Costco is a pretty wondrous place. Each aisle is full of bulk wonders just waiting for customers to stop by and snag one or a hundred of them. While many people think that shopping at Costco requires a membership, this isn't strictly true. There are a wide variety of ways to gain access to Costco and its services. All it takes are a few simple tips and tricks—read on to find what they are!
Receive A Costco Gift Card At Shop Without A Membership
To buy items at Costco, there is a common misconception that you need a full-on membership to shop at the global chain. This isn't strictly true. If someone purchases a Costco gift card and gifts it to someone, the person who receives the card can use it at any Costco. All that person needs to do is flash their gift card to one of the Costco employees and they can waltz right in.
Then, they can purchase whatever they want as long as it is for the amount on the gift card. This is a good way to simply get what you need.
Always Keep An Eye Out For Sales, Even On Already Purchased Items
Unlike some stores, Costco does not have a price matching rule that they follow. That doesn't mean that a savvy shopper can't find ways to price match though. Keep an eye on all of the Costco flyers that come out that list the weekly deals. If you bought an item before it shows up as a weekly deal, you can return it and buy it again at the lower listed price.
This is particularly useful for pieces of furniture and other non-food items. Consider leaving furniture and clothing with their tags on for a few weeks to make sure you don't miss a deal.
The Pharmacy Is A Membership Free Zone For All Customers
Many people believe that a Costco membership is needed to access all of its services, and that includes the pharmacy. However, that isn't true when it comes to getting prescriptions filled. Anyone who would like to access Costco's pharmacy can do so. This is great because the pharmacy has very low dispensing fees in comparison to some of its competitors. It also offers generic brands of the same medications which can save a few dollars.
Due to the low dispensing fee, there is sometimes a longer wait time for prescriptions to be filled. Plan accordingly to avoid running out of medications before another prescription can be ready.
Recognize When Items Will Only Be Sold Once In Awhile
Not all of the items whether it is water toys or food will be restocked on a continual basis. Costco is always getting new stock in, that is what makes it so exciting to shop at. There is one way to know whether or not a restock will be coming for a beloved item, and it takes only minor sleuthing to discover. Take a look at the price tag, and examine it.
If there is a small asterisk on the price tag, that asterisk indicates that Costco will not be restocking that item anytime soon. Be sure to stock up if it's something you need.
The Best Discounted Selection Of Gift Cards Around Town
One area that often gets overlooked by Costco shoppers is the gift card section. Usually, there is an area near the book and magazine section that has a few walls of gift cards. Examine these gift cards closely. Most of the gift cards are for local restaurant chains, stores, and even online stores. Instead of having to pay full price, Costco tends to discount these cards starting at around 20 percent off.
Gift cards make great stocking stuffers, and with the holidays coming up, it might be a good idea to grab a few. It's also nice to use them at your favorite restaurants as it saves a few dollars.
Take Advantage Of Costco's Gas Prices Which Are Always Cheaper
Have you ever driven into the Costco parking lot and seen the long line of vehicles snaking out of the gas station? Those drivers know that it is one of the best places to get gas without paying an arm and a leg. However, there is always a line-up, which means shoppers need to be strategic about when they go to fill up their vehicles. The best time is before you even go shopping.
Most shoppers like to buy food that has to be refrigerated or kept in the freezer, and waiting in a long line to get gas can cause that food to melt.
There Is No Such Thing As Too Many Samples
One of the best parts about a trip to Costco is getting to try out all of the delicious samples that are offered. Some of the samples are fine cheeses, tropical juices, nuts, and even candy. There is no one sample only rule here. Anybody shopping up and down the aisles can come back and eat as many samples as they like, this is true for any sample on offer.
The next time you taste a sample of something you love, go back for a couple more and then consider purchasing the product. After all, that is the whole point of the samples.
When To Shop Before A Big Holiday Weekend To Beat The Crowds
As soon as the holiday season rolls around, all of the ornaments and holiday foods begin to dot the aisles. That means it is time for crowds of holiday shoppers to descend on Costco for the best deals. Shopping when it is busy can be a lengthy process, especially when it comes time to checking out. Avoid shopping on weekends, and consider going during the week while most people are working.
The best weekdays for shopping are Tuesday and Wednesday, specifically during the morning hours. Another good time is an hour before closing time, as most people are busy making dinner.
Don't Buy On Impulse, Always Go Deep Into The Aisles
Merchandising is big business, and all stores put the products they want to sell quickly at the end of aisles with big signs. The best deals tend to be the hidden ones, and with aisle after aisle to go down, a lot of shoppers tend to get tired after looking at all of the goods. This is a mistake. The best deals are the ones down the aisles, and they are waiting to be found.
Make sure you find the deal you need by dedicating time to going down every aisle and exploring the deals on offer before selecting what you want to buy.
Costco's Kirkland Brand May Be Discounted But Is Great Quality
Another misconception is that discount brands may not be as good quality as the name brand ones. Costco's Kirkland brand is known for producing high-quality goods and even using some of the same suppliers and manufacturers as the name brand ones. Kirkland produces great products like toilet paper, clothing, and all sorts of other things. Check out what Kirkland has to offer and compare it to the name brand items for sale.
The quality is likely the same, and with Kirkland, you may even get more of the product for less compared to other brands. Now that is some real savings.
A Carousel Of Products That Are Constantly Being Rearranged
The shopping experience is supposed to be an exciting one. Customers need to be enticed to buy certain products and find products they didn't even know they needed until they laid eyes on them. Costco continues to make the whole experience fun by rearranging where all of its stock is on a regular basis. One day, toilet paper might be next to the fruit section, and next week it could be by the soups.
You never know what you are going to find from week to week, which is what keeps customers coming back regularly. The changing of the seasons always ushers in new stock.
One Item Always Sold At Cost That Should Be Avoided
One of the marketing strategies that stores use is to sell popular items below cost. This draws customers in and gets them to purchase other items at cost that they need along the way. All of those soda displays at the front of grocery stores are there for a reason. They are sold at a loss, which is something that Costco does not do. All those flats of soda at Costco are not as economical as grocery stores.
If you need a flat of soda, give your business to a local grocery store that needs it. Not only will you give them some business, but you will also get a deal.
Check Out The Roadshows To Learn About New Products Available
Each week a Roadshow comes to a Costco, and the salespeople share the products from their companies. These roadshows have anything from European-made shoes to pierogies made with local ingredients. All of these products are something new and not carried by Costco regularly. In fact, sometimes these products are only unavailable at the roadshow and once gone won't be seen again. This gives Costco goers a rare opportunity to test out new products.
It also helps the businesses that have sent salespeople to raise awareness about their products, and increase sales. At the end of the day, companies have a sales quota to meet.
Avoid Getting Lost In Costco By Learning The General Layout
While the products might switch around, there is a general layout to Costco that makes it fairly easy to navigate. The front of the store always has the electronics section and the optometry center. From there, if you head to the back of the store, you will find the baked goods section, the meat, and the dairy. In the middle of the store, the clothing, books, and other odds and ends can be found.
The far side of the store from where electronics are usually holds the pharmacy, and the non-perishable items section like chips, cleaning supplies, and other boxed foods.
Cheap Eats And Cold Treats At The Costco Canteen
Those $1.50 hotdog and drink combos continue to be some of the best available in any locale. The cheap food that is sold at the canteen is cheap for a reason. Customers know that they can grab a quick and affordable meal whenever they need to. For families, they can enjoy some delicious fast food for much cheaper than other local fast food places. When families go shopping, kids know they'll get something yummy at the end.
For anyone shopping with kids, the promise of a hot dog or an ice cream is enough to have a somewhat quiet shopping experience.
Costco Jumped On This Odd Viral Trend To Increase Sales
The Tide Pod Challenge that blew up on social media was one of the oddest and most dangerous trends to circulate through social media challenges. As the challenge was happening, stores tried to put a stop to it by refusing to stock Tide Pods. Costco didn't do this. Instead, Costco rolled out all of their Tide Pod stock and promoted it with nice merchandising to increase sales during this craze.
This might not have been the best move public relations-wise, but if the aim was to move product then the ploy definitely worked.
What Bulk Food Items Are The Best Deal No Matter What
Many shoppers head to the produce aisles to stock up on their favorite fruits and veggies, but this isn't where the real deals are. It's the frozen food section and the non-perishable section where customers save real dollars. Produce sometimes goes bad before it can be eaten, but non-perishables last for years. Plus, a flat of soup cans can cost the same as one can at a regular grocery store.
Stock up on the main pantry items you need, and fill your freezer with frozen veggies and other foods that your family eats regularly. Your wallet will thank you.
Understand The Meaning Behind Each Price Tag Because It Says A Lot
Each price tag for an item has a meaning behind it. Sometimes it is the asterisk, other times it is the exact amount of cents added. For example, a product that is being sold with a .97 means that this product is now on the clearance inventory list. Products that have a .00 or a .88 also have a special meaning behind them. These numbers reflect that the product has been further discounted.
Usually, the discount has been added because the product is the last of kinds available, or because it is the floor model and has been sat on by countless customers.
No Hidden Stock Room Full Of Extra Items Not On Display
The structure of every Costco store in the world tells customers exactly what it is -- a warehouse store. What this means is that whenever stock comes in, it goes out onto the floor as there is no room to keep it sitting in the backroom. As soon as you see a product that you can't live without, seize the day and grab it before someone else does, otherwise, you might miss out.
Many of the products that come through Costco are one-time only purchases. This is always a good thing to keep in mind, should you need certain appliances or furniture.
Navigate Costco's Online Store For Access To Even More Stock
While every Costco store has thousands of products available right at every customer's fingertips, the Costco website's online shopping store has even more. You can find all sorts of items from coffins to nursery furniture. All it takes are a few searches, a couple of clicks, and you can order whatever you need. The best part is that Costco even offers free delivery to most jurisdictions making it easy to just stay at home.
If you don't have the time to hit the aisles and search for what you might need or want, just check out the online store and click order.
Security Is Everywhere For Any Shoplifters Thinking To Nab Something
Like all stores, Costco has a variety of security measures in place to avoid anything from being shoplifted. Some of these measures are the expected ones, like CCTV throughout the store, and receipt checkers at the exit. There is one more security measure that most shoppers don't know about though. Within each Costco, there is a trained group of security officers in plainclothes who appear to be casually shopping themselves.
These plainclothes security people are there to keep an eye on customers in an unobtrusive manner to see if anyone has sticky fingers while shopping.
Always Keep An Eye On Kids To Avoid Any Wandering Off
Kids love to explore. That naturally curious nature makes Costco a giant amusement park for them. Every corner has something new, like a forklift, a sample table, or even furniture to test out. The freezer section is also exciting but for a different reason. Sneaky kids can actually crawl inside of the freezers, and make their way to the very chilly stock room which is behind some of the displays.
Make sure kids stay closeby by checking out all of the attractions with them, even if it means eating one too many of the same samples.
Sometimes The Legal Drinking Age Gets A Bit Confused
In America, the legal drinking age is 21, which means anyone who wants to buy alcohol at Costco needs to show proof that they are of age. One enterprising Costco employee wanted to make it easier for employees to determine if someone is old enough by placing this sticker by the cashiers. Unfortunately, if you read it, it actually says the exact opposite of what it should say. Hopefully, someone caught it.
Otherwise, there will be a whole lot of annoyed customers just wanting to grab a couple of bottles of wine for a nice evening, and some frat bros who need their beer.
The One Costco Food That Should Always Be Eaten Hot
As customers walk through the meat and fish aisle, the smell of roasting chicken often wafts towards them. Costco is known for its amazing rotisserie chickens as the meat just drops off of the bone and melts in your mouth. That mouthwatering goodness is at its peak when the chicken is hot. If you're planning to get one of these tasty birds, pick it up at the end of your shop.
Then, you can rush back to your vehicle and enjoy all of that tasty goodness. If the chicken has cooled, just put it on the dash and let the sun work like a microwave.
The Alternative Flu Shot Can Be Found In Costco
Some of the marketing ploys that Costco staff come up with are pure genius. As flu season rolls around, most people are considering heading to the pharmacy for their flu shots. Costco wanted everyone to know that one of their alcohol-based products also works well at sterilizing the body and killing off bacteria. If you guessed vodka, then you would be correct. We are not saying you should not get a flu shot.
It's always good to do research during flu season and make an educated choice on how to stay safe and healthy. This advertising ploy is pretty amazing though.
A Trip To Costco Is Never A Quick Stop And Shop
Anyone who has gone to Costco knows that you can't run in and out in ten minutes. It takes time to peruse the aisles, and discover all of the deals hiding in them. For family and friends that accompany you to Costco, they should be made aware that this won't be a quick stop. Waiting in the car could be a long and boring time. For anyone going to Costco, know it takes time.
If you don't enjoy finding deals and wandering the warehouse, head over to the book section and find something to read for a few minutes.
Check Out The Wall Of Safe Work Days
Every workplace has to report accidents that happen, as recognizing and reporting on them helps to avoid future ones. At Costco, usually on the way to the public bathrooms and staff lockers, there is a sign that shows how many days they have had without accidents. Every Costco is different, but it is always better to see a lot of days without accidents, than a few. Safety needs to come first.
This sign might make people look twice because it doesn't specify who was injured. For all anyone knows, it could be an employee or a customer.
One Of The Strangest Samples On Offer That Shopper Receive
Every product needs to be sampled by loyal Costco customers, and that includes toilet paper. Sometimes a roll of the nice quilted kind is handed out to customers, but it does leave them with a bit of a conundrum. Do they go to the public restroom and try the sample out, or do they take the roll home and try it out there. It's hard to know what the right play is here.
If you love the toilet paper after trying it at home, you will need to rush back to buy a whole pack of it. You never know when it will sell out.
What Kind Of Liquor Is At This Filling Station?
Most of the time when you see a filling up station it is for gasoline or water, not for liquor. This sign looks like it might have been misplaced because we can't imagine what kind of liquor must be pouring out of these faucets. Maybe it is something used for science projects, or maybe it is just in the wrong place. It is a pretty curious situation that is for sure.
Perhaps there is a liquor truck that stops by, and Costco actually bottles its own special brand of liquor. Whatever it is, it must be delicious or Costco wouldn't be making it.
Sometimes The Sample You Want Isn't The Sample You Get
You can buy pretty much everything at Costco, whether it is an item for a baby or for a funeral. Some of the bulk items that never seem to make it onto the sample list are certain family planning products. This Costco employee was giving out vitamin samples while standing next to the display of family planning products. There must have been quite a few sad faces when those samples weren't offered.
There would have been a huge line if the family planning samples were on the table, as they are not the cheapest necessities out there.
It Is All About The Toppings When It Comes To Hot Dogs
Costco's hot dogs are world-famous, both for their price and their quality. Not all Costco's have the same items on offer in the canteen though, and that goes for hot dog toppings as well. In Mexico, you can ask for jalapenos, onions, and cheese which most Costco's don't have. Next time you go abroad try the local Costco specialities, which are mouthwatering. The best part is that the prices stay the same.
In certain countries, the food at the canteen is even cheaper because it has to match national levels of affordability.
Find The Health Food Items And Avoid The Junk Food
Each aisle has a mix of products that range from healthy to unhealthy. As more of the world begins to focus on proper nutrition, Costco has begun to bring in more and more health food products. Some of these include vegan yogurts and milks, along with supplements, and all sorts of other natural foods. However, it is hard to avoid junk food, which means shoppers need to be strategic while shopping.
The junk food might look enticing as you walk by, but steer towards the healthy food that is on your shopping list. Your body will thank you for it.
Costco Employees Love Getting Creative With Their Name Tags
Most customer service-based jobs require name tags. Customers like to know who they are talking to while they are being served. Costco employees all have to wear name tags, but sometimes, those employees like to get a bit creative with their names. Take, for example, Inigo Montaya, one of the key characters from "The Princess Bride." His number one job at work may be a bit different than what he was hired for.
Maybe he will avenge all of the broken goods that show up in the loading bay each day. Someone has to do the dirty work and it may as well be Inigo.
Catching Birds Is Just One Of The Many Tasks In The Job Description
Have you ever heard the warbling sound of a bird inside of Costco? That sound is not emerging from hidden speakers as mood music. The doors to Costco always stay open, which means animals, especially birds, sometimes end up inside of the warehouse store. Employees are the ones that have to humanely capture these little critters and make sure that they get released back into the wild without coming to any harm.
This employee did an excellent job at constructing a humane trap to lure the bird into it. Once the bird is trapped it can be carefully removed and be on its merry way.
Some Of The Best Cheeses In The World Can Be Found There
The cheese section in Costco is always changing. Some days delicious blue cheeses from Europe grace the shelves, other days there are aged cheddars from New Zealand. Unless you visit Costco on a regular basis, you might just miss out on some of the best cheeses like Chihuahua cheese from Mexico. We hadn't heard of this one before, but it must be excellent for tacos and cheesy gorditas or quesadillas.
Don't forget to stock up on different cheeses for your next wine and cheese night. Charcuterie boards always need at least five different kinds to be perfect, along with some nuts and fruits.
Meaty Topics For Kids Can Be Found In The Book Section
Most young kids love a good board book about happy dogs and cats who go on adventures. Costco has these, but they also have a lot of classics like "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Learning war tactics at a young age and game theory certainly can't hurt child development. This little girl will be ready to take on the world by the time she makes it to middle school at this rate.
Maybe a couple of Harry Potter books would be a nice addition. Everyone needs to break away from their own realities for a little bit, and children loves those books.
The Wine Glasses For Giants Are Also Available At Costco
Glassware is one of those things that most people are very particular about. They have a certain aesthetic in their homes and the stemware needs to match that vibe. Costco has a lot of different wine glasses for sale, and that includes wine glasses for literal giants. This glass looks like it could be a prop in a film because one person would not be able to lift this to drink out of.
Whoever buys this glass is going to need to buy a case of wine in order to fill it up. It will be the focal point of any room it is placed in.
Sometimes A Deal Should Just Stay A Deal
Heading to Costco is a lot of fun, but it also requires restraint. If you have a list that only calls for a few items, stick to it. Don't get caught up by the big screen televisions and the sale price by them. When a big purchase item is on sale, and you don't really need it, take some time to consider whether it is a need or a want.
Televisions are fantastic, but if you don't need one, consider putting that credit card back in your pocket. Save that cash for something you don' have yet or will need in the future.
Never Liable For Flooding With This Sign In Place
Natural disasters happen, and Costco does not want to be liable for any car damage that might occur should a great flood come through. Imagine how many millions of dollars would have to be paid out by Costco's insurance during a flood event. That is why this sign exists and has been placed in the parking lot for everyone to see and acknowledge. As soon as that 100-year storm comes, everyone will be ready.
We bet this parking lot will be empty on that day, so no cars will be harmed. Costco will also be safe on the liability side.
Losing Track Of Time In The Land Of Costco
With so many cool products to look at, samples to try, and furniture to lounge on, Costco is a place that you can spend hours in, just like Ikea. This bear is emblematic of all the customers who sit down in the Costco furniture and don't get up for a while. Sometimes those lounge chairs are comfortable enough to sleep in. Dads in particular love to doze in the armchairs.
Next time a parent goes missing, check out the furniture. Dad or Grandpa might just be having a little nap while they wait for everyone to finish shopping.