Hacker News Reader

Comment by silisili | Hacker News Reader

I've only been to Costco a handful of times in my life. It seems like each time, there were hordes of people standing lifelessly in a huge line waiting to check themselves out(sometimes with help from an employee), which took longer than it should. Then, once that task was accomplished, they'd then stand in another huge line waiting to leave. Is this the typical experience or did I just happen to pick the worst times/locations?

I happily pay more at places like Publix to -not- have to do that.

View on HN

This was my experience, too. I have tried going at noon on weekdays, as soon as the store opens, and every other time folks on the internet have recommended. Every single time, it was an absolute slog to get through aisles full of oblivious people blocking areas with their carts and (hilariously) getting mad at you for asking them to move their cart.

Also, this may be my own bias coloring my perception but there was a palpable undertone among some of the shoppers of “at least we’re not Walmart customers”.

I’m sure quite a few Costco members enjoy the treasure hunt model they offer but I’d much rather have an option to order online and go pick up what I need or, failing that, labeled aisles.

To Costco’s credit, though, they refunded my membership fee in full as soon as I asked to cancel. And their return policy the one time I had to use it was exceptional as well. It’s a shame the rest of the experience has to be such a sensory overload.

> I have tried going at noon on weekdays, as soon as the store opens, and every other time folks on the internet have recommended.

Whoever told you to go at noon on a weekday was pulling your leg. That's when all the peeps with jobs go to shop and get a quick lunch on their lunch break. It's always packed then.

At open on a weekday is usually pretty good, but 30 minutes after open might be better (if you've got the executive membership with an exclusive hour, then be sure to go then). Never go on the weekend, unless maybe 30 minutes before closing, if you know what you want and where it is. Or you can probably go during the super bowl, but not before or after. Double don't go on the weekend before a weekday holiday.

In my experience, get there as early as possible and it's not bad. But that's the standard for these membership stores, although Sam's Club has the edge being able to use their app to scan your items and pay without having to stop anywhere (other than the line to get out.)

Publix' pricing is obscene though.

I have a Sam's Club membership primarily because it is much closer to me than Costco. I hate the crowds but it baffles me there are lines when the scan & go app exists! And I swear last time I went they weren't even scanning receipts, but you walked through some sort of gateway?

Costco actually has a better checkout experience than most places IMO. They always have basically all lanes open, and the employees are efficient at moving people through.

I love Wegmans for most groceries but their checkouts seem to be getting worse.

How are people supposed to act while waiting in line to check out?

That's the takeaway - that people are supposed to be bored in line? I wasn't insulting the people, I was describing what to me is the awful human experience of shopping at Costco.

I was just struck by this line:

> there were hordes of people standing lifelessly in a huge line waiting to check themselves out

Where are the retail experiences where people waiting to checkout are expressing an abundance of joy in life to you? Is the problem the “horde”? Sure, popular places tend to have a lot of people. I’m not sure why Costco customers act way less fun to you than at other places? This whole comments reads like a petulant “everyone is a NPC but me” screed

so silly, right??! and of all the checkouts Costco is bussin! I am always with my daughter, we open a package of 85 croisants and eat like 5 while also opening 60lbs bag of walnuts and munch together while taking bets whether we picked the right line based on complex algorithms of who is working at checkout, who is in line and how much stuff they bought and another billions parameters :)

I deliberately take my time in self-checkout lines. If they are going to cheap out by not having cashiers, I'm not going to hustle to make their lines move faster.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com