Supermarket Sleuths: Costco 'rule' that ensures a smoother shopping experience
Costco isn't a retail outlet you can quickly pop into for just bread and milk.
From the battle for a parking spot to maneuvering one of their giant trolleys through the entrance – where you must scan your membership card and bring a maximum of two guests – Costco is... well, an experience.
You may as well clear that half of the day to do it justice.
Costco isn't a retail outlet you can quickly pop into for just bread and milk. Nine
It's always busy, particularly at this time of the year when the weather is warmer and people are entertaining and preparing for the festive season.
But, is there a time of the day when it is a little less hectic?
When you have a chance of getting in and out in under an hour, and can avoid joining a queue that extends beyond the clothing section in the middle of the store?
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But, is there a time of the day when it is a little less hectic? Nine
Redditors think there is an ideal time of the day to visit their nearest Costco store.
One Redditor took to the online forum's 'Perth' thread and said: "I went to Costco by the airport a couple of weeks ago and my God, it was absolute chaos.
"It was that packed and people everywhere bumping into each other I ended up just leaving."
They decided to try again, arriving in the middle of the day on a weekday when they had a day off work, thinking it would be less chaotic than on the weekend.
"I will admit it was a little better than the first time I went, but still absolute chaos to a stage where I couldn't wait to get out of there," they added.
"I like the idea of bulk shopping but don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.
"Have other people had the same experience or am I just unlucky?"
"Have other people had the same experience or am I just unlucky?" 9Honey
The rookie errors this new Costco shopper made are clear.
Their first mistake was expecting shopping there to be like any other supermarket, where they would usually find less customers during the week rather than on the weekend.
In fact the busiest times at the likes of Coles, Woolworths and Aldi are reportedly Friday mornings, and then Saturday and Sunday mornings.
So a mid-week trip during the day will prove to be a much calmer experience.
The second mistake this new Costco shopper made was not embracing the full experience. It's the hectic nature of shopping there that gives it a bit of a market feel.
The rookie errors this new Costco shopper made are clear. 9Honey
But if a smoother, less busy experience is what they are after, one Redditor suggested they go one hour before closing time "on a weekday evening".
"One of the guys from work actually said that too," another agreed.
"Yes! I used to always go about an hour or so before closing during the week and never faced the chaos of the weekend crowd," added another.
Most Costco stores close at 8.30pm on weekdays, including their Perth store, so that's an after dinner trip to the discount bulk retailer.
One Redditor said this is a good rule to follow, but suggested giving Thursdays a miss as Thursday is still known for late night shopping, which could mean more people at their local Costco on those nights.
Another suggested avoiding the Costco location in Perth that is near the airport, and heading to the one in Alkimos instead.
Most Costco stores close at 8.30pm on weekdays so that's an after dinner trip to the discount bulk retailer. 9Honey
"Will definitely be less chaotic cause the other Costco is less chaotic than the Perth airport one."
Costco memberships can be used at multiple locations, meaning this Costco newbie certain can try out the Alkimos store as a way to avoid the busy airport crowds.
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Costco memberships can be used at multiple locations. 9Honey
There are 15 Costco stores in Australia, the two in Western Australia, four in Victoria, four in New South Wales, three in Queensland, one in South Australia and one in the ACT.
The company has plans to open two new locations in 2027 including a new location in Pakenham, Victoria.
There are still no Costco stores in Tasmania.
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