Most folks love to shop at Costco as it offers some great ways to save money if you know what you’re doing. But as with any store, some shoppers don’t like certain aspects of shopping in the warehouse. So when I stumbled upon a MarketWatch article talking about the reasons some folks hate shopping at Costco, it piqued my curiosity. So I went out and talked to a bunch of shoppers at Costco and Walmart and surprisingly found many reasons why some shoppers dislike Costco.

1. Made to Feel Like a Thief When Exiting

Many shoppers hate having to show their receipt when leaving Costco as it makes them feel like a “potential thief”.

But, after talking to a couple Costco employees, they actually do this to protect you in case you get double charged for something.

With that said, I’ve been shopping at Costco for over 20 years and have NEVER been double charged, or seen someone else get double charged.

Interestingly, my mom recently got double charged for a lamp and didn’t notice until she got home and looked at her receipt.

The employee at the door COMPLETELY missed the extra charge.

If you’re curious, here’s why Costco checks receipts at the door, surprisingly it has nothing to do with loss prevention.

See Also: Costco Shoppers Tell Me the 23 Worst Things to Buy

2. Distracting Clothing in Center of Store

Some shoppers find the large inventory of clothing right in the middle of the store distracting.

In particular, from the comments, Mammy described it like this, “Large distracting inventory of clothing in the middle section with a remarkable LACK of options in Large, and XL sizes. Forget even hoping for Large-Tall ain’t worth the bother.”

I tend to agree here, but mainly because the clothing is of such poor quality.

The brands are good and include Eddie Bauer, Champion, Banana Republic, and Carhartt. But they are specifically made for Costco and are clearly 2nd rate in order to bring the price down.

I recently bought a pair of Banana Republic pants and they shrunk badly and look terrible after just a couple washes.

In contrast, I have a couple pair of Banana Republic pants that I bought from their actual store and they’ve lasted for years and still look great. Buyer beware.

3. You Have to Pay to Shop at Costco

Some shoppers refuse to ever shop at Costco as long as they’re charging an annual membership fee to do so.

From Justin in the comments, “I can’t stand paying money to do business with a place”.

Mammy also chimed in with “I hate paying $79 a year for the “privilege” of shopping at their club.”

I often wonder why Costco continues to charge a membership fee. Surely their bottom-line would increase if they dropped the fee, wouldn’t it?

Do you think they do it to keep a “prestige” feel to their brand or some other reason? 

4. It’s Hard to Locate Items

If you don’t shop at Costco often it can be REALLY hard to find stuff.

I often wander around for 10 minutes looking for 1 item as they don’t mark or label their aisles.

Plus, the location of some items makes ZERO sense. For example, why they don’t put their Sonicare toothbrushes near their toothpaste and toothbrushes is a MYSTERY to me.

5. People ALWAYS Blocking the Aisles

This one peeves a lot of Costco shoppers that I spoke with.

Their frustrations typically came down to the aisles that have free samples in them, and the weekend crowd that tends to congregate around said samples.

Ja, in the comments, described these folks as “the cheap ass people that block you from shopping for some half-assed finger food”.

I tend to agree as I’m a Costco shopper who sticks to a list and shops with “blinders” on.

I want to get in-and-out as FAST as possible and have little patience for the sample stations.

This is why I try shop early in the morning, in the middle of the week, when the samples are not setup yet.

6. Costco Counts On You Overspending

Some shoppers that I spoke with are keenly aware that Costco counts on you to overspend, and tries hard to manipulate you to do just that.

One lady that I spoke with told me she “hates being manipulated by Costco corporate who stocks all the boring stuff at the back of the store and makes you walk past all the high markup stuff to get to it.”

In particular, she mentioned the dog food, milk, eggs, toilet paper, and rotisserie chicken are all WAY in the back of the store. Stuff that she buys every time she walks into Costco.

But to get to that stuff, Costco makes her walk past expensive electronics, BBQs, blenders, and jewelry. All stuff she ONLY buys once every 5 years.

She cleverly called it “consumer manipulation at its best”.

See Also: 6 Pricing Tricks Retailers Use To Take Your Money

7. Oh…the Lines

Apparently the slow checkout process at Costco irks many shoppers.

I actually think this one has gotten better in recent years as many smart Costco shoppers avoid the weekend if at all possible.

Unless of course, they shop late in the afternoon on a Sunday during the NFL season when the warehouse is practically empty.

Or do like I do and ONLY shop at Costco on a Tuesday. According to employees, it’s by far the best day of the week to shop.

8. Only One Credit Card Option

Yeah, I kinda get this one.

For a long time Costco had an exclusive deal with American Express.

But back in 2016, they switched over to Visa which made some shoppers happy, especially those who use their Visa card to collect airline miles.

You can use the following forms of payment at Costco: Cash, personal check, debit/ATM cards, Costco cash cards, EBT, and any Visa credit card.

See Also: The Best Costco Deals That’ll Easily Pay For Your Membership

9. Very Little Shopping Advice

Some shoppers that hate the warehouse dislike the lack of employees on the floor who can help them decide which bottle of wine to buy or which HDTV has the most bang for your buck.

The good news is you can use your smartphone to find reviews on Amazon.

Check out CNET or just do a generic Google search for the product name followed by the word “review” and you’re bound to find some useful info to help you with your buying decision.

10. Once It’s Gone, It’s Gone

If I had to pick the one thing about Costco that I dislike the most, this would probably be it.

Not because I missed out on the sold-out Sam Adams Summer Brew, but because it creates a false sense of urgency in shoppers.

Don’t buy something because it “may” be gone soon, or the price ends with .97, but rather because you have an actual need for the item.

Otherwise you’ll end up with 4 huge bottles of Jose Cuervo Grapefruit/Tangerine Margaritas that’ll you never drink.

My wife fell in love with this Cuervo drink a few summers ago and we stocked up BIG-TIME. Then she decided it gave her a sour stomach and now they sit lonely in our pantry.

11. No Shopping Bags

I’m cool with this one, especially since the boxes they use make it much easier for carrying heavy items.

At my house, shopping bags just up in the recycle bin anyways.

12. Can’t Use Manufacturer Coupons

If you’re a big coupon clipper, I can see how you might dislike Costco.

This is especially true as you can often undercut the Costco price if you’re diligent with coupons when it comes to paper goods, cereal, snacks, and drinks.

Ask the Reader:  Would any of these reasons be enough to keep you from paying $60 for a Costco membership?

By Kyle James

Walmart has once again passed Amazon as the biggest retailer in the known world. With that said, it constantly surprises me how many shoppers assume the Walmart price is the lowest, thus there is no need to try and find ways to save even more. Well, I’m here to tell you that the low everyday price at Walmart is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to saving a buck or two. Here are 9 awesomely clever ways to save money at Walmart, aka Wally World.

Crack the Walmart Price Tag Code

Did you know you can tell if a clearance item at Walmart is about to get even cheaper simply by looking at the price tag?

According to an anonymous Walmart employee tip, here is what you need to know to crack the price tag code:

• Price ending with a 7 is typically the original price. Examples include $2.97 or $5.57. Know that you’re paying full price if you see a price ending in 7.
• Price ending with a 5 or 0 is the 1st markdown price. Examples include $3.25 or $45.00. This price is better than the above obviously, but not the cheapest the item may potentially go.
• Price ending with a 1 is the FINAL markdown price. Examples include $4.91 or $57.01. This is the holy grail at Walmart and is the cheapest price the item will go.

The key takeaway from this information is to check inventory levels and buy accordingly.

If you find a product with an ending price of 5, and there is ample inventory on the shelf, it will probably be worth your while to wait and come back when it is even cheaper.

PRO TIP: DIY PRICE DROPS WITH THE WALMART APP

Use the Scan & Go feature in the Walmart app to scan items yourself in-store.

Sometimes, the app shows lower prices than what’s displayed on the shelves, allowing you to claim the lower price at checkout via the Walmart online price match.

Focus on Clearance and Rollback sections as they’re hotspots for hidden discounts. Items marked as clearance or rollback often scan even cheaper than the displayed price.

Also, items close to their expiration date (like perishable foods) can scan for additional discounts not reflected on the shelf.

Walmart often updates its pricing system in the early morning or overnight. Visit the store during these times and scan items for newly applied discounts.

See Also: Shop Smart at Walmart: Employees Tell Me the Smartest and Dumbest Buys

Look For Clearance Deals (Not in the Clearance Section)

So this tip is gonna sound a little counter-intuitive.

Don’t go looking for the best clearance deals in the actual clearance section at Walmart, especially when shopping for consumer electronics.

Instead, look down low in the glass cases/cabinets in your local Walmart’s electronics section.

I got this tip from a current Walmart employee who said, “Most marked down, high end electronics are held in cabinets near or under their respective items.

Most reduced items are not displayed and rarely have price tags.

Ask to see their clearance specifically in cases. At the change of major seasons many older model items will be switched out for newer ones.”

Turns out this is where they store excess inventory, and they also use the glass case as a theft deterrent.

I personally have found big deals on Samsung tablets, GPS units, high-end external hard drives, and Bluetooth speakers. All of which were priced below Amazon.

It should also be pointed out that not every Walmart is set up with the cases/cabinets in the electronics department but it’s always worth a look.

See Also: 7 Target Clearance Tips: Learn How to Save BIG at Tarzhay

Find Screaming Refurbished Deals

A fantastic way to save money at Walmart, especially on electronics, is to buy refurbished items that still come with the manufacturer’s warranty.

But how do you find these refurbished deals? It actually couldn’t be easier, yet most Walmart shoppers have no clue how to find them.

All you have to do is simply type in “Refurbished” into the search bar on Walmart.com and you’ll instantly be connected to some amazing deals.

Right now you can find a refurbished HP laptop for $100 off, a Xbox One console for $40 off, and a 39″ Vizio LED HDTV for only $169.99. Pretty awesome savings.

Shop Early in the Morning

When it comes to scoring a clearance deal on bakery items, produce, and meats you’ll want to shop early.

This is especially true for grocery meats according to CBS News. “Normally, by 8 a.m., the meat department has discounted their meat, and you can grab some great deals.”

By early, I mean try to shop on weekday mornings between 8 – 9 a.m..

Employees typically do their clearance markdowns early in the morning.

So by shopping early you get “first dibs” and save money on meat, bread, fruits, and vegetables.

Some of the items may be nearing their “sell by” date but if you’re planning on eating the item that day (or the next) it doesn’t really matter.

PRO TIP: NEGOTIATE FOR A BETTER DEAL

When shopping for meats, look for packaged meat with a Sell By Date of today’s or tomorrow’s date and politely ask an employee if they can mark it down for you.

99% of the time they’ll print out a yellow Clearance price tag to put on the meat, which will save you a whopping 40% off the original price.

If you have the freezer space, this is a great time to stock up and save BIG.

See Also: We Breakdown the Walmart Return Policy So It Makes Sense

Get FREE Money Back on Coupons

From the Walmart site, “If coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the excess may be given to the customer as cash or applied toward the basket purchase.”

For example, if you use a coupon at Walmart for $2 off a box of Fruity Pebbles, and the cereal is on sale for $1.75, you’d actually get $0.25 back to be used on the balance of your purchase.

Even Fred Flintstone would like that deal. BTW, in case you hadn’t guessed, I love me some Fruity Pebbles.

Score Free Shipping on Orders Under $35

Unfortunately, Walmart has a free shipping threshold of $35 or more to qualify for free 2-day delivery.

This often leads to overspending as shoppers fill up their virtual basket with stuff they don’t really need, just to qualify for free shipping. Not smart.

Instead, consider using the Walmart Free Store Pickup program which gives you the ability to order online, and in most cases, pick up from your local store on the same day for NO charge.

Once you place your online order, just wait for a Walmart app notification, text, or email when your order is ready to be picked up.

Then just notify them via the Walmart app that you’ve parked in the designated spot and a Walmart associate will bring your order to you.

PRO TIP: USE “BRICKSEEK” FOR HIDDEN CLEARANCE

BrickSeek.com lets you search for hidden clearance items at your local Walmart. Simply enter the product’s SKU or UPC code to uncover deals not labeled on shelves.

Simple go to BrickSeek.com and select “Walmart Inventory Checker” from the menu.

Next, input the item’s SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) or UPC (Universal Product Code).

You can find SKUs/UPCs on Walmart.com or by scanning the item’s barcode with the Walmart app.

Next, enter your zip code to check inventory and pricing at Walmart stores near you.

BrickSeek will display the following:

• Current price (including hidden clearance markdowns).
• Stock availability at nearby stores.
• Store-specific pricing variations.

Bottomline, uses BrickSeek’s insights to prioritize which Walmart stores to visit for the best deals.

Buy Refurbished Electronics

Buying refurbished electronics from Walmart can be an excellent way to save money without compromising quality.

Refurbished products are often priced 20-50% lower than new ones, making them an affordable option for high-ticket items like laptops, smartphones, and TVs.

Walmart partners with trusted refurbishers to inspect, repair, and test items to ensure they meet manufacturer standards.

Most refurbished items come with a warranty (typically 90 days, but sometimes longer). This ensures you’re protected against defects or issues post-purchase.

Walmart offers a broad range of refurbished products, including:

Electronics: Laptops, tablets, smartwatches, gaming consoles.
Home Appliances: Vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, kitchen gadgets.
Tech Accessories: Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and chargers.

PRO TIP: UNDERSTAND THE WARRANTY

When buying refurbished electronics from Walmart, be sure you understand what the warranty covers, such as parts and labor, and how long it lasts.

For extra peace of mind, you can often add an extended Walmart Protection Plan at checkout. These plans cover additional repairs or replacements.

Read the listing carefully for details on the item’s condition, included accessories, and potential cosmetic imperfections.

Pair refurbished electronics with discounted refurbished accessories (like cases, keyboards, or chargers) for additional savings.

Find “Hidden” Deals on Walmart.com

Let’s be honest, the Walmart site is not the easiest to navigate and can be darn right frustrating.

This is especially true when trying to find their online clearance section as they often fail to place the link “above the fold” in their site navigational structure.

The solution to this problem is simple, yet little known among bargain hunters.

All you have to do is type “Clearance” into the Walmart.com search bar and you’ll get instant access to all of their clearance deals.

A few of the hidden deals that I found include $29.99 Apple EarPods for $9.49, a $129.99 Lifetime Basketball System for $79, and a $7.99 Insten HDMI cable (2-Pack) for only $2.49.

Never Pay Full Price for Walmart+

Walmart+ is a game changer for many shoppers as it gets you free grocery delivery, free 2-day shipping, a free Paramount+ account, and up to 10 cents off per gallon of gas at Walmart and Sam’s Club gas stations.

A subscription will run you $99/annually unless you know what you’re doing.

Specifically, every June and early-November for about a week, Walmart slashes the price in half down to $49.

Always wait until June or November to sign-up and save an EASY fifty bucks.

Also, if you’re on any kind of government assistance you can get Walmart+ for ONLY $49 all year long.

Ask the Reader: I hope these tips can help you save. What’s your best tip for saving cash at Walmart? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Photo by Mike Mozart

Technology is amazingly handy, especially when it comes to DIY YouTube videos that can help you with pretty much any job around the house. Another aspect that has changed the DIY landscape is the ability to use retailer’s price-match policies to ensure you get the lowest price on tools, hardware, and DIY supplies. Perhaps you’d rather shop at your local Ace, Menards, or True Value as they offer better customer service and are happy to avoid the cavernous aisles at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

If you fall into this category, you might as well get the lower Home Depot or Lowe’s price (if they have one). It’s with this in mind, that I present all of the hardware stores, or stores with a significant hardware aisle, that’ll happily price-match Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Ace Hardware

Most Ace Hardware stores are independently owned, and many absolutely will price match. Find out if the Ace in your area price matches Home Depot and Lowe’s be simply asking or do a quick Google search. If they do, they most likely follow these guidelines:

• If you find a lower price on an identical item, at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s, just bring in their current ad and they’ll match their price.
• If HD or Lowe’s is offering a percent off discount, they’ll match the final net price the competitor is offering.
• Exclusions: Labor charges, closeouts, special orders, discontinued items, clearance, liquidation or damaged items.
• They will limit to reasonable consumer quantities. So don’t abuse it.

The takeaway here is to always inquire at your local Ace Hardware to determine if they offer a price match policy.

Home Hardware

With 19 retail locations spread across Canada, Home Hardware offers a Price Match Promise at all of there stores.

• Simply bring evidence of the lower price to any Home Hardware employee.
• They reserve the right to exclude significantly below cost competition loss leader pricing.
• Because lumber grading varies by location, they will not price match lower lumber grade quality from competitors.
• They also reserve the right to limit quantities to an amount reasonable for a residential homeowner.

See Also: Insider Savings Tips Directly from Home Depot Employees

Lamps Plus

When it comes to fans, lighting, chandeliers, and home decor, the folks at Lamps Plus will absolutely price match. Here’s what you need to know.

• The lower price must be advertised within 60 days of the date of your purchase.
• They’ll actually give you an additional discount of 20% of the price difference.
• Can’t be redeemed in conjunction with other coupons, discounts or promotions.

Menards

If you like to shop at Menards, and you’re NOT price matching Home Depot and Lowes, there is a great chance you’re overspending. Here’s what you need to know:

• You are not required to provide the local competitor’s ad for us to honor the price.
• Items purchased must be identical size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.
• Menards reserves the right to limit price matches to reasonable quantities.
• Exclusions: Ads when the actual price cannot be determined, competitor ads from outside of the store’s local market, “going out of business” sales or “close out” prices.

Sears

While Sears carries many in-house tool brands like Craftsman, there is definitely some overlap with items carried by Home Depot and Lowe’s. And the good news is they’ll price match those items if the two warehouse giants carry them for less.

• If you have a Home Depot or Lowe’s in your local area, they’ll match their price either at time of purchase or within 14 days of purchase. Just bring in price evidence to any sales associate.
• The competitor’s price must be offered on the same date as the date of your purchase.
• The price match is only eligible on the day you make your purchase.

See Also: Lowe’s Tool Rental: Everything You Gotta Know Before You Rent

Target

Target has a growing section of tools, hardware, and DIY supplies and thus make my list. Here is what you need to know to get your price match.

• Target will match both Home Depot and Lowe’s prices as well as 29 online retailer’s pricing, which includes HomeDeopt.com and Lowes.com.
• It must be the same exact product, down to the color and weight.
• Online price matching is good for up to 7 days after purchase. Be sure to always hold on to your receipt.
• Major Exclusions: “Prices that only display on a website after guests log in. Clearance, closeout, damaged product, used, refurbished, open packages or liquidation sales.”

True Value

All True Value stores are independently owned, and store owners are given the flexibility to offer a price match policy. But the good news is many True Value locations will absolutely price match Home Depot and Lowe’s. Here’s the scoop.

• Evidence from their site, “We promise to do whatever we can to provide you with the best price.” This obviously includes price matching the big-box home improvement stores in your area.
• Stores will not price match products in the Outlet section of the True Value website.
• A price match is not available for stores in Alaska, Hawaii & Puerto Rico.

Walmart

Let’s not forget about Walmart as most locations have a fairly stocked hardware, paint, and DIY products section. If these items are cheaper at Home Depot or Lowe’s be sure to get your price match.

• Walmart.com will match the price of any local brick & mortar competitor, including Lowe’s and Home Depot of course.
• You DON’T need the ad to get the price match which is convenient.
• Items must be absolutely identical. One price match per item, per day.
• Exclusions: BOGO items and closeout prices.

West Marine

I was happy to see that West Marine will price match both Home Depot and Lowe’s, here are the details worth knowing.

• If you have a Lowe’s or Home Depot location within 50 miles of your local West Marine location, they’ll happy price match either store.
• Simply provide the item number and base price of the product and they’ll independently verify the price.
• You can also call them at 1-800-BOATING to discuss your price match.
• Exclusions: “Price matching does not apply to online auctions, liquidation sales, refurbished or used merchandise, shipping charges, taxes, or promotions such as: mail-in offers, gift-with-purchase, financing offers, installation services, or typographical errors.”

Ask the Reader: How do you save money on your DIY or home improvement projects?

Happy Savings.

By Kyle James

Photos by Mike Mozart (1, 2)