Going to the supermarket can be a very different experience depending on the person. Some people enjoy walking through every aisle, while others consider it a burdensome task they'd rather finish quickly. In any case, nobody wants to waste time waiting in an endless line, especially when hunger strikes.
The same thing happens at Costco, where the high influx of customers causes constant waits. Some people enjoy taking advantage of the deals and the food court, while others want to get in and out as quickly as possible. The good news is that there's a simple trick many people don't know about that helps reduce lines effectively.
A little-known method that speeds up your visit
Costco already offers tools to improve the shopping experience. Among them are self-checkout lanes and membership scanners at the entrance, which allow you to solve issues before reaching the register. However, although these measures are useful, they don't always eliminate the waits.
The most effective trick is to order your food while you're still in the checkout line. Many food court kiosks have self-service and QR codes that let you place orders without waiting. This way, when you finish your purchase, you'll only need to pick up your order, with no need to wait in another line.
Another practical option is to coordinate with your companion. While one person waits in the line to pay, the other can go ahead and place the order at the kiosk. This reduces the wait time by 15 or 20 minutes, which makes a significant difference in a store as busy as Costco.
Additional tips to avoid lines
Besides the advance order trick, there are other useful tips. Costco recommends visiting stores on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, times when customer traffic is lower. This choice can save you a lot of time, especially if you prefer quick shopping trips.
Another recommendation is to scan your membership card at the entrance. This helps solve any issues right away, with no need to wait until you reach the register, which delays both your purchase and those of other customers. The goal is to speed up the entire process and reduce the frustration caused by long lines.
With these strategies, your experience at Costco can be much smoother. By combining the advance order trick with visits during less busy hours, you'll not only avoid possible lines, but you'll also enjoy a more efficient trip. In a supermarket with such high demand, these small changes achieve great results.