How to spend time at Costco without getting tired [Costco] [Recommended] [Great Deals]

The other day

I really resonated with Ami's article.

The title was quite a shocker.

After reading the article

I thought, "I get it," and "It really is exhausting."

I was convinced.

The chaos of traffic jams, people, products, and carts just drains the life out of you.

But everyone loves Costco.

Just the other day, I was head over heels for the unwhipped croissants. They are irresistible.

I have been a Costco cart pusher for over 20 years. This time, I will introduce three tips for a fatigue-free Costco visit.

1. Aim for the last day of a long weekend

The last day of a long weekend is surprisingly a hidden gem.

Usually, the time before and the start of a long weekend are extremely crowded.

And the super-crowded period often continues until the middle of the long weekend.

However.

People want to go home early on the last day of a long weekend. This is human psychology.

That is why, from 6:00 PM on the last day of a long weekend, everyone is in "go home" mode, and the checkout lines get very crowded.

On the other hand, the rest of the floor becomes quite empty.

This time is the best target.

Once, I happened to arrive at 7:00 PM on the last day of a long weekend, and the store was completely empty.

Three Costco staff members were walking in front of me

and I happened to overhear them saying,

"I've never seen it this empty before!" "Me neither!"

This is it.
You should aim for the last few hours of a long weekend.

If you live far away, it's hard to aim for that late time.

So, for example, how about intentionally shifting your day off to visit Costco?

After the peak excitement during a long weekend, the final hours of the last day can sometimes be really empty.

However, the tasting corners are often packed up after 6:00 PM. Or, you might get lucky and catch them during a final big giveaway!

② Don't take a cart

This is the best strategy.

Costco's premises are incredibly vast.

Because of that, it's packed with products. And it's crowded with people and carts.

The aisles aren't that wide.
They are just wide enough for carts to barely pass each other.

And many customers stop in front of the products.

There is no way it wouldn't get congested.

Also, the long lines at the sample stations. This is another cause of congestion.

When going as a family, one person is always on cart duty while the others browse freely.

Being on cart duty is truly tough.

So, here is a tip.

Dare to go without a cart.

Go empty-handed and buy only what you need, pinpoint style. Furthermore, do some 'air shopping' for new products.

Letting go of that heavy cart is just the best. It feels like you've been given wings.

Without a cart, you can breeze through the crowds. You can browse products to your heart's content. You can also line up for samples quickly.

What's more, you can only buy what you can carry in both hands! This also solves the 'I bought too much!!!' problem. This is important.

3. Go by motorcycle

Personally, I find Costco stressful starting from parking the car.

The floor closest to the entrance is always packed. It's hard to tell where there might be an open spot.

It's so painful when you finally find a parking space only to realize someone else got there first and you have to give it up.

That's why, when going by car, aiming for the upper floors from the start is kinder to your mental state and your fuel economy.

Going home is also tough. After fully enjoying Costco, if you get caught in the rush hour traffic, you might find it hard to get home.

Motorcycles are great.

To begin with, going to Costco by motorcycle is a rare case.
The motorcycle parking area is also completely empty.

Park quickly. Enter the store in a flash.

Furthermore, if you use the hands-free strategy in (2) above, you can breeze through anywhere in the store.

You can shop and pay with virtually zero stress. And you can even get home without any hassle.

Can't carry luggage on a motorcycle?
That's why it's possible to prevent overbuying.

Besides, a scooter is the best.

Foot space. Tandem seat.
A 50L rear carrier, plus you can even carry a whole pizza on top of that.

Unless it's an extreme situation, I've never had any trouble with this method.

This rear box. It's incredibly sturdy.
The lock is a bit tricky. Overall, it's great value for money and I recommend it.

Summary

I want to spend time at Costco as comfortably as possible without getting tired.

[Plan A]
I really want to go by car. I want to buy a ton of stuff in a cart.

In that case, you should aim for the last few hours of the final day of a long weekend.

You might even experience a Costco that is this empty for the first time! You might also encounter a timing where they are giving out tons of samples.

[Plan B]
I know exactly what I'm buying (serious face).

In that case, go empty-handed on purpose, like in ② and ③.
The 'Te-bura-de-ski' (empty-handed skier) style.
There used to be ski resorts in Chiba, you know.

And use a motorcycle for transportation.

Like a sniper, one shop, one bike.

You can shop wisely and fully enjoy the 'air shopping' inside the store.

Well then.

Have a fun time at Costco this weekend too.

Bonus.

Are you still lost in meditation?

For those of you who are as bad at mindfulness as I am.
Start with one second of mental care.
Close the unnecessary apps in your head, even if just for a moment.

For those worried about the problem of damp-smelling towels during the rainy season.
Go to Daiso right now and buy this.
If you use this, your whole body will dry quickly.
Shake the towel and it feels cool and refreshing.

Because we live in times of high uncertainty.
Get gold as a risk hedge.
Compared to 15 years ago, its value has increased about fivefold.