Anyone who’s shopped at Costco on a busy weekend knows how hectic it can get. Between the crowded aisles, long checkout lines, and carts piled high with groceries, there’s a lot going on. And while most of us are just trying to get through our shopping trip, we might be doing a few things that drive employees crazy without even realizing it.
In a Reddit discussion, current and former Costco employees shared some of their biggest frustrations with shoppers.
Showing up at checkout without your membership card ready
Costco requires a membership card at checkout, yet some shoppers still wait until they’re standing in front of the cashier to start looking for it. One employee said this was their biggest frustration because it unnecessarily holds up the line when customers could have their cards ready while waiting.
Leaving everything inside the shopping cart
Some shoppers think they’re helping cashiers by leaving products in the cart with the barcodes facing up. However, employees explained that smaller items generally need to go on the conveyor belt so they can be scanned properly, while large and heavy products should remain in the cart.
Standing around instead of helping unload groceries
When the checkout area is busy, a little help unloading your cart can make a difference. One employee complained about customers who stand and watch while the cashier and assistant finish the previous order, even though an empty conveyor belt is ready for their groceries.
Asking for boxes and then abandoning them
Costco employees regularly help customers pack their purchases into cardboard boxes, but some shoppers leave those same boxes behind in the parking lot. Workers say it’s frustrating to spend time gathering and packing boxes only to have them discarded instead of taken home.
Leaving unwanted groceries in random aisles
Changing your mind about a purchase is perfectly fine, but leaving refrigerated food on a shelf with household supplies creates unnecessary problems. Several employees said they’d much rather have customers hand unwanted products to a worker than abandon them somewhere they could spoil.
Blocking aisles with shopping carts
Costco aisles are wide, but they can still become crowded when customers stop in the middle to browse or grab free samples. Employees said abandoned carts and shoppers standing in walkways make it difficult for everyone to move around, especially workers transporting heavy merchandise.
Leaving free sample trash everywhere
Those little sample cups, napkins, and toothpicks might seem harmless, but employees say they regularly find them scattered across shelves and tucked between products. One worker pointed out that trash cans are available throughout the warehouse, making the mess particularly frustrating.
Related: 10 Annoying Things Costco Shoppers Do That Drive Other Customers Crazy
Getting too close while employees pack groceries
Some customers stand directly behind the employee loading their cart or try to rearrange everything while it’s being packed. Workers say this can make an already crowded checkout area uncomfortable and slow down the process, especially when customers could simply explain how they’d prefer their groceries arranged.
Waiting until checkout to finish shopping
One cashier described customers who get into line before everyone in their group has finished collecting items. By the time they reach the register, they’re waving someone over with another cart full of groceries, leaving everyone behind them waiting.
Arguing about membership rules
Costco has membership requirements that employees are expected to follow, but some shoppers become upset when those rules are enforced. Workers mentioned customers trying to use someone else’s membership card or becoming argumentative when asked to show their own.
Taking frustrations out on employees
Whether a favorite product is out of stock or a price isn’t what someone expected, cashiers often end up hearing complaints about things they can’t control. Employees said they’d appreciate customers remembering that the person at the register usually isn’t responsible for inventory decisions or company policies.
Forgetting basic courtesy
One longtime Costco employee said they started tracking how many shoppers responded when greeted at the register. According to their informal count, more than half of the 100 customers they greeted ignored them, which they described as discouraging after spending hours helping people.
A simple hello, thank you, or polite response might seem small, but several workers said basic respect would make their workdays much easier.
