Costco Wholesale — Local services in Lower Macungie Township

This was my first time visiting Costco and have always wondered what the hype and attraction was all about. I must say I was not impressed with the store layout staff or selection and cancelled the auto renewal immediately. I signed up in April 2025 and the auto renew was going to be in Dec 2025 which isn't a full year membership. That's 4.months short . I would like someone from Costco to explain that to me. I was unaware where to enter so we followed the crowds or should I say herd of people into the store . Staff immediately stopped us and asked for the membership card . Since it was my first time I asked if we could look around to see if this was something I would want to join but we were directed to exit back out one side and enter the other to speak to someone at the membership counter. Not sure why the high security considering you can't buy anything without a membership and as you exit you are stopped by staff and they check your paid receipt and count the items you have. Maybe they fear you will wander inside and try some of their tiny, totally nonsense samples of snacks without a paid membership. After going back outside and around through all the massive crowds I asked if they offer a one day pass to see if the store is a good fit, but they do not.. They don't offer any discounts, not even to seniors. I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try for a year hoping I would make up the 69 .00 charge back in savings. First let me say the warehouse is laid out in such a confusing and unorganized way with nothing marked or any signage of any kind or sense of direction. With the exception of the bakery and seafood, all other isles are a stumble as you go adventure and discover on your own what the isles or cases contain. Everything is meshed together and good luck trying to find someone to help you, and if you do find staff they seem miserable, tired, overworked, and truly unhappy. If you are looking for a certain flavor or variety of product you won't find it because it is whatever they brought in bulk and are selling for the day or week. I found myself frustrated looking for some common items and because nothing is marked the entire visit turned into a seek and find with more seeking than finding. Not my choice of a fun food shopping trip. Maybe if you have a large family of at least 8 or more and need bulk items Costco will work. For a family less than 6 it is not worth the membership fee, long lines , crowds, long wait and confusion. There are so many other stores that have much better items with much better variety and selection with prices that match costco and bulk items . Unless you need a pack of 8 bottles of ketchup, their membership fee is not worth it. Redners, Aldi's , Walmart and even Grocery Outlet offer good pricing, bulk items and most importantly they carry everything you need without any membership fee. Even BJs wholesale club offers a one day pass to try out the store to see if it is worth signing up for. Since I signed up for a year I have been to Costco twice. The first time I was totally frustrated with the layout and confusion and lack of variety, and the second time I thought would be better since I sort of knew the layout but still walked away feeling frustrated when I couldn't find a certain item that I needed so I had to go to a regular supermarket to get the missing items I needed . Two shopping trips on the same day to two different stores. Why bother or waste my time going to Costco . In my opinion Costco is absolutely not worth the membership fee. Better options are out there with the same bulk pricing and no membership fee. If I could get a refund on my membership I would. Totally...

The parking lot layout is kind of weird here. The cart corrals seem to be in the exact wrong location for people to utilize them, either that or everyone that shops here is extremely thoughtless, lazy and inconsiderate and leaves their carts on the walkway when they're done. Seems like it's one or the other.

The store is good and has good deals. I've bought quite a few things that I use often and quite a few things that were a total waste of money. That's how Costco gets ya!

Where things go wrong are the people. Sometimes there are too many people here and the line is insane and it's crowded. Sure it moves pretty fast, but it's intimidating as heck to have a cart full of groceries and face the prospect of being stuck in line for 30-45 minutes. Plus when it's crowded here, people act like they are horses with blinders on. You can stare someone dead in the eye and they'll still look down and push their dang cart in front of/in to you or your kids. It's not just one or two people either. Like I get it's tough to communicate with people wearing a mask.... But it totally works if you MAKE EYE CONTACT and learn how to nod your head and show INTENT. Stop thinking you're so impressive that everyone will clear a path for you. Anyone who does this honestly just looks ignorant and miserable. And a lot of you are doing it. Stop it.

People who work here are very nice. The people in the pizza area are super nice. The one dude is very personable and makes good small talk. I've only come across one one woman who is super strict and she's the one gave my gf a hard time about entering the store immune compromised(didn't believe her) while helping her 80 year old mother shop when they had senior hours. She's the same lady that gave me a hard time about membership a few months earlier when helping my gfs mother shop when she couldn't due to the state of the pandemic at the time.

I've visited here a lot in a short time and at many different times of the day and on some of the busiest days of the year. Based on my experience, my advice is to plan to visit in the hour or two before they close during the week. If you need more than an hour or two to shop here, you're either bored or a complete psycho who this review wouldn't be good for. Never go on the weekends unless you know exactly what you want and only get enough items to go through self checkout. (watch the full carts assume you jumped the line and then stare at you with seething hatred that you were first to checkout). Research their deals. I've found better deals somewhere else. Yes they have amazing deals, but not all of them! Be smart! Good...

Friendly staff keep checkout lines moving quickly, though some days there is a bottleneck of people exiting (receipt checkpoint). There are certain things that I can save a lot of money buying here and the quality is outstanding - their brand of milk, paper towels, rotisserie chickens, a lot of the fresh fruits and some of the fresh meats. Their bakery items are delicious - love the fresh baked breads! Other things are much higher priced than grocery stores, plus you get a limited selection. This is not unlike other big box stores. For instance spaghetti is usually only Barilla (ok, good brand, but is pricier than San Giorgio or Ronzoni and not a big quality difference, also you can only get spaghetti not angel hair, linguine, etc.) Membership fee is also a bit steep. It can easily pay for itself if you buy only the best value items (paper towels, Tide Powder, milk, coffee, vitamins, and some of the clothing), gas, and the occasional pizza ($10, feeds family of 4-5) but it also takes discipline to not impulse-buy all the things that seem like good deals but really are not.

Biggest complaint may be the parking lot. Very awkward angle at the front entrance. And in the store they need to cool it with the samples, it creates a hoard of people blocking aisles just to get a free piece of cheese or mini wonton. For those of us actually trying to get in, get our stuff, and get out it is just frustrating. Maybe they can have a designated section toward the back of the store where all the cheapskates can go get their free samples and let the rest of us enjoy...