Walking into a massive Costco warehouse for the first time can feel thrilling and overwhelming. Shoppers flash their membership cards and step into endless aisles stacked with bulk goods. But while the store promises savings, small decisions, like picking the wrong cart or shopping at peak times, can quietly drive up your final bill. Employees can often spot first-timers by their habits, from their shopping cart choices to how they move through the aisles.
Why the Cart You Pick Matters
Most newcomers grab the standard shopping cart, just like they would at an ordinary grocery store. It seems like the natural choice, but in Costco’s world of giant packages and bulk deals, that cart quickly becomes a problem. Large items like 36-packs of toilet paper or heavy cases of bottled water fill it too fast, leading to awkward stacking that often topples over.
Experienced shoppers and warehouse staff know there’s a better option: the flatbed cart. This wide, low platform is designed for bulk buying. It holds large items without wasting space and makes it easier to transport heavy loads. Choosing the right cart signals that you understand Costco’s “buy big, save more” philosophy. Seasoned members plan their trips like small-scale logistics missions, efficient, focused, and built for volume.
The Hidden Price of Hesitation
New shoppers at Costco tend to spend a lot of time checking prices, calculator in hand, trying to work out the best deals per unit. It’s understandable, after all, saving money is the main reason for joining. But employees easily spot first-timers this way. Long pauses in the aisles slow down the pace of shopping, and new members often spend 20 minutes in a single row comparing prices. That time adds up quickly.
Regulars, on the other hand, already recognize the patterns. They know which items offer the best value and which tend to go on sale. They’ve memorized the price tags for their favorite Kirkland Signature products, a brand known for offering the same quality as major labels at lower prices. With practice, the need for constant price-checking fades, replaced by confidence and speed.
Missing Out on Kirkland Signature Deals
Skipping Kirkland products is one of the biggest beginner mistakes at Costco. Many first-timers assume that name brands must be better, unaware that Kirkland often partners with the same manufacturers. For example, a well-known organic quinoa brand can cost $18, while the nearly identical Kirkland version might sell for $11. That’s a 39% savings, money that adds up over the course of a year.
Veteran members know this and stock up on Kirkland items, from laundry detergent to olive oil, without hesitation. New shoppers, meanwhile, walk right past these bargains, drawn by flashy packaging and familiar logos. The truth is, Costco’s private label often delivers premium quality without the premium price. Experienced employees see this pattern play out constantly: newcomers buy brands, veterans buy value.
Timing, Planning, and Smart Habits
Choosing when and how to shop is as important as what you buy. New members often make the mistake of visiting on Saturday afternoons, assuming weekends are best. In reality, these are the most chaotic hours, crowded aisles, packed parking lots, and long checkout lines create stress that can lead to impulse purchases. Even comparing prices becomes harder when you’re stuck behind dozens of other carts.
Seasoned shoppers avoid this chaos. They come on weekday mornings or calm Tuesday evenings, when the store is quiet and restocked. With fewer distractions, they take their time making smart decisions. Planning also matters. Walking into Costco without a shopping list or clear budget is a recipe for overspending. The vast warehouse layout is designed to encourage browsing, so it’s easy to walk out with twelve cans of tomato sauce you didn’t plan to buy.
Bulk produce presents another common trap. The promise of low prices on huge bags of fruit or greens is tempting, but perishables go bad quickly. Many new shoppers overbuy and end up throwing away spoiled food, turning supposed savings into waste. Even free samples, often skipped by shy newcomers, are actually a useful shopping tool. They let you try items before committing to large quantities, reducing the risk of buyer’s remorse.
Turning Chaos into Confidence
Shopping at Costco is as much about learning strategy as it is about finding deals. First-timers often waste money through trial and error, buying too much, paying more for brands, or shopping during peak hours. Employees understand this learning curve; most have watched countless members evolve from overwhelmed beginners to confident bulk-buying pros.
The good news is that the lessons come quickly. Once you understand Costco’s rhythm, using the right cart, trusting Kirkland, avoiding crowds, the savings grow significant. Each visit becomes more efficient, and the experience shifts from chaotic to controlled. In the end, Costco rewards preparation and patience. With time, savvy members turn what once felt like a maze into a well-mapped path to lasting value.
Sources:
“7 things lower-middle-class people do at Costco that quietly tell employees they’re first-time members.” VegOut Magazine, 19 November 2025.
“Smart shopping or a trap: the Costco dilemma.” The Brock Press, 23 October 2025.
“Costco Q1 2026 slides: Digital sales surge 20.5% as membership income jumps 14%.” Investing.com, 11 December 2025.
“Costco tops Wall Street’s sales and revenue expectations.” CNBC, 11 December 2025.