Yeah, I don't really miss the samples that much. I wonder if the lack of samples is hurting sales? Perhaps the samples will never come back?
Crap! If I'd known you were going, I'd have given you my shopping list! Trying to avoid the inevitable Costco run, but that only works for so long.
Just kidding! Thanks for the review. I just went to a neighborhood state liquor store for pickled veggies, and some patron crowded right up to me while I was checking out. I said, 'Do YOU MIND!?' She backed off. But sheesh! what are people thinking? And no, I didn't forget to capitalize 'patron'.
Spring cleaning projects since everyone is now stuck at home.
That would be my guess as well. I have been filling bags with clothes that are too big for me, and Rick has been cleaning up the yard for spring. We have a lot of flooring to get out of our rental property, too.
Not all, but grocery stores have been doing samples for a long time. Not consistently, like Costco. There is a great Roseanne episode where Rosie and Jackie are both sample ladies.Sampling is a big part of Costco's in-warehouse sales. It drives attention toward selected items, some of which are on sale from the manufacturer, some of which are being promoted at special pricing to Costco by the manufacturer, and I'm sure, some of which are due to overstocks in the warehouse. The people offering the samples are not Costco employees. They are employed by CDS, a separate company hired by Costco to provide sampling. After this Covid-19 issue is over, and things at Costco go back to whatever will be the normal at that time, I'd fully expect sampling to return.
Added: Look around at how many other stores are also now doing sampling. Perhaps not to the level Costco does it, but they're doing it more. I don't ever remember grocery stores and Target offering samples before. So the concept must work.
Dave
Thanks for the tip. I had no idea Costco would deliver groceries. Delayed but better than Instacart which has zip deliveries.
Too early for a tube steak & Coke.I made a quick Costco run this morning,
If this is the new normal, I could get used to it.
Too early for a tube steak & Coke.
I have always tried to avoid the samples. Always seemed like a good way to catch a cold or the flu. (I have neighbors who, in the old days, ya know like 2 months ago, would go there DAILY to eat all the samples so they didn't have to make lunch. We live about 5 min from Costco. They also go to the YMCA to "workout"(he reads the newspaper, that's his workout) and use the shower facilities so they don't use their own hot water.)
I made a quick Costco run this morning, during Senior Hour. I got there about 7:00 for an 8:00 opening, and they opened the doors at 7:20. Costco rocks! Most everyone (including me) wore masks of one type or another. I also wore plastic gardening gloves that I can sanitize with any sort of wipe or sanitizer spray, just as a sort of added precaution. Everyone was practicing the social distancing thing, and at one point while I was walking through the warehouse, I watched the Store Manager stop three people who were gathered in front of something, and say, "Six feet apart, please." They all went, "Oh, sorry," and moved apart. That was nice to see. Otherwise, everybody was keeping their distance, even at the checkout lines. Tape stripes on the floor indicated where to stand.
There were only about 10 people ahead of me in line, and nobody made the "TP dash" that I've seen on other days. I made my way to the back of the warehouse, hoping they might have disinfectant wipes, but nope. I asked, and the guy just shook his head and said they were trying, but so far, no luck. But I did note the ENTIRE BACK WALL of the warehouse was stocked up with TP and paper towels. Stacks of it. It looked like any old day. The "one way" detour routing they had going on last time wasn't there today. Not being a hoarder, I didn't get any of either paper product, as I have enough already. I did see some folks getting the "one bale per customer" limit, and I sent a quick Facebook post to my local friends to advise them there was TP available at the moment, incase someone needs any.
Since it wasn't crowded, and I was one of the first in the door after opening, I took my time walking the food aisles. I picked up most of the things that were on my list, and a few other things I wasn't thinking of, but that fit into the current eating scheme at home. It was a pretty painless experience.
If this is the new normal, I could get used to it.
Dave
