How do y'all deal with Costco??? Is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

So are Costco prices so much better than Giant, HT, etc. that it's worth the massive crowds? Or does everyone go at 6 am to avoid crowds?

Not a member but had to grab a pharmacy order that only one of the Fairfax Costcos had stocked. Granted I went later than I would've like - 11 am - bc that's when I got the pharmacy notification. Pharmacy staff was great. I had heard that Costco is less crowded mid week and mid day. If that was less crowded, what on earth does it look like on Friday/Saturday/Sunday or after 5 PM? It was basically people as far as the eye could see - felt like being in an airport in a way. Many couples shopping, many people with an elderly parent in tow (no I'm not saying the elderly slowed anything down - sheer number of people slowed things down). And as I was leaving, I noticed the adjacent gas station had lines of 5+ cars at each pump waiting to pull in.

Is this normal for late morning on a Tuesday? I mean I suppose there was parking without having to circle the lot or anything so it wasn't as packed as it could have been - but there wasn't TONS of empty parking either. Are the deals really so amazing that people are willing to deal with this or is it more that it's become a habit now to just be a Costco shopper even if you don't have a family of 6+ people you need to feed?

[Anonymous]

I'm with you. Can't stand it. Another household member goes. If it were just me I would cancel it.

I have had some luck going ten minutes before they close. They stop letting people in but checkout is open another hour or so.

[Anonymous]

The lines are efficient and it moves. It takes me the same time from back of the line to leaving the building at costco as safeway most days

[Anonymous]

We eat a lot of eggs and chicken so it is a price savings unless the Giant is really marking things down. And I adjust my shopping list so I can get most things at Costco and avoid going to Giant as often, although Giant has better lettuce. I mail order dry goods from Costco if I don't need refrigerated things.

I go on the weekend and it's way more crowded than what you saw. You have to be patient.

[Anonymous]

I would never, ever go on a weekend if I could help it. 10:30 on like a Wednesday is the only time I’ll go.

[Anonymous]

For us it's worth it, because we've got teens and they eat gigantic quantities of food. Costco means I can go shopping once a week for staples rather than multiple times a week.

[Anonymous]

The Fairfax one is always way too crowded for me. I use other locations and try to arrive about 10 minutes after they open, whether I go during the week or on a weekend. Friends have shared that they have good luck going about an hour before closing.

[Anonymous]

I usually go on the weekends near closing time and even then it’s not horrible. Or maybe I’m just used to it. Or maybe it’s that I’m in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

If there was empty parking and you didn't have to wait/circle to park, then yeah what you saw wasn't actually busy. Weekends are next level busy.

[Anonymous]

We go right when it opens

[Anonymous]

Weekends are terrible, and I think it would be a bad experience at any time for someone like you (non-member, finding your way around the store).

I go about every 2 weeks, early on a Tuesday or Thursday. I find it almost therapeutic. I know exactly what I'm getting, what my path through the store is, that I have plenty of time so if someone is huffy or rude I can just pause and let them pass. Almost never get a sample so I avoid that little cluster of frustration, and get gas every third time or so.

[Anonymous]

It’s worth every penny for me. Everything from toilet paper, to meats, vegetables and everything in between.

It can be crowded, but I go, keep my head down and get my shopping done. It’s really not a big deal. For my family the savings are worth it. Check out lines move quickly and I probably spend less time standing in a Costco shopping line than I do when I go to Safeway or Giant.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's worth it unless you have a large family. I have a couple of neighbors with five kids a piece and it works for them. I have two kids. It's cheaper to shop at the regular grocery stores. Definitely cheaper if you go to Walmart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never, ever go on a weekend if I could help it. 10:30 on like a Wednesday is the only time I’ll go.

This!!!! I go to the pentagon city one and never between thanksgiving and new year's.

[Anonymous]

Just order the stuff online. It's well worth an extra $2 to get the toilet paper and paper towels delivered to my door.