What's The Best Time To Shop At Costco?
Costco would be heaven if it weren't for all the other shoppers. Of course, Costco is usually slammed, and those hundreds of customers blocking the aisles in your local warehouse all likely love it for the same reasons you do, like bulk bargains, amazing Kirkland Signature products, and, of course, those ever-popular super-cheap food court hot dogs.
Just like at grocery stores, the worst time to go shopping is also the most convenient: the weekend. So, if you can manage it, weekends are a time to avoid Costco. But if Saturdays and Sundays aren't the best then when, exactly, is the right time? There's a bit of disagreement here, but if you're frustrated by the hectic pace at Costco – which can cause fights for parking spaces, shopping cart collisions, long waits in the sample lines, and more — most advice concurs that around 3 p.m. on a weekday afternoon is the golden timeframe. If it's raining or snowing, all the better!
Think like your fellow shoppers to avoid crowds
If you utilize Costco shopper logic, it makes sense that late afternoon is the time to shop. Most grocery stores see a major increase in foot traffic in the evenings after folks get off work, even though many people working the 9-to-5 grind would prefer not to mess with the craziness of Costco after a busy day in the office. While many members are heading home to start dinner, you can be browsing deals in (relative) peace.
As for the best day, ever since the halcyon days of the first Costco way back in 1983, shopping on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday has been a fraught concept. If you dislike crowds, you shouldn't shop at Costco on the weekends — no tricks are going to save you on this one. Some say that even Mondays are tricky since stay-at-home parents and business shoppers often use this day to stock their pantries for the week ahead. That leaves Tuesday through Thursday as the sweet spot. There's also the fact that bad weather tends to deter Costco shoppers, who probably don't want to push an overloaded cart of big boxes to their cars in rain or snow. Taking advantage of storms and bringing a good umbrella could be another golden ticket to enjoying warehouse shopping at a more relaxing pace.