Agree 100%. Costco exemplifies american dream... recent immigrants perusing well-stocked aisles, friendly employees, ample parking, cheap tasty hot dogs, etc.

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bellgrove 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Perhaps this depends a lot on location. Parking is a nightmare at my local Costco. The employees are friendly enough most of the time. I truly admire the value and business model but Costco is pretty much the absolute worst shopping experience I can think of.

	▲	CapmCrackaWaka 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		It's because they are so busy. Yeah, costco is the one store I go to that people seem to have 0 spatial awareness. Every time I go, someone will just stop moving in the middle of the aisle, creating backups, without any shame. But I bet if your other local grocery stores were as busy as costco, they would have the same issues.
	▲	joezydeco 4 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Agreed. The entire store is wired to encourage impulse buying and keep you from making rational decisions about whether you'll be able to finish that 3lb container of guacamole before it goes bad.

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furytrader 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I find the experience of shopping at Costco very uncomfortable. The parking lots are jammed packed, everyone is darting around with large shopping carts, the lines for the cashier are long, sales people are trying to pitch me on travel deals as I walk by - it almost feels like going through a busy airport. I am a Costco member, but I only go to the store when I really need to. The fact that I can shop Costco via Instacart was a gamechanger for me.

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PaulDavisThe1st 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

For lots and lots of Americans, endless consumerism, driving and junk food are not a part of the dream in any way.

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spike021 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

ample parking? Not at any locations in my area. Even on weekdays.

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baby_souffle 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Go within an hour or so of opening.

I used to work right across the st from one and would spend most of my shift looking out at their parking lot and you could see it get more packed throughout the day, thin out a little bit in the early afternoon and then slowly drain towards closing.

It's always least crowded right at open and then an hour (? or maybe two?) later they open for the "regular" people and once that's the case, it fills quickly.

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dpark 5 hours ago | parent [-]

> Go within an hour or so of opening.

Hah. It’s such a PITA that Costco includes an hour earlier entry on the top tier membership.

	▲	0x457 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I regularly shop at Costco and its usually one of five which ever is more convenient at the time. In all of my experience with Costco there is exactly one that has shitty parking, the rest are fine. That is if you have enough wrinkles in your brain to notice that in front of the store there 10 cars waiting for spot and parking a little bit in a back is easier. I often see people cruising around still looking for parking while I already managed: to park, walk to the storefront, get myself a hot dog, eat my hot dog, grab a cart.

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rustystump 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The hotdogs. You know the world is ending when Costco raises the prices of their hotdog.