Time for your monthly trip to Costco? Well, hold your horses — because there's one very specific time of day that's best-suited for a visit, especially if you want to avoid the cost-cutting-hungry crowds!
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00:00Time for your monthly trip to Costco? Well, hold your horses, because there's one very
00:05specific time of day that's best suited for a visit — especially if you want to avoid
00:09the cost-cutting hungry crowds.
00:12Since the opening of its first warehouse in 1983, Costco has become one of the most popular
00:17supermarkets in the United States, quickly growing a cult-like membership customer base
00:22around the country. With its convenient discounted bulk items, high minimum wage rates, and those
00:27beloved $5 rotisserie chickens, the hype for Costco is currently at an all-time high.
00:33I can save money, I can save costs. In today's market, you've got to save costs."
00:39Because of Costco's large, warehouse-style layout, it takes a fair bit of time to shop
00:43there. According to Cheapism, the average Costco warehouse is 146,000 square feet, hosting
00:49an estimated 4,000 different products on its shelves.
00:53If you've ever walked into a Costco, then you know how overwhelming it can be, and how
00:57easy it is to spend hours wandering the aisles. So what's the trick? Is it best to wake up
01:02early and avoid the midday rush? Or maybe go on your lunch break and hope that most
01:07of your fellow shoppers are still stuck in the office? Maybe late at night?
01:11Well, there actually is a best time of the day to shop at the Wholesale Depot. If you're
01:16looking to get your shopping done without the chaos of the Costco crowds, going an hour
01:20before they close will be your best bet. During this time, you'll be avoiding the early morning
01:24rush and the post-work crowd.
01:26If you're going an hour before close, however, avoid going on the weekends, as it'll often
01:31be busier than going in the middle of the week. You'll want to check your local Costco
01:35to see their hours, but most locations in the United States close at 8.30 p.m. on weekdays
01:40and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
01:43If you have a long shopping list, just be sure to be efficient, as you will be going
01:47up against the clock. And while you'll likely be able to peacefully make your way through
01:51the store during these later evening hours, you certainly won't be able to savor the classic
01:56Costco experience.
01:57There is, of course, one other way of beating the crowds.
02:00It's very hip to be on the internet right now.
02:03If you want to do some bulk shopping from the comfort of your home, look no further
02:07than Costco Online. When shopping on Costco's website, you'll notice slight variations from
02:12shopping in the store. The most obvious difference is that you don't need a Costco membership
02:17to shop online, but you will pay an extra 5 percent fee on top of your total. Non-members
02:22will also have to look out for hidden members-only pricing for hot ticket items like electronics
02:27and appliances.
02:28You should also expect to budget plenty of time for scrolling. Bloomberg notes that the
02:33online warehouse has over doubled the amount of products — around 10,000 online versus
02:384,000 in stores. One caveat is that sometimes the online prices can be higher when shipping
02:43and handling fees are factored into the final price.
02:47Just like many other large retailers, Costco offers same-day and two-day delivery based
02:51on your location. According to Costco's website, same-day delivery is available for perishable
02:57items and is delivered to your door via Instacart. There is a $35 order minimum, which should
03:03be easy to meet. According to Yahoo!, the average shopping trip totals $114. The one
03:09catch is that the prices per item are slightly higher than if you were to purchase directly
03:13in-store.
03:14If you just need to load up on non-perishables like laundry detergent or toilet paper, shoppers
03:19can choose Costco's two-day delivery service. You'll need to spend at least $75 to avoid
03:25any delivery fees, but that's a small price to pay for convenience. Unlike same-day delivery,
03:30which tends to vary based on your location, the two-day service is available nationwide
03:35except in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.
03:39And hey, maybe you won't be getting your Costco goodies as quickly as you might by
03:42visiting a warehouse, but let's be honest, you can't put a price on convenience.