A Thought on Costco...

"Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)" (galileo-humpkins)
03/05/2018 at 11:48 • Filed to: None

When is Costco ever this empty?! WHEN?!

For a number of reasons, I love Costco. However, the one thing I absolutely hate about it is all the meandering and chaos. I can’t stand people who meander in public anywhere, but at Costco it’s so much worse. Add to the meandering that tons of people are just all over the damn place, I think Costco is most definitely a place that needs defined lanes for flow of traffic and either signals at intersections, or traffic coordinators, or something. Some sort of traffic control system.

We would upgrade our membership to whatever that business level is so we can get in early in the morning, but we are certainly not morning people and definitely not morning Costco shopping type people.

DISCUSSION (68)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 11:56

we have a BJ’s membership, pretty mucht he same thing i think. I can;t get over the people who are buying 500 of TP and 20 gallons of Pepsi.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 11:56

A chicken bake and churro make it worthwhile.

Kinja'd!!!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 11:58

*meanders into the comments and somehow blocks an entire comment with his trolley*

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/05/2018 at 11:58

It’s amazing to me, as well, to see how much of some things people are buying. Sadly, no BJ’s in Chicago, I don’t think. I’d imagine, though, it’s much of the same as Costco.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
03/05/2018 at 11:59

It helps, a lot.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
03/05/2018 at 12:00

Those chicken bakes are insanely good.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/05/2018 at 12:00

I always tell myself that I’ll eat half and save the other half for later.

I’m good at ignoring my own advice.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:01

Driving an SQ5 to Coscto to upgrade to a business membership and loading it up with Bulk packs...

Kinja'd!!!

For Sweden > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
03/05/2018 at 12:02

Pizza > Chicken Bake

benjrblant > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:03

People make me hate things that I love too.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/05/2018 at 12:04

The real issue here is getting a traffic management system in place at Costco. But, yeah, #FirstWorldProblems or some such.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > For Sweden
03/05/2018 at 12:04

The combo pizza is as good as, and the praise doesn’t get any higher than that.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:05

Man, I’d be happy to just have a Costco within 50 miles of my village

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > benjrblant
03/05/2018 at 12:05

Isn’t that part of loving/liking something, recognizing the qualities that you don’t love/like about it but not letting the negative outweigh the positive?

For Sweden > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
03/05/2018 at 12:06

The Costco pizza deserves a seal of approval.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/05/2018 at 12:07

You guys are so advanced, I thought you’d be well beyond Costco?

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
03/05/2018 at 12:09

I prefer their pizza and pretzels

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:09

Even the King needs his Kirkland Signature dammit!

benjrblant > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:10

In an imperfect world, yes.

In a more perfect world, people wouldn’t block the aisles with their flatbed carts full of chicken 4 dayz.

Kinja'd!!!

Though honestly, I think that Ikea addresses this problem quite well. If Ikea were set up more like a Costco or Target with traditional aisles, it would be a nightmare to navigate. The layout encourages users to meander along a specific path with shortcut options if needed.

Ash78, voting early and often > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:11

We got our first one about 10 years ago and it’s still a mess. I’ve “guest shopped” there (mock grocery trips) twice and still can’t find the value for my family yet.

For example: on a cost per unit basis on cereal, it’s about the same as my comfortable, amazing grocery store’s BOGO sales. However, my grocery store offers me about 150 choices and Costco has about 20-30. Walmart suffers from the same thing: the perception of variety, when it’s really just lots of the same thing.

That said, if Costco carries the stuff you really like, it makes sense. But whenever I buy in bulk (usually through Amazon Prime), I realize how quickly we run out of space to store things. That leads to forgetting, which leads to spoilage, which kills the savings.

Just some stuff to think about. I’m also big on environment and warehouse clubs always feel like how I imagine a Kinder, Gentler Communism would be implemented.

Bo Knows > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:11

I prefer to run a lean inventory system. JIT delivery. While that necessitates more frequent shopping, it doesn’t really require more of my time.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > For Sweden
03/05/2018 at 12:12

Is this good enough?

Kinja'd!!!

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
03/05/2018 at 12:14

Costco has pretzels?

Since when?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
03/05/2018 at 12:19

Clearly is British because in ‘Murica (Fuck Y(ou)eah) we call them CARTS.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > benjrblant
03/05/2018 at 12:20

I referenced Ikea yesterday to my wife. She agreed they had a better flow. The worst I’ve been to lately was actually a Toys R Us to pick up a quick gift. The aisles were barely wide enough for one cart, and so many displays creating so many tiny aisles, never again.

Chuckles > Bo Knows
03/05/2018 at 12:21

I’m also a fan of JIT, with the exception of toilet paper. I never want to get close to running out of that.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/05/2018 at 12:22

trolley is a much nicer word... and works better for very mild trolling

i am british tho.. so you’re not wrong

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:23

The food court redeems all the stress from pushing a cart there.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Ash78, voting early and often
03/05/2018 at 12:25

Agreed on all points. The things we buy at Costco, after having done the maths compared to a few grocery stores, do give us some savings (even after membership is factored in) and almost none of it spoils. Or at least has a very long shelf life. For us, the biggest issue is, in fact, storage space once we get it all home. But, we figure it out.

Our local Costco has, maybe, 12 cereal varieties. Maybe. Variety is not the strength of a bulk membership club store, that’s for sure.

Gerry197 > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:26

I love Costco, it seems everything I buy there is always good, from food to products, they only stock good stuff and great prices.

Which means lines do suck, but yesterday, when I was shopping for my giant waters, broiled chicken, best paper towels made, etc., there was someone in the front letting helping guide people to the lines and making it more efficient, hurrah!

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Bo Knows
03/05/2018 at 12:27

For most of our food needs, it’s JIT for sure. Plus the quality is better at a smaller, local grocer or market. But for some things that either don’t spoil or keep a very long shelf life, we save by going to Costco. Both have their advantages.

ttyymmnn > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
03/05/2018 at 12:33

When my boys were little, I could take all three of them to Costco and feed all of us for under $5.

ttyymmnn > Ash78, voting early and often
03/05/2018 at 12:35

You have to shop carefully to save money at Costco. Not everything there is a good deal. Produce, specifically, is often more expensive, and I was also surprised to find their ground beef, even in the 6-pound package, was at least 50¢/lb more expensive than our grocery store. We go there mostly for milk and the Kirkland microwave bacon. We go through a gallon a day in our house, and the price is good.

ttyymmnn > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:37

Aside from the carts that are as big as SUVs, and the idiots who abandon them in the middle of the aisle, is the fact that I can rarely leave without spending at least $100. I think that’s because just about everything there costs about $10. You look at the item and say, “Wow, only ten bucks.” And pretty soon you have ten things in your cart.

razorbeamteam > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:43

I have a Costco membership, but pretty much only use it for tires, gas, and other mega-bulk long shelf life items. We probably only go 4 times a year as there’s only 2 of us.

I never understand how someone can stand in an aisle with their cart blocking traffic and go through their shopping list on their phone/text. People have no spacial awareness at all and it gets worse every day. Or maybe I’m getting older every day, but that can’t be the case. Don’t even get me started on these darn unsupervised Costco kids...

fintail > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 12:47

Compared to my nearest Costco (the namesake of “Kirkland” brands ), the lead pic is empty. It is often a zoo before 11, and weekend afternoons are hilariously packed - I never do it. It was even worse before a new location opened several miles away. The parking lot is also a little weird, that coupled with so many drivers being either passive-aggressive locals or new-to-first-world-motoring transplants, makes the experience a real treat.

I think Costco is sensory overload for the easily distracted CUV majority. Huge quantities, huge portion sizes, huge carts, samples, and unexpected surprises - people just lose it.

The Costco in Bellingham is even better, Canadians who will spend a day coming down to buy cheaper milk and gas.

TheRealBicycleBuck > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
03/05/2018 at 12:51

This is a Trolley:

Kinja'd!!!

Mr. Rogers said so.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
03/05/2018 at 12:53

Lol.

I’ve watched so much Top Gear, I call them trolleys on occasion as well.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > fintail
03/05/2018 at 12:53

I’m not even breaching the subject of their parking lots. Even the one in the suburbs we went to on Saturday was chaotic and oddly laid out. Parking, in and of itself, is way too much for a lot of people to handle, for sure. The ones closer to, and in, Chicago are freaking absurd.

I don’t think there’s ever a good time to go to Costco, in terms of how crowded it is. Occasionally you might get lucky and it won’t be too bad, but by occasionally I mean rarely. And by rarely, I mean almost never.

TheRealBicycleBuck > benjrblant
03/05/2018 at 12:56

I hate the forced flow of an Ikea. We had a grocery store that did the same thing . They made it nearly impossible to just drop in for a bag of Oreos. We eventually settled on going to that store once a month or so to stock up. We were willing to pay higher prices at the other store for the convenience.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > razorbeamteam
03/05/2018 at 12:56

Spacial awareness gets checked at the door of Costco. Oddly, the unsupervised Costco kids haven’t been as much of an issue for me. Not that they aren’t there, not that they don’t get in my way, but the generality of the chaos and the absent minded adults are what get to me the most.

fintail > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 13:00

The one I usually visit has a parking lot with 3 sections, and two of them aren’t linked together with much logic. It is also ground zero for trollers who creep around looking for a spot rather than walking. I always park on the outskirts, quicker to get out, less risk of damage.

I almost always go right when they open on a Saturday or Sunday. I arrive about 10 minutes early, and the doors are sometimes open already. I have a plan in my head, no backtracking, get in and get out. It’s not too bad, but I wouldn’t go after 11 or so.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often
03/05/2018 at 13:03

I live in Costcoland, which means you almost have to shop there sometimes. Luckily, we have one of the business member cards from my in-laws, so it doesn’t cost us any extra. My preference is actually for the selection at Sam’s Club (well, it was when I lived in SoCal, not sure about now).

We go there about 1-2 times a month to the less-crowded one in Redmond right as they’re opening to ensure we can find parking; the one in Kirkland is a total train wreck at all times.

But I have a similar problem with their selection of stuff you’d actually stock up on - limited and generally not that great. My tastes are not very mainstream, so we really only end up with junk food the wife wants, flats of cans of stuff (like canned mushrooms, which we use extensively and don’t go bad quickly like raw ones), seasonings, and a couple oddball things (ex: local raw honey). If we had two cards, I’d go more often, though, because their main benefit is actually cheap perishables, of which we eat a lot (especially me) - cheese, fruit, meats, etc. Particularly when these are in season. It’s also generally fresher, comes in decent quantities, and is distinctly cheaper than in grocery stores.

Costco is also where we get bulk quantities of paper goods like toilet paper, since that shit is expensive and it’s cheaper there.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/05/2018 at 13:06

Or some filthy easterner.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > ttyymmnn
03/05/2018 at 13:06

It can definitely get expensive. We’ve pretty much got it down to a specific list of certain things we get there versus at a local grocer or market. As long as people are shopping smart, it can be worth it.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Gerry197
03/05/2018 at 13:08

Can’t say we have any workers doing that here. The lines don’t really bother me. I know there are going to be a ton of people buying a ton of stuff and there will be a wait. It’s just the chaos right after entering up until I get into a checkout line that gets to me.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
03/05/2018 at 13:09

Odd thing I’ve noticed is that the cafe/food court area is just as chaotic. People here tend to save that for last so there are a ton of people with their carts/flatbeds parked all around. But, yeah, it does definitely have a redeeming quality.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
03/05/2018 at 13:11

As long as it isn’t perishable (or if it is, you’ll consume it), what’s the problem? As a single guy, I used to do $200+ warehouse store runs and it wasn’t a problem. With decent food, just for my wife and I, we often spend over $150 for our weekly grocery store run (Safeway, because that’s all we have), with about 1-2 additional runs for perishables and planning for 1-2 meals out. Costco really isn’t that big a share of our budget because it’s simply not convenient enough.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
03/05/2018 at 13:14

Which makes sense, since “I pahked my caht near my cahr.” is going to be utterly unintelligible for even most people from Bahstin.

Bo Knows > Chuckles
03/05/2018 at 13:27

Ha, good point. I forgot to clarify that

vicali > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 13:36

Our Costco is almost across the street; 1/3 mile away.. I take full advantage of being there within the first 20 minutes of a weekend day or the last 20 minutes on a tuesday night.

benjrblant > TheRealBicycleBuck
03/05/2018 at 13:40

Not a bad idea for Ikea- a place infrequently visited by the same people. Bad idea for a grocery store that you visit weekly.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/05/2018 at 13:45

Haha.

I sometimes tell a story about Boston - when I first got there years ago a guy was trying to be nice and said something repeatedly to me. It didn’t even register as English until he repeated it a couple more times as I was staring directly at him with a confused look.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > fintail
03/05/2018 at 14:15

The parking lot of the one we go to is probably similarly set up. There are two main sections that, like yours, are not linked together with any thought put into it. We do the same, try and park strategically in an area that’s a bit away from the doors, but that definitely provides easier in/out.

That’s probably the best way to do it. We somehow always end up there during the afternoon. So even with our list and plan, it’s still difficult.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > vicali
03/05/2018 at 14:16

Ah, see, that’s what we’ve yet to try - going towards the end of the day on a weeknight. I think we’ll probably try that next time.

Saracen > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 14:29

I HATE going to Costco on the weekends. It’s not just busy, but like you said, it’s utterly chaotic. I make a point of going to the one near my office during the weekdays. It’s damn near empty in there, so I don’t get the urge to punch anyone.

Gerry197 > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 15:01

Gotcha, I feel the same about Walmart. I remember in the original Jumanji movie where they were in the box store and all the chaos going on, I thought to myself, that looks like any other day at Walmart.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Saracen
03/05/2018 at 15:46

Even on weekdays ours is packed. It is a little more manageable though. Next time we might try, as was recommended in another comment, going closer to closing on a weeknight.

Saracen > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 15:51

Yep, that’s when I go. Usually around 7.

Though, this Costco is in a business district, so I think that hampers how much foot traffic it gets overall. Even though it’s a half hour away I’d rather shop at this one than the one that’s ten minutes from my house.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Saracen
03/05/2018 at 16:08

I think we’d be hard pressed to find one in Chicago, or the burbs, that’s in more of a business district or that otherwise didn’t get a lot of general traffic. Just gotta figure out when it seems to be less crowded and make that our time to go.

Under_Score > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 20:17

My local Costco is crowded and filled with rude Asian women from east Cobb. This Costco is also on a hill with no sign on the street and is still always busy.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/05/2018 at 20:23

i go at @7 when its practically empty. Saturday is just a shitshow

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Under_Score
03/05/2018 at 23:38

Can’t people just see the building? Seems the sign is unnecessary.

Pistol Whipped Cream > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/06/2018 at 16:59

My local costco is in Mesa, AZ. Center of the snowbird-dom here in AZ. From the months between OCT-MAY i will not go there until 30 minutes before store closing. Otherwise it is a disaster. It is FULL of retiree’s hanging out or just dipping in to get an item or two.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Pistol Whipped Cream
03/06/2018 at 18:29

Ha, I believe it. My grandfather, when he was younger, used to go to Costco all the time just for the cafe and to walk around.

Under_Score > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/06/2018 at 20:05

You can’t even see it from the street. It’s just known that it’s there, and it’s still always busy. I live in a county of around 750,000 people and I’m pretty sure it’s the only one in the county.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Under_Score
03/07/2018 at 00:26

Ah, so I guess it’s passed down from generation to generation that, up on that hill, that is where our Costco is.

Pistol Whipped Cream > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/07/2018 at 10:40

It’s bad. They also always use a cart even if they only get one or two things. It gums up the works!