‘Much less busy,’ Costco shoppers rejoice after finding ‘different’ style of store with same deals but no lines

COSTCO members pay for the privilege of shopping at the discounted wholesaler, but they may not know all the benefits of their membership.

Some members celebrated discovering a different kind of Costco location that offers a unique experience.

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Costco Business Centers are like regular Costco warehouses, but with different inventory.

They tend to sell larger quantities of supplies, including on pallets or trucks, the company states in its website.

Shoppers with significant freezer space may find that the Business Center works best for them.

You don’t need to be a Costco business member to shop – any member can go to a Business Center.

There are currently 28 Business Centers in the US.

BUYERS’ REACTION

On Reddit, several members shared why they like Business Center.

Some said it has a wider variety of grocery products.

“It has a lot more food that you will never find at a regular Costco,” said one member. “They also have a lot more kitchen supplies, like industrial products.

“If there is a Business Center nearby, you should definitely go to it at least once,” they said.

Another pointed out some items that are missing from the Business Centers.

“There are items that sell for better prices than regular Costco warehouses, and while it has items that are exclusive to businesses but still viable for homes, it doesn’t have the seasonal items that regular Costco gets,” they said.

It’s also missing a big draw for Costco members – the business centers don’t have food courts.

However, there is a potential advantage to this.

“One of the great things is that it is MUCH less busy,” the Redditor added.

“It’s never this crowded,” said one customer NBC.

Costco Membership Sharing Guidelines

Costco has strict rules for subscription usage that shoppers must follow and has been cracking down on violators in recent years.

• Core Member Usage: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. It is not allowed to share it for purchases, as the photo on the card must correspond to the person using it.
• Domestic Card: Each Prime Member can add one free Household Cardholder who lives at the same address. That person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
• Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per Costco visit. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by a member.
• Authorized cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who does not reside at your address. They will receive their own card and will be able to make purchases independently.

Credit: Costco

Advantages and problems

While Costco is popular for its prices and member benefits, not everyone is thrilled with the chain.

The company is the target of a new class action lawsuit alleging that the store has been misleading customers about prices.

Some Costco items are priced higher online than in-store, leading some to believe this difference should be disclosed.

Even some of Costco’s benefits have been scrutinized by members.

Its return policy, for example, is too generous for some critics.

One member returned a 15 year old chair for a full refund.

Some called the company’s ID checks “insulting.”

One dissatisfied buyer shared why they canceled their subscription.