I love most things about Costco, and shop here often. But, there are some things that have been customer unfriendly for so long I think it's time to say something:
1. The security check at the exit. Give me a break. This is the most ridiculous practice - borrowed from Sam's Club no less. I dread this idiotic ritual. My cart is an impenetrable mass of $400 worth of stuff, but the exit person still has to eye it up and down, pretend to do something useful, then check off the receipt as though I've just been let onto a plane. Get rid of this useless charade!
2. Checkout is always too long. That's because let's face it, they usually don't have all the lanes open. Why not? There is always a line at every register, always. Open up some more lanes! The only thing more frustrating than waiting 15 minutes at checkout is waiting another 5 to get past "security" and out of the store.
3. Bottle return. Costco doesn't want you to bring your bottles and cans back. Even though they sell 1,800 cases of soda a week, they still only have one machine for cans. Walmart has 6. Why is this? Because, Costco doesn't want to be bothered.
4. Costco Gas. Dreadful. Who in their right mind waits 15 to 20 minutes just for their turn at saving $0.03 a gallon? What is your time worth, people! If you wait 15 minutes to save $1.00 you've just valued yourself at $4.00/hour. I think you're worth more than that. BTW, the Valero on Michigan Ave. near US-23 is nearly always cheaper than Costco.
5. Costco Automotive. Don't get me started. If you happen to walk in, they happen to have your tires, and they happen to have an opening, you're all set. Otherwise? Have someone pick you up and bring you back at the end of the day. Why not accept appointments?
6. Samples Tables. OMG! You would think that half of all Costco shoppers have never received anything free in their life, or were starving to death. They literally wait 10 minutes for the little toaster oven to finish heating up the little bits of food so they can snag their free sample. People will line up for this, they will push you for this, they will take three or four samples and then ask for something to drink. But, for the most part they don't buy the product. Stop the samples madness!
7. Soda (Pop). Hey, it's not that good for you, I get that. But, why only 6 flavors? You have more varieties of crackers. We always have to make a separate trip because you don't carry many flavors and of course you definitely don't want us to bring back the bottles and cans. Come to think of it, I think we probably shop other places some of the time for this very reason.
8. Parking lot entrance. You know that little tiny entrance that everyone has to funnel through to get nearer the front of the store? Yes, that one. You know how frustrating it is that this could have easily been engineered so that it wasn't so darned inconvenient? Have you ever parked along that little road? It's near impossible to back out of your spot. C'mon Costco, get some proper engineering done on that and fix the obvious problem.
9. Bakery. Hey Costco, here's an idea, make some normal bread in the bakery. You know, the kind all other bakeries on the planet make. There is this new invention called a "loaf." I know, that's a tough one. Your bakers are directed to make odd shaped rolls, off-size baguettes, softball sized danishes, etc. But, some of us just want a loaf of bread that we could, you know, make a sandwich with. Sure, we could go to the "bread" aisle and buy some chemical induced concoction - but you have the bakery right there, and people who know how to bake. I just think they need to have the freedom to bake the kind of bread everyone wants.
10. Hours of Operation. 10:00 to 8:30, just like every other - wait a minute - that's not like *any* other store. Maybe some of the other issues would go away if you'd open your doors earlier. How about 8:00 a.m.? And, closing at 10:00 would be far more normal. I can't tell you how many times I've gone elsewhere because I needed to shop at normal times and Costco wasn't open.
We switched from Sam's Club to Costco - and we're never going back. But, we would like it so much more if some or all of these other things were addressed. read more