Shopping at Costco can be a huge money-saver, thanks to the storeâs fantastic prices on bulk grocery items and household essentials.
But if youâre not careful, shopping at Costco can also be a huge budget buster.
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For one thing, when you roam the aisles of Costco, youâre likely to come across new products youâve never seen before. And given the attractive price points, itâs hard to say no to a new snack food or cozy fleece hoodie, even if you have three others that are very similar at home.
In fact, some people make a point to stick to a shopping list when visiting Costco so they arenât tempted to buy new things.
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If you pledge to stay out of aisles that donât contain a list item of yours, you might minimize impulse shopping at Costco to some degree.
Costcoâs free samples are a huge driver of impulse purchases
Even if youâre being diligent about following a shopping list at Costco, you may get tripped up by the storeâs free samples.
Free samples are a huge perk of shopping at Costco. And depending on when you visit the store, you may find that thereâs a food or beverage station at nearly every turn.
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Of course, thereâs nothing wrong with grabbing some free tasty snacks as youâre doing your shopping. The problem is when those free samples at Costco inspire you to go off-list and bring home extra items you werenât planning on buying.
If thereâs room in your budget for extra purchases, then this, too, is not such a bad thing. Itâs when youâre stressed about your Costco credit card bill that impulse buys become problematic.
And while you could always pledge to try the samples only and then move along, sometimes, when a really great bite comes along, itâs hard not to bring home the bulk-sized version of whatever it is youâve just tried.
Costco free sample rule may surprise members
There are certain hours of the day when youâre more likely to find a large number of free samples at Costco.
Typically, the samples start to come out in full force during the mid-morning hours, and they tend to continue going strong through late afternoon. Weekends, too, are a popular time for samples in general.
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If youâre someone who likes to get to the store as soon as it opens, you may be too early to find much in the way of samples. And if you tend to stop at Costco on your way home from work, your options for sampling free food may be limited.
Now, weâve all had our moments when weâve tasted something at Costco and thought, âWow, that was delicious.â And when that happens, you shouldnât hesitate to go for a repeat.
One lesser-known Costco rule is that youâre actually allowed to try as many free samples as you want.
Granted, you shouldnât abuse this rule. If thereâs a limited quantity of a given item or a long line of customers behind you waiting for a free bite, then you should take one sample, move along, and come back for another later.
But the purpose of Costcoâs free samples is to encourage members to try new foods and see if theyâre worth bringing home. So Costco is willing to let members try things more than once if it helps them make those purchasing decisions.
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And if youâre worried about being judged for coming back for seconds or thirds, fear not.
Costco is a company that prides itself on outstanding customer service. As long as youâre not rude or inconsiderate, you shouldnât get pushback for trying things more than once â especially if youâre willing to follow up with a simple âthank you.â
Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.
