Visiting a Costco Wholesale store is an experience in itself. Any product you can imagine, no matter the size, you will be able to find in the aisles of this supermarket chain in the United States. Besides finding products you didn’t know existed at really good prices, Costco also offers a free sample service, where you can try (and even repeat) the products before purchasing them.
The chain has no rules regarding the number of samples each person can consume, but it does have rules about offering samples to unaccompanied children.If there is no adult present with the children, no samples will be given to avoid possible allergic reactions, intolerances, or simply in case the parents do not want them to consume certain products. This measure is completely logical and has been recognized as such by the customers.
Costo Wholesale
Founded in 1983 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman, Costco first opened its doors in Seattle, Washington, USA. It is an international warehouse club supermarket chain. It is known for selling a wide variety of products in large quantities at very competitive prices. To shop at a Costco supermarket, you must be a member. This way, you can access the wide variety of products in their catalog, including food, beverages, household items, appliances, clothing, electronics, among many others. The main characteristic of this type of wholesale supermarket is the size of the products, which are offered in larger-than-usual formats.
The Costco shopping experience
Visiting a Costco store is not just about grocery shopping. It can even become an activity to spend the afternoon, as the size of their stores can take hours to explore if you are not in a hurry. Consumers have come to define their trips to Costco as a treasure hunt, since you never know what new product you are going to find. Their aisles are filled with disparate products, from giant stuffed animals to kitchen utensils you didn’t know you needed. Moreover, if their wide selection wasn’t enough, the company offers highly competitive prices that are friendly to customers’ pockets.
Nibbling at Costco
One of the attractions that the supermarket chain has is the offer of free food samples of its products. It sounds like a very appealing plan to go see what you can find in the aisles of Costco while you come across stands with free food and drinks along the way. However, the samples are not available 24 hours a day.
If you go very early, they may not yet be available, and if you go at the last minute, all the samples may be gone. That’s why, if you want to take advantage of this gift, the best time is from late morning to mid-afternoon. If you are lucky enough to hit the right time slot, you can practically enjoy a tasting menu – although be careful, that might lead you to make impulsive purchases.
Free sample rules
If you have just tried a free sample of one of Costco’s products, and it’s so good that you want to have more, you can do so without any problem. Costco allows customers to consume as many samples as they wish, as long as they ask politely, there is no line, or there are only a few units left for other consumers to try. However, they do have a very strict rule that they never bypass: giving free samples to unaccompanied children. It’s not enough for the parent to be nearby or one aisle away. If children want to try some of the free samples, their parents or adult guardians must be present.
Costco aims to avoid situations where a child may be allergic or intolerant to food, or does not have the consent of their parents. Therefore, if you visit any Costco location with children, you already know that they will need your presence and permission to taste the free food and drink samples.
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