9 Things Costco Shoppers Do That Drive Everyone Else Crazy
I stepped into Costco last weekend for a quick milk run and ended up trapped in a five-cart backup behind a shopper deeply engrossed in a free sample debate. We have all been there: a simple errand quickly devolves into a test of human patience.
Costco Wholesale Corporation reported operating 647 warehouses across the United States and Puerto Rico at the end of fiscal year 2026, which represents an increase from the 629 warehouses operated at the close of fiscal 2025. The crowds are larger, and everyday shopping friction is at an all-time high. But what frustrates shoppers pales in comparison to what floor staff deal with every shift.
Costco employees revealed the most infuriating customer habits that turn a routine shopping run into total chaos, and chances are, you might be guilty of at least one.
Blocking the aisle for free samples
Free samples turn a quick Costco run into a treasure hunt, but some folks treat the tasting station like their personal dining room table. They park massive carts smack in the middle of the aisle, form a tight huddle around the server, and block all traffic while waiting for hot pizza rolls.
Finding cereal shouldn’t feel like navigating an obstacle course. Grab a napkin, thank the hard-working human tossing out free snacks, and roll on by. The entire warehouse flows much better when everyone grabs a bite and keeps their wheels rolling.
Leaving sample cups everywhere
Those tiny sample cups seem harmless until shoppers leave them in carts, on shelves, and among merchandise. Costco employees notice, and they are not thrilled about cleaning up after everyone’s snack break. Seven Costco employees told Business Insider that they judged shoppers who leave behind a trail of garbage as they move through the warehouse. One Ontario worker described discovering spilled soup among the produce, creating an unpleasant cleanup task.
Meanwhile, shoppers can usually find large red trash cans near tasting stations and at aisle ends. That makes proper disposal a pretty easy habit. After enjoying your sample, toss the cup, napkin, and utensils into a nearby bin. The next shopper shouldn’t have to clear your leftovers before loading their groceries.
Leaving cold food on random shelves
Ever picked up a cozy sweater at Costco only to uncover an abandoned, lukewarm deli sandwich hiding in the sleeve? It happens more often than you think. Shoppers regularly ditch cold meals in random aisles because walking back to the fridge section feels like a marathon.
That frozen pizza or chicken salad sitting on a dry display shelf quickly transforms into a sad, unsafe mess. Tossed food gets thrown away, which raises costs for everyone. Next time you change your mind, hand it over to any team member at checkout. It saves the food, keeps the store clean, and spares the next shopper a strange surprise.
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Talking on the phone during checkout
Nothing makes a checkout line feel longer than watching someone ignore the cashier while carrying on a phone conversation. Workers need customers to answer questions, present their membership information, and complete payment. A distracted shopper can interrupt that process and leave everyone waiting.
A Business Insider interview report, shows three Costco workers stated that members who talk on the phone while in line slow down the entire checkout and membership-signup process. The solution doesn’t require much effort. Tell your caller you’ll ring them back, finish your purchase, and continue the conversation outside. Your groceries will move along faster, and the people standing behind you will appreciate the courtesy.
Letting children run wild
Costco welcomes families, and children naturally get excited during shopping trips. However, problems start when kids race through crowded aisles or climb around inside shopping carts. Costco’s membership conditions also make expectations clear. The company welcomes members’ children but requires adults to supervise them and never leave them unattended.
Parents don’t need to keep children perfectly quiet. They simply need to maintain control and watch where they’re going. That keeps the shopping experience more comfortable for families, employees, and everyone else sharing the aisles.
Abandoning carts in the parking lot
You’ve probably seen this one: an empty shopping cart sitting on a curb while the designated return area stands nearby. Some customers even leave carts on landscaped islands or in random parking spaces. In Business Insider’s reporting on the customer habits that most annoy retail workers, employees from Florida and Arizona expressed their frustration with shoppers who dump carts in random places rather than using designated corral.
Stray carts can obstruct parking spaces, create extra work for employees, and inconvenience arriving customers. After you load your vehicle, walk the cart back to the nearest corral.
Opening packages they don’t buy
Some shoppers want a closer look at merchandise before committing to a purchase. That makes sense, especially when buying larger quantities or expensive household products. However, opening a package and then grabbing an untouched replacement creates an entirely different problem.
Other customers may encounter damaged packaging, and staff must deal with merchandise that someone unnecessarily opened. Before breaking a seal or tearing a box, read the product information and ask an associate for assistance. Leave the unopened merchandise in the condition you’d want to find it.
Trying to use someone else’s membership
Borrowing a friend’s Costco card might sound like a harmless shortcut, but the retailer doesn’t treat membership that way. The official Costco Member Privileges and Conditions policy states that a membership card is valid at any warehouse worldwide but cannot be transferred or shared with others. Under its published general rules, members may bring their children and up to two guests, but purchasing privileges generally belong to members, subject to the company’s stated exceptions.
Those requirements can turn an attempted shortcut into an awkward conversation at the entrance or register. Instead of borrowing somebody else’s card, accompany a member as an authorized guest or obtain your own membership. It saves time and avoids an unnecessary argument.
Holding up the receipt check
You’ve finished shopping, loaded your cart, and finally reached the exit. Then the customer ahead starts digging through bags and pockets for a missing receipt. It’s an avoidable delay that can frustrate shoppers who simply want to head home.
Employees inspect purchases to confirm that cashiers processed merchandise correctly and charged members appropriately. Its membership rules also require shoppers to present receipts and merchandise for inspection before leaving. This process serves an operational purpose rather than automatically signaling suspicion of theft. Keep your receipt handy after checkout instead of burying it beneath your groceries.
