Costco Wholesale — Attraction in New York

Update August 2024: Looking back, I was probably too harsh in my critique regarding their security checking. It is in a ‘tough’ neighborhood, and many stores in tough neighborhoods have a theft problem to deal with. Even though everyone who enters must show membership ID, it’s possible that some thieves do get past.

In any case, the past few visits have been okay. ———-

Costco member for 9 years. I've been to 7-8 Costcos around the country. NYC's Costco is the absolute worst. I'm not factoring in the smaller selection, or the tighter space--that's just NYC. The crazy-long and poorly managed lines (often) are pretty bad, too, but not what makes me disappointed by this location. I'm not taking about the ridiculous layout, especially where one queues up for check-out, and the jockeying in the chaos for a 'fast' line. This is not unique to Costco. Also, there are a few really stellar employees whom I've met, and I wish for their sakes that they're valued by the management. These great employees merit 5 stars. And, I'm not complaining about the noticeable reduction in value over the past couple of years (prices the same or more than at TJ or Wholefoods for a host of items, and savings that are so marginal for others that it's hardly worth the effort.)

What really bothers me is the way the 'averag'e customer is subject to scrutiny that's worse than the airport security check. This is clearly the store management's fault and not the employees (some of whom could use some better people skills), but clearly, the management has decided to run the store like a high-security zone that sells high value objects to thieves and riff-raff. They assume the worst of their MEMBER customers, so they build high-scrutiny into the system. I'm sure there are a thousand problems that I don't know about in my simplistic view as a shopper (and member), but I can say that the overall experience here has been getting so bad, that my last visit was more exhausting than a bad trip through airport security.

This was my experience a few days ago. Going into the store, you need to show your membership. Fair enough, and something Costo does everywhere and always. Therefore, everyone who gets in has already been 'vetted'.

Jockey for a 'good line', wait 30 minutes to get to the register.

To pay at the register, you have to show your membership again. Fair enough. This point is where your purchases are recorded into the system, etc, and this is standard at all Costcos, or stores where your membership is beneficial to you..

But right after paying, and moving the cart past the registers, one is stopped by a redvest and asks for the receipt, and demands to count every item, asking you to take things out of the carrying containers, etc. so they can check. This is after waiting 30 minutes in line to pay.

Okay, give you back your receipt and then let you head to the exit. Sometimes you have to wait in a short line, until...

...ANOTHER EMPLOYEE AT THE EXIT WILL ASK TO CHECK EVERY ITEM AGAINST THE RECEIPT AGAIN.

Four gauntlets to run for the privilege of shopping at Costco, so you can save a little money on toilet paper. (BTW, I'm seeing that Costco prices here are not better value across the board--Cantaloups for instance, cost about the same as Trader Joe's, and still you have to buy two at a time--better to buy just one at TJs (or even Whole Foods). (Costco Online is even less of a value since the prices are higher than inshore for many items, so shopping Onine is only convenient but not necessarily a good value. But anyway...)

So, going to Costco's NYC is as exhausting as a roundtrip to the airport. Anxiety going through all the checks, waiting in lines, being talked down to and barked at by some of the surlier employees... not an experience I can stand doing very often.

If I were back in the 'burbs, Costco would usually be stress-free. Or, I could probably go to a different Costco. Here in Manhattan,...

UPDATE: 5/22/24- Prices increase and some decrease. I give Costco credit for that. However, there are still increases unlike I have ever seen. I have cut back; need to lose weight anyway. Had to retire, and refuse to get food stamps, but may have to. Pride is an awful thing.

PLEASE confirm your prices! Sometimes employees forget to change their price tags and may be cheaper than what you are charged. Thank goodness they are good about confirming and crediting your account. They are human, and we all make mistakes. No biggie. Good bed sheets on sale and even cheaper than Walmart ($7.99 for full size).

Don't know if they are still selling, but was able to get CLEARLY CANADIAN there. It doesn't taste the same as in years past. I remember their carbonation was softer. Might as well stick with regular soda. As the song goes, "Everything Must Change." END UPDATE.

UPDATE: Prices have really increased. I feel so bad for those who may not be able to purchase like they used to. The prices have increased so much, I talk out loud, "I can't believe it!..." Then I realize I have my mask on so people couldn't see my lips moving.

Shop wisely, Grasshopper! 10 pound bag of chicken wings are now $25 from costing over $40 during covid. I stopped buying those and now purchase two whole chickens, ranging in price from $12-$16. Used to be $7. Today bought the prepackaged wings...

UPDATE: Just opened a package. Used to get 6-8, whole wings that were big. NOW, there's 15 tiny wing, and flat, cut apart. No tip. They're now called "Party Wings." Butter reduced from $14, $12, now $11and change for four pounds. Started making my own from the unused/leftover heavy whipping cream I don't use for ice cream, and the buttermilk from that process is absolutely fabulous! Use that for the bread I have learned to make every week.

Everything has gone up -and down - in price.

Still, Clorox bleach is still the best after using other brands.

The GREENHOUSE brand of strawberries is to die for! Couldn't afford it this trip, so I bought the cheaper brand, at $8 for two pounds. I'll peel the seeds and mix into my vanilla ice cream for fresh strawberry ice cream. So much better with the majority of seeds gone.

In an ideal world, I'd only purchase meats from Costco, then get the rest from Walmart, and Aldi's. And have a beautiful windowed pantry to store it all, to lessen my grocery trips.

Since I don't have that luxury - yet - I'll continue to travel with my carry-on suitcase as my shopping bag/cart, to Costco, once a month, then Aldi's for the in-between items,...

This is the worst Costco I have EVER been to. We all know that in the past year, Costco has been extremely busy due to the pandemic. However, I've never run into an unpleasant worker there. The people at this Costco do not care about anything. I am very patient as I know retail can be difficult, but so many lines were crossed today.

The cashier was extremely rude to an international customer in front of me, and then argumentative when I pointed out that she was being unfair. She ONLY ID'd myself and the other customer, I watched ten people go through her line and she did not ID anyone else. The international person only had an international ID, which she refused to accept. She demanded to see their passport. Who carries their passport around with them???

Literally delusional. Also, I don't know why the biggest big box retailer in the USA cares if people are sharing memberships. You have cleared an extra billion dollars this year. Please stop holding up the lines for nonsense. I would rather shop at BJ's which is farther from my apartment, solely because I know they will be staffed appropriately and I won't have to pull out ID cards, credit cards, my birth certificate etc just to give your store a $300 purchase.

This is an extremely stressful and unorganized store. No one is guided to use the kiosks in the food court area, so the line is full of people cutting each other and the workers handing off the wrong food. It was the middle of the afternoon on SATURDAY and they only had two people working behind the counter!!! This is terrible management. I feel so sorry for the workers who try so hard but that pace is impossible to maintain.

The checkout lines are ridiculous, there's not enough cashiers working. Everyone that IS working is miserable, and there is NO ONE managing. You don't have ANYONE guiding customers along the line to move things faster. There is no easy entry and exit point. Also, the taxi line outside of the store wraps around the entire parking garage, so be prepared to wait over an hour.

PS. I will say that one of the workers I asked regarding the coffee grinder was very kind in pointing it out to me. I wish I saw her name tag, she had braids and she was very pretty. Shout out to her for being so nice despite her...