water that was returned. I know that they can’t resell food, even if the package has never been opened. Shouldn’t that be the same for the bottled water?
Oh well, we’ve been drinking it and no ill effects yet. But if I had been thinking clearly, probably wouldn’t have bought it. Another anecdote to add to the “only in Costco” stories.
I’m confused. Why are people walking into Costco without a membership card and sneaking in? And why is that ok?