These Are the 3 Most Annoying Things About Shopping at Costco

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I love Costco. But read on to see why I sometimes get aggravated when shopping there. 

As someone who shops at Costco on a regular basis, I can say that the $120 a year I pay for my Executive membership is more than worth the cost. Not only does that membership give me 2% cash back on my Costco purchases, but all told, I’m easily able to recoup that $120 outlay by reaping savings on groceries and household essentials.

But while I’ll usually be the first person to sing Costco’s praises, I have to admit that certain aspects of shopping there are annoying. Here are the things I find most irritating, as well as how I cope. If you’re a Costco member, you might want to try these tips, too.

1. Crowds

It’s easy to see why so many people like Costco. The prices are great, you get free samples, and the bakery is outstanding.

But because Costco is such a popular store, it tends to be very crowded in my neck of the woods. That’s a problem, because crowds and I don’t mix well. It also means my shopping trips tend to take longer.

Now that said, one thing I’ve taken to doing to avoid large crowds at Costco is shop at off hours. That means steering clear on weekends and trying to shop during the day — an option that’s available to me because I work from home.

Sometimes I’ll also try to visit Costco right before it closes. And while going at that time means missing out on free samples, since Costco is usually done with those by then, it tends to mean running into fewer people.

2. Long checkout lines

It’s not just that Costco tends to draw large crowds. I’ve found that my Costco doesn’t do a particularly good job of moving customers along during the checkout process.

Unlike other supermarkets, Costco doesn’t have an express line for people who are only buying a few items (mostly because, by nature, people tend to load up when they shop there). So even if I only have two cartons of milk in my cart, I still have to wait.

Shopping at off hours helps address this issue. But also, I’ve gotten comfortable using the self-checkout. It’s a big time-saver even when I have a loaded cart.

3. Inconsistent inventory

Costco tends to rotate its inventory on a seasonal basis, all the while maintaining a consistent inventory of groceries and household items. But while I can buy milk and cheese every week at Costco without fail, there are certain snack and pantry items that my local warehouse club doesn’t always have in stock. Rather, it’s hit or miss. And when you have picky eater children, that’s a problem.

That’s why I always plan to make a trip to my regular supermarket during the week on top of my Costco run. I know it’s generally not realistic to get everything I need from Costco.

Plus, there are certain items I don’t actually want in bulk. So I need my regular supermarket to avoid overspending on things I only require a small quantity of.

All told, I love Costco and am willing to brave the crowds and long lines to keep shopping there. I’m also willing to deal with inventory that’s not always 100% reliable. But if you feel similarly about these Costco pitfalls, aim to play around with different shopping times to see when the crowds are smallest. Also, embrace the self-checkout and work time into your schedule to go to the regular supermarket in case Costco doesn’t have everything you need, or you don’t want to buy everything on your list in bulk.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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