Additional types of Costco shoppers

Last week I discussed 5 types of Costco shoppers listed in an article written by a Costco employee (5 Types of people you see at Costco). I also generated some additional “types” (again, I confess–several of these describe either past or current me, so I will share some anecdotes).

1. First-timers

It is always fun to introduce people to Costco. These days, so many people are familiar with the huge sizes and quantities sold at Costco that the shock factor is largely diminished.  (In contrast, I still remember the first time we took my Grandmother to Costco a few decades ago. I showed her the Kozy Shack rice pudding that we bought (at the time, it was sold in huge tubs (no longer sold) rather than a large number of individual portions–and I admit that the tubs were ridiculous). Nevertheless, it is inevitable that during each trip to Costco, you will hear people saying “but it’s so big” “who needs that many?” “where will I put them all?” “how could I possibly eat that many?”  After the same person is surprised over and over, I feel like saying, “yes, everything at Costco is big! Stop being surprised!

2. College students

Nothing says “I’m going to college” like a Costco-sized box of Swedish fish (a product I likely will never eat again after eating said box in the span of about a week). When I first went to college, we made sure to stop at Home Depot for the cinder blocks (this was before they made much less dangerous plastic ones) on which to prop the bed and I remember telling people that I effectively had a “grocery store” under my bed.

3. Large families

Ah yes…each parent is pushing a cart full of multiple gallons of milk, cartons of cheerios, a few batches of bananas, tons of toilet paper, and probably a few bonus items such as Oreos or animal crackers.

4. Deal-seekers

These people seem to amble aimlessly through the aisles, making passers-by wonder why anyone is spending so much time looking at the aisle containing school supplies and paper shredders. But these shoppers are on a mission–find the deals! They are looking at every product sign for the discontinued (aka “97s) or special rebate items (Price endings are not random).

5. Smugs

These proud Costco shoppers take any and all opportunities to brag about how much better the prices they are seeing at Costco are compared to other stores. You see these people (or, in my case, I am with these people…Dad?) looking at items and saying to their companions “Ha, one of these would cost twice as much at Stop and Shop!” or “Didn’t I tell you that Costco would have a better deal than Best Buy?”

6. Bored kids

These kids are sitting on the display sofas and chairs and looking at their smart phones. They periodically look around to see if they can find their parents. And, if they do see their parents, whine, “How much longer?” (Before I woke up to the greatness that is Costco, I was one of these kids…except I did not have a phone, so I would be in the book display area reading while I waited for my parents).

7. Event planners (aka “This is our chance!!”)

These shoppers are in the process of planning events and view it as their opportunity to try each item that they normally would not purchase. You can hear them discussing the event and how they “might as well” try this and that. I definitely fall into this category and love the idea of being responsible for planning the food for events as it is my chance to buy all things completely impractical for normal Costco shopping. For example, I always want to host birthday parties in order to buy the chocolate layer cake, want my parents to buy the food (especially desserts) for some of my dad’s meetings, knowing that there will be leftovers, and getting excited to host holidays because now we have an excuse to get more of the food that is just too big for frequent purchasing.

8. Equal-opportunity big store shoppers

Amazingly enough, not everyone is impressed with Costco. I have seen/been with people in Costco for the first time who don’t appreciate the differences between Costco and other warehouse stores (BJs or Sam’s) or large stores in general (e.g.,  Walmart). I can certainly appreciate that there are benefits to other stores (and my family often has membership to both Costco and BJ’s, largely because BJs is closer but also because many of their quantities are more reasonable for small families. However, there are definite differences across stores, so to those who say “I don’t see the big deal about Costco. It’s just like [insert other store], I say “au contraire my friend”… (Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJs: part 1) (Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJs: part 2)(Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJs: part 3) (Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJs: part 4)

9. Rigids

These individuals are dedicated to certain products that are unique to Costco. These may be Kirkland products or may be items that are made by other companies but only distributed to Costco stores (e.g., Kitkland granola made by Nature’s Path Product Review: Kirkland Ancient Grains granola). It may seem ridiculous to others that these people will make a special trip to Costco for one or two items but they are committed to these products and nothing else will suffice.

10. Costco membership moochers

Yep, everyone with a Costco card is probably familiar with the friends who are not willing to shell out the money for their own membership (“But I just wouldn’t make enough use of it…I don’t buy *that* much”) but who love to accompany us to the store when we go. They are thrilled to be in Costco and want to make full use of the trip…but, because they are not as familiar with the layout of the store or with many of the items, they are likely asking questions of their “host”, employees, or other shoppers. They are also likely to take their time as they try to look at every aisle, so when bringing the mooches along, be prepared to spend awhile.

Have you seen these people?

Are you these people???

Others?