I’ve never liked crowds. When I was dragged into a crowded nightclub in my early 20s, I remember pushing my way out after five minutes and spending the next two hours chatting to the friendly security guard outside the club while I waited for my friends to finish dancing. That was a long time ago and I don’t think I ever walked past a nightclub again.
But I will also admit that I probably dislike crowds even more than the average person, which is why shopping at Costco can be a challenge.
Costco is the kind of store that’s always busy—at least where I live—so I’ve sometimes been tempted to skip the in-person visit and do my shopping on Costco.com instead.
However, this option isn’t great for my wallet—and it might not be great for yours either. That’s why you should try to do your shopping at Costco in person—albeit strategically.
1. Online prices are higher
The whole benefit of being a Costco member is that you save money on your various purchases, whether it’s groceries or cleaning supplies. But Costco.com increases the online price of these items to offset the shipping costs.
So even though there isn’t usually a separate shipping charge, you’ll pay this fee in the form of a higher price per item.
For example, you might pay $3 more for a box of chips or $2 more for a bottle of sauce at Costco.com than you would at a Costco store. In a one-time situation, that’s not a big deal. But if you order from Costco.com repeatedly, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars extra over the course of a year.
2. You may not get the freshest food
Costco.com gives you several ways to buy groceries. You can order fresh groceries with same-day delivery, shelf-stable groceries with two-day delivery (free on orders over $75), or regular delivery. But either way, you may not get the freshest groceries when you order online.
For same-day delivery orders, the person handpicking your berries may not notice that the bottom layer is moldy, or they may include a box of muffins with a same-day expiration date in your order, even though other boxes are available that have an expiration date two days later.
The same thing can happen with shelf-stable foods. And while you have more leeway here, would you rather eat a jar of pretzels that are six weeks away from their expiration date or twelve weeks away?
Be strategic when shopping in person
If you avoid Costco stores because of the crowds, I understand that. But I’ve developed a strategy for my personal shopping that might work for you.
First, I usually try to be at Costco when it opens. But here’s a lesser known secret. Sometimes Costco employees will let customers in the door a little early, so it’s worth coming 10 or 15 minutes early and seeing what happens.
At my local Costco, the official opening time is 10:00 a.m., but if I park at 9:45 a.m. and walk out the door at 9:50 a.m., an employee will often wave me in. Not only does this give me a few glorious minutes in a virtually empty store, but if I’m shopping quickly, I’m often at the checkout line before long lines form.
I suggest you stop by your local Costco just before they open and see if you have any luck there.
Another way to avoid crowds at Costco is to ask an employee at the store what times of the day and week are usually the least busy. I find that Costco employees are extremely helpful. If you don’t want to try and figure it out yourself, ask the question.
Of course, if you find that you need to resort to Costco.com on occasion, that’s fine. But all in all, you just won’t get the best prices online, and you may not get the freshest food delivered, either, so it’s worth doing whatever you can to make in-person visits to Costco more bearable.
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We strongly believe in the Golden Rule, and editorial opinions are solely our own and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the advertisers involved. The Ascent does not cover all offerings in the market. Editorial content on The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool’s editorial content and is produced by a different team of analysts. Maurie Backman does not own any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns a position in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Forget Costco.com: Here’s why you should shop in-store at Costco was originally published by The Motley Fool
