9 Things You Should Never Do at Costco, According to Employees

If you want to know what war feels like, head to Costco during the holidays. Armed with large metal carts, hordes of deal-hungry shoppers fly through the aisles, snatching up pumpkin pies, leaving trash, and ruffling up displays. And if it feels like shopping at Costco is a battle, imagine what it's like to work there. (Hint: It's hard.) 

But as a Costco consumer, there are several irksome behaviors you can avoid to make employees' lives a bit easier. Here are nine things Costco members should never do, according to employees on Reddit.

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Costco superfans and employees agree that members need to return their carts, with one Redditor calling it a "non-negotiable" courtesy. "It makes life easier on everyone," another user writes.

If you take a box to carry your groceries at checkout, don't leave it behind in your cart, an employee writes. Take it with you, or forego the box entirely — especially during the holidays when stores run out of boxes.

Be prepared with your membership card when you grab a cart to avoid clogging the entryway. "People pushing carts are trying to get through to refill the main corral and you sitting there when you grab a cart fumbling for your card slows everyone down," an employee explains.

Retail employees often complain about shoppers who leave unwanted items (even perishables) strewn across the store, and Costco workers are no different. "Just bring (an unwanted item) with you to checkout and let us know! We are happy to take it back for you. Someone else may want the item," a Costco worker writes.

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Another near-universal gripe among retail employees? Customers who block aisles. "There are still places you can leave your cart unattended for a hot minute without it being in everybody else's way," one comment reads.

Related: Costco Employees Dish on the Most Outrageous Revoked Membership Stories

Costco tire inflation parking spots are there for, well, inflating your tires (duh). They aren't express parking spots.

Taking your car to Costco to repair a flat tire? Here's our experience with using the Costco Tire Center.

Related: 12 Ways Costco Can Save You Money on Your Car

"Stop trying to access the warehouse before they open," one Costco Redditor writes. Businesses have store hours for a reason, and employees who don't let you in early are just following the rules.

Related: Costco by the Numbers: 22 Surprising Stats

While this complaint comes from a frustrated shopper, there's no doubt that folding (and refolding) piles and piles of clothes is a pain for Costco employees. If your folding skills are subpar, just bring the unwanted items to the register, one commenter suggests.

If you're stopping for a post-shopping snack at Costco's cafe, "stop being rude" while waiting in line, and be sure to "pay attention to your serve number," so you don't hold other customers up, says one user. 

Likewise, when you're exiting the store, you'll likely encounter employees who are tasked with checking your receipt. While this might seem like an inconvenience or even an intrusion to some, it's important to remember that these workers are just doing their job and aren't trying to target you specifically. "Stop being rude to the receipt checkers," writes the user, adding, "They're just doing their job."