Costco has become a store that everyone is familiar with. Prices for anything from furniture to coffins have been compared against Costco prices. Many times I have said the trademark phrase of "I can get that at Costco for half the price, plus you get SO much more". This warehouse is quickly becoming our one stop shop for daily supplies to holiday meal supplies to gifts for your spouse and family. I myself checked the site religiously for months looking at new engagement ring designs and "sharing" links to what I liked to my now husband. Without Costco we would all be lost. The only negative thing about Costco is how the store is navigated through by the customers. How many of you found yourself in gridlock when there is a particularly tasty sample station that everyone MUST stop at? Or how about almost hitting the person in front of you when they suddenly stop to check their phone or look at their list? Therefore I propose that we make basic courtesy rules for all shoppers at Costco to adhere to. Here are the rules for Costco that I believe are necessary to make all of our shopping experiences at Americas favorite warehouse more pleasant.
Rule #1 - When pushing your cart with the rest of traffic down an aisle, do not stop abruptly in the middle. This is not the time or place to check your Facebook or see who text you, or snap a selfie or to look at what is left on your shopping list. Treat the aisle like a freeway, pull over before you stop.
Rule #2 - This rule goes hand in hand with rule #1. If you see that Costco is handing out samples of pumpkin pie with whipped cream or something equally as yummy, do not just stop right where you are, abandon your cart and cause a traffic jam. Find a place out of the way to park then go get your sample. Easy.
Rule #3 - Since we are speaking of the "samples" this is a good time to bring up the "buffet people". Please realize this is a place to TASTE product. You taste it, then buy it if you like. You don't go back three or four times to try the sample. Trust me, when you tell the employee "this is really good...where is this at so I can buy some" after you have come back 5 times, they KNOW you're lying. Try it, and buy it, or move along.
Rule #4 - A hot dog and a soda is only $1.50 at the food court. If you are really starving, Costco practically gives those hot dogs away. When you see a sample station and the employee is waiting for the food item to cook, please don't stand there for 5 whole min watching her like a begging dog. I have seen this so many times. You spend $300 on food at Costco, yet you wait for 12 years just to get that one inch piece of Dinosaur Chicken Nugget. C'mon people! Additionally, when the sample does come out, please don't fight over it like junkyard dogs, act civilized. Nobody likes to see adults shove kids out of the way for a small piece of burrito.
Rule #5 - Do NOT eat your food that you are buying until you at least get out of the store. Of course if you are a mom and have a fussy toddler, by all means break open that tub of animal crackers. One time I saw a family of about 7, all in their church clothes, sitting on a flat cart near the produce ripping apart a rotisserie chicken. I am not even joking. They had a full on picnic in the middle of the store. I actually had to drive around and look again to ensure I just saw that!
Rule #6 - When in the line for check out, commit to a line and stick to it. Nobody likes to have the "line jumper" who is constantly switching lines when they see one that appears to be shorter or going faster. Pick one, and stay in it.
Rule #7 - Dont judge my cart. I was preparing for a birthday party and I had pizza and brownie bites and cinnamon rolls and a large platter of Baklava. Next to me was a couple that clearly exercised 24 hours a day. They has fruit and vegetables and chicken. I saw them both look at my cart and judge. I wanted to yell "dont judge me! I eat healthy! This is for a kids party....well....the Baklava is for my husband and me...and we may taste the brownies, but for the most part this is for the kids!" Id hate to have been buying a giant box of Depends or Metamucil! Keep your eyes to yourself and your own cart.
If we all follow these rules, our Costco trips will go by faster and more efficient and make us all less angry when we leave. Costco is a great place, we just need to establish a few rules.
