topic Re: Costco Ratings in Community Chat

Costco Ratings

drizzellla — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:21:43 GMT

Costco's reign as the top grocery store has come to an end.

After leading rankings for an influential customer satisfaction survey in 2024, the wholesale giant has slipped to seventh place in 2025 - with its score falling from 85 percent to 81 percent.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index survey asked customers about their experiences at 19 grocery stores. Costco's shoppers reported a nearly 5 percent satisfaction drop since 2024.

Last week I went to Costco on Wednesday. It was not pleasant. Just checking out was a mess. The line for self checkout was long. There are 6 registers where you can self check out. And people were having trouble it seemed at every register. There were 3 registers that were manned by Costco employees. But the lines for the check out with Costco employees were much longer.

I was buying a 24 can case of 16oz drinks The display for the drinks was taller than me. So I literally had to crawl on the display to get a case. Then lift the case again to scan the bar code when I checked out at the self check out.

Then the line to get out of the store was all the way back to the area where they sell food.

I was so happy to get out of the store.

Thursday, I went to Sam's Club. What a difference. Every item I wanted was within arm's reach. No climbing to reach anything. There were 12 self check out registers. And you have a hand scanner, so you don't have to lift anything out of your cart. There were 6 Sam's Club employees at the regular registers.

And now you just walk out of store - no line. No checking the receipts. Just a "Thank you for shopping at Sam's". Oh, and she liked the pillow I bought for the sofa.

What a different experience.

Re: Costco Ratings

manny2 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:24:05 GMT

My Costco is always busy. I never have a problem with checking out. They are so fast.

On the rare occasion there is a problem with a customer, that is to be expected.

Re: Costco Ratings

Bri369 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:25:53 GMT

Costco is the one store I never have a problem at, even at their busiest.

Re: Costco Ratings

haddon9 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:34:29 GMT

I belong & go to Costco every couple of months. I find that I don't need stuff from them as often as the regular supermarket. It's a good 20-25 minutes to get there....not terrible but Sam's club is closer. However it's been years since I have been in a Sam's club. I might check them out once my Costco membership expires.

It seems that it's always crowded in Costco. Maybe I just go at the wrong times but I do love their paper goods and some other Kirkland products.

I had forgotten my card the last time that I went which was just last week. The woman at the customer service counter was very helpful and nice. She helped me get the APP with my card on it and now it doesn't matter if I have my card or not....I never thought of doing that.

Most of the time I shop at a small family owned chain called McCaffery's or I will go to Wegmans. Then there is a local organic place where I like to shop or the local farmer's market as well.

I hate when items are stacked so high that I need to get help. I would have been afraid of that case falling on me!

Re: Costco Ratings

jlkz — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:41:59 GMT

While in Florida this winter, we stopped in a Costco midweek to see what it would be like. We have a Costco less than 7 minutes from us at home but go to BJ's which is 15 minutes away.

It was overly crowded with barely room to stop and check out a shelf. The checkout lines looked as though they should charge rent !

Total zoo...I can understand why the slippage in customer satisfaction. No interest in becoming a member....

Re: Costco Ratings

Icegoddess — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:44:47 GMT

I generally don't go to Costco on the weekend. I've never run into a problem with self-checkout registers not working properly. However, I wish they wouldn't allow people with full carts in self-checkout. I don't see how they get all those items on the tray, and the tray knows. You can't tare the tray by putting an empty box on it before scanning, so, you know it knows if you don't put the item on it after scanning.

They also have the best return policy in the business. BJ's not so much.

Re: Costco Ratings

Marsha2003 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:11:30 GMT

I rarely go to Costco, but when I do, I choose my time carefully. The best time to go is about 30 - 60 minutes before closing. However, stupid me, I thought that they might be less crowded during Superbowl, so I thought I would drop by and pick up a few items.

Golly, it was a zoo and the egg section was completely bare. However, I got lucky when parking and the checkout lines were moving quickly. I was third in line. They had two people checking receipts at the door, so that was fast, too.

I used to buy all my paper goods there, but then they changed the TP, so I started ordering that from Walmart or Amazon. Things like boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the same $2.99 per pound at Amazon Fresh. Cheese and gasoline are still bargains at Costco, so I stop by now and again and stock up.

Re: Costco Ratings

tansy — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:16:37 GMT

My experiences at Costco are always positive. I can't reach many items at a regular store.

I appreciate that employees are valued and treated well.

Any slip in customer satisfaction are probably due to the current situation.

Re: Costco Ratings

Biftu — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:17:51 GMT

@haddon9 wrote:
I belong & go to Costco every couple of months. I find that I don't need stuff from them as often as the regular supermarket. It's a good 20-25 minutes to get there....not terrible but Sam's club is closer. However it's been years since I have been in a Sam's club. I might check them out once my Costco membership expires.

It seems that it's always crowded in Costco. Maybe I just go at the wrong times but I do love their paper goods and some other Kirkland products.

I had forgotten my card the last time that I went which was just last week. The woman at the customer service counter was very helpful and nice. She helped me get the APP with my card on it and now it doesn't matter if I have my card or not....I never thought of doing that.

Most of the time I shop at a small family owned chain called McCaffery's or I will go to Wegmans. Then there is a local organic place where I like to shop or the local farmer's market as well.

I hate when items are stacked so high that I need to get help. I would have been afraid of that case falling on me!

@haddon9 I'm at McCaffrey's a lot. It's five minutes from my house. I wouldn't be surprised if we have been there at the same time!

Re: Costco Ratings

Rockycoast — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:18:34 GMT

I have never considered Costco a grocery store. It is a wharehouse store to me. A store where you can get office supplies, furniture, toys, clothes, etc. along with food. Love Costco. So happy they finally opened one in Maine.

Re: Costco Ratings

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:23:57 GMT

I go to Costco because it is only 5 miles away. There are no Sam's Club stores near me. I go to Costco in the morning usually and it is busy but manageable. I am used to it.

A BJ's is being built in a neighboring town so I will check it out when it opens if they give a free one day pass or something like that. There's no reason for me to have more than one membership at a wholesale club.

Re: Costco Ratings

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:33:02 GMT

If the parking lot and aisles should become empty, Costco will reconsider their business model. Do you see that happening?

Re: Costco Ratings

cindyNC — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:14:29 GMT

The closest warehouse store to us is Costco, but it's still 40+ minutes away. I also wish we had a Sam's or BJ's nearby. I like to shop around!

Re: Costco Ratings

chrystaltree — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:31:24 GMT

I have never been to Costco.

Re: Costco Ratings

shoptilyadropagain — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:01:55 GMT

Costco is an hour away from where I live. I had a membership for two years but gave it up last fall. I always tried to go right when they opened but the store was still crowded and it was overwhelming. It got to the point where I grabbed the few things I always purchased and then got out of there fast.

There is a Sam's an hour away from me but it is in a smaller city than Costco and is on the outskirts of that town so I would think traffic would be less. I may try it out for a year and see what it's like.

Re: Costco Ratings

Trailrun23 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:10:23 GMT

We have been members of Costco from its beginning; never had a problem there. I particularly like their return policy; no questions asked, no time limit, and no receipt needed since the purchase is in the sytem under your membership number. We avoid the weekends since its busier and go in the middle of the afternoon during the week. We have bought tires, rented cars, and purchased platation shutters for our home through Costco....always much lower price and higher quality and service. We buy all our papergoods, cleaning supplies there. Nice to not have to repurchase those very often. So many things there we can't get other places.

Re: Costco Ratings

Desertdi — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:13:39 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
I have never been to Costco.

@chrystaltree

I went ONCE with a friend...just to SEE what it was like.

I was kinda overwhelmed by the size of the place. ( And, not worth the membership cost for a single person.)

Re: Costco Ratings

haddon9 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:31:04 GMT

@Biftu Oh that's funny! My son shops at McCaffery's in Princeton. I used to go the the one on Yardley all the time until Genardi's in Newtown became McCaffery's.

I just came back from Wegman's in Yardley and they have tons of Valentine stuff! Lots of flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, and they even had heart shaped macaroons!

ETA: McCaff's has the best cranberry walnut chicken salad in the deli section .....just if you like chicken salad!

Re: Costco Ratings

Biftu — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:58:48 GMT

@haddon9 wrote:
@Biftu Oh that's funny! My son shops at McCaffery's in Princeton. I used to go the the one on Yardley all the time until Genardi's in Newtown became McCaffery's.

I just came back from Wegman's in Yardley and they have tons of Valentine stuff! Lots of flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, and they even had heart shaped macaroons!

ETA: McCaff's has the best cranberry walnut chicken salad in the deli section .....just if you like chicken salad!

@haddon9 I go to the McCaffrey's in Doylestown. Our Genardi's became a Weiss. Wegman's always has great bakery offerings. Don't tempt me!

Re: Costco Ratings

Susan Louise — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:14:10 GMT

We LOVE Costco! The deals we get on meats can't be beat anywhere else locally. We have a fairly short list of items we purchase there, but worth every single penny of the membership fee.

Although our Costco is busy all the time, we have no issues and even if we have to wait in line, it is certainly not a deal breaker.