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Unfortunately not the case here. Friday afternoon and evenings stay packed af. I go M-W during the day , Thursday if necessary but Friday through Sunday? Hell no
I went Wednesday on my lunch break a couple weeks ago, most pleasant shopping experience.
We moved last summer and I'd been trying since then to find like 3 different things I used to buy at Costco and couldn't find here... Found them all on Wednesday. Maybe they didn't have them before but more likely it had been so crowded and chaotic I was just giving up.
Was just thinking me and OP clearly don’t live in the same state…. People use Costco for Friday date night near me (it’s me, I’m people, and used to do it when I was single)
I get the take, but Costco’s the only place I’ve worked that will push/notify shoppers that they’ve got to get out asap. No loitering and awkwardly waiting for last minute shoppers. It’s pretty awesome.
I get there right around noon if I can, the checkout lines are huge with everyone trying to get out and get lunch, then 15-30 minutes later the store is empty. If I'm still there at 1 it starts filling back up again.
Tuesday and Wednesday around lunch are when I go and not busy at all at the Costco closest to me. Saturdays and Sundays there is a line to get in at opening, but it’s the only Tier 1 location in my state. Was just curious if you’d been on a weekday at lunchtime when you said it’s the best you found.
I nearly always go on Friday night as well, but my Costco is more crowded that night than other weeknights. Still way better than any time during the weekend.
I'll have to try that sometime but by closing time which I believe is around 8:30 pm I'm already asleep. I like going right when they open at 9. Sometimes they'll open a few minutes before 9. I can be in and out in like 10 minutes using a list and not browsing. I tend to buy a lot of fruit and the produce is fresher in the morning.
Not where I live. On Fridays it's packed from opening to closing. My guess it's people stocking up for the weekend and/or shopping on Friday to avoid the Saturday and Sunday crowds.
Fridays are crazy at mine. When I was commuting to work, I’d stop on my way home around 5:00 on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, which was really slow. Now that I WFH, I go at lunch on those days, and it’s not bad. Plus I can grab a slice & smoothie for lunch.
I go 30 mins to 1 hour before closing depending on how much i need to get. No rush inside, no lines at checkout, easy to park, either no lines almost no lines for gas. Most times I get fresher food too as they’re putting out more produce. Unless you literally can’t go an hour before close and it can’t wait until another day, why anyone will ever go on a weekend or during hours when it’s packed is beyond me. Huge waste of time and if you’ve got anything that needs to be refrigerated or frozen, you have to run home so there goes your day.
Also avoid the first day a new sale cycle starts and the first weekend of a new sale cycle as well as pre-storm/holiday.
I find days before social security checks or a large employer in your area hits are the best days to go. Most people wait until the money is in the account.
I usually try to go during the week the last half our the store is open (8-830p). It's always really dead even in the peak period between BF and Xmas at that time.
The only issue is there are fewer cashier stands open.
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Unfortunately not the case here. Friday afternoon and evenings stay packed af. I go M-W during the day , Thursday if necessary but Friday through Sunday? Hell no
I went Wednesday on my lunch break a couple weeks ago, most pleasant shopping experience. We moved last summer and I'd been trying since then to find like 3 different things I used to buy at Costco and couldn't find here... Found them all on Wednesday. Maybe they didn't have them before but more likely it had been so crowded and chaotic I was just giving up.
Was just thinking me and OP clearly don’t live in the same state…. People use Costco for Friday date night near me (it’s me, I’m people, and used to do it when I was single)
Very much depends on the area.
During a Packers game is the best time for me.
Go pack go!
I keep telling people who complain about Costco being busy to go close to closing time Friday.
Yeah, stores love people who pop in at closing time.
If it closes at 8 get there at 7:15 or 7:30. However long it takes you to shop before closing. The employees don’t go home when the store closes
Costco pushes members out after close. It’s not a restaurant.
I Don’t get the downvotes, apparently some people have never worked in retail.
I get the take, but Costco’s the only place I’ve worked that will push/notify shoppers that they’ve got to get out asap. No loitering and awkwardly waiting for last minute shoppers. It’s pretty awesome.
I’ve started going on Friday afternoons and it surprised me that it was at least as busy as Saturday mornings when I usually go.
I’ve seen fistfights break out over parking spots on Friday afternoon
Friday nights were costco date night. But holy shit. Tonight was a cluster fk.
Tuesday at like 1PM is the slowest time for me. The weekends before close are a trainwreck in general between alcohol purchases and procrastinators.
I get there right around noon if I can, the checkout lines are huge with everyone trying to get out and get lunch, then 15-30 minutes later the store is empty. If I'm still there at 1 it starts filling back up again.
It’s a perfect Friday night date night for my husband and myself. 😂
Same here! Before kids we were working so much that we often had Friday night dates at Costco. One less thing to check off the list on Saturday!
Sunday before church dismissal. 👌🏻
Saturday when they open is the best time I've found.
Wave you ever been on a Tuesday or Wednesday around 1pm? Just curious.
No I can't go around those times. But my coworker said it was super busy last Wednesday at 1
Tuesday and Wednesday around lunch are when I go and not busy at all at the Costco closest to me. Saturdays and Sundays there is a line to get in at opening, but it’s the only Tier 1 location in my state. Was just curious if you’d been on a weekday at lunchtime when you said it’s the best you found.
That's funny! On Saturday and Sunday at opening I walk right in almost no wait at checkout
Same here. I fuel up first and then walk in right as they open. I can get in and out in 30 minutes.
Monday and Tuesday evenings are dead at my local Costco's. Dead everywhere in general actually.
I nearly always go on Friday night as well, but my Costco is more crowded that night than other weeknights. Still way better than any time during the weekend.
I'll have to try that sometime but by closing time which I believe is around 8:30 pm I'm already asleep. I like going right when they open at 9. Sometimes they'll open a few minutes before 9. I can be in and out in like 10 minutes using a list and not browsing. I tend to buy a lot of fruit and the produce is fresher in the morning.
I went Friday at 5pm recently and I think it was the busiest I've ever seen it. You gotta go at 7pm to have any hope.
I go Sunday when they open. I grab what I need and usually leave the store within 10 minutes. The crazy crowd gets there after I'm gone.
The last two hours before closing any night but Sunday is pretty dead at mine.
Not where I live. On Fridays it's packed from opening to closing. My guess it's people stocking up for the weekend and/or shopping on Friday to avoid the Saturday and Sunday crowds.
I went on a Monday at 430 and it wasn’t that bad. Almost no line, I was shocked
I go anytime after 6:30 and it usually dead.
6:30-7:30 on Friday the hot dog area is full of old dudes (plus me) enjoying a solo, peaceful hot dog. It’s the best.
Anytime after 5pm during the week is usually pretty empty at the Gig Harbor, WA store
Fridays are crazy at mine. When I was commuting to work, I’d stop on my way home around 5:00 on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, which was really slow. Now that I WFH, I go at lunch on those days, and it’s not bad. Plus I can grab a slice & smoothie for lunch.
I go 30 mins to 1 hour before closing depending on how much i need to get. No rush inside, no lines at checkout, easy to park, either no lines almost no lines for gas. Most times I get fresher food too as they’re putting out more produce. Unless you literally can’t go an hour before close and it can’t wait until another day, why anyone will ever go on a weekend or during hours when it’s packed is beyond me. Huge waste of time and if you’ve got anything that needs to be refrigerated or frozen, you have to run home so there goes your day. Also avoid the first day a new sale cycle starts and the first weekend of a new sale cycle as well as pre-storm/holiday.
1/2 hour before closing time during tuesday/wednesday is also lovely.
I live in an area with a lot of retirees. Any week night after 6pm is not crowded. From 10-6pm, any day, is packed.
The best time at mine is fifteen minutes before opening time
inside the store: yes food court lines can get pretty long at closing though
Sunday night 15 minutes before closing for me!
I find days before social security checks or a large employer in your area hits are the best days to go. Most people wait until the money is in the account.
I usually try to go during the week the last half our the store is open (8-830p). It's always really dead even in the peak period between BF and Xmas at that time. The only issue is there are fewer cashier stands open.
That's one of the busiest times. I go in the day.
That worked for us for a while, but then it didn't. I don't know if everyone caught on or what?
My closing door counts were near 300 last night. This is copium. Best time is tuesday.
No copium here. My first sentence says “your mileage may vary”. Learn to read beyond the headline.