Former Employees Reveal Best Tricks To Hack Your Next Costco Trip

People are flocking to Costco right now to stock up on toilet paper, sanitary products, and massive bags of rice. Whatever reason you're at Costco, it's always important to know how to get the most out of your trip (whether you're stocking up or not).

The massive warehouse retailer can be pretty overwhelming so luckily, we've collected these tips for hacking your next Costco trip—and they've come to us straight from current and former Costco employees. They know all the ins and outs of this store, and soon, you will too.

Seriously, Stay Away From Brand Name Products

Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Yes, Costco has incredible deals on brand name items, but their discount brand Kirkland is just as good, if not better. People swear that the Kirkland toilet paper is better than Cottonelle and half the price. Even the Kirkland batteries are made by Duracell.

You're already buying in bulk, why not buy the bargain brand too?

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You Don't Necessarily Need A Membership.

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One of the main factors deterring people from shopping at Costco is the pricy membership fee. So what do you do if you want those sweet deals but you're not willing to shell out the annual fee? Easy. Ask somebody who has a Costco membership to get you a Costco gift card.

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You don't need a membership to use it and you can still access the full store without any questions. Start adding "Costco gift cards" to your Christmas wishlist!

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Do Your Shopping On Tuesday And Wednesday Mornings

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MICHELE EVE SANDBERG/AFP/Getty Images
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Costco can be a busy place, especially on weekends, in the evenings, and right before holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. If you really want to have the time and the space to scope out the best deals, you're going to want to go to Costco when the store isn't so busy.

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The quietest times to shop are Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. If you have a morning off work, or if you work evenings, head into Costco to do your weekly shopping.

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The Best Deals Are Further Down The Aisles

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Dominic Bracco II for The Washington Post via Getty Images
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It may seem like you're getting the best deal when you pick an item up from the big stack of things being advertised in the front of the store, but the truth is that the best deals are usually placed further down the aisles.

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You're going to have to do a bit of searching if you really want to snag that perfect bargain, but we promise, the hunt is worth it. You might even pick up some more free samples along the way.

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Get Your Soda Elsewhere

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@costco_is_awesome/Instagram
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Costco has some great deals on bulk products, but they aren't known for marking down their soda all that much. Regular supermarkets do a good job of that on their own. Soda is what most supermarkets call a "loss leader." That means they sell it way below cost just to draw people into the store.

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Soda may be cheap at Costco, but it's also cheap everywhere else. In fact, most grocery stores nearly always have better deals. Buying in bulk can pay off but not in this case.

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Know The Layout Of Your Store

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John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
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While every Costco warehouse is a little bit different, there are some rules of thumb that apply to almost every store. First of all, food aisles and household goods are on opposite sides of the store. Also, the bakery, deli, and produce sections all are usually located at the back of the store. In the middle, you can find all the clothing, snacks, books, and gift cards.

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If you came into the store for produce, stay on the outside perimeter. Don't go wandering into the middle of the store or you're going to be tempted by all of those clothing items.

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Don't Be Discouraged By Disappearing Stock

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Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images
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Yes, that's the actual word Costco uses to talk about the fact that you can never find anything in there. They choose to move the stock around so much so that you have to scan a bunch of items just to find the peanut butter.

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If you don't want to risk making impulse buys, ask an employee to direct you to where the item is now.

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What The Asterisk On The Price Tag Really Means

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If you ever see an asterisk on a price sign while you were wandering the aisles of Costco, you might want to pay attention to it. That asterisk is the store's way of telling you that the item you're looking at won't be getting restocked. Whatever they have in stock is what's available, and when it's gone, it's gone.

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The asterisks are usually found on seasonal items that won't be back for a little while.

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All About Gift Cards

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@costco_is_awesome/Instagram
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We already know that Costco gift cards can be a great way to get into the store, but these cards are so much more than they appear to be. You can get anything from gift cards for 2-for-1 movie passes to discounted admissions to local attractions.

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Sometimes savings are even built into the Costco gift cards themselves. In the photo above, you can see that Costco was selling four $25 gift cards for nearly $80.

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Never Ever Steal...Becuase They Have People Watching

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Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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It might sound hard to steal a 76-pack of dish detergent, but people still try to steal from Costco. Every store employs a couple secret security officers.

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They walk around in plain clothes "shopping" like a normal member, but in reality, they're keeping an eye out for people stealing.

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How Many Samples Are Too Many?

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Costco employees assure us that you really can take as many samples as you want. You don't have to pretend to be different person or say that you're getting it for your kid. You can just walk right up to that sample counter and ask for seconds. And thirds.

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If you like the product so much, it might be worth the investment, but if you need a few more tastes to make up your mind, that's totally okay.

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Check Out The Dry Goods And Frozen Foods

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Costco is great for bulking up on fresh produce or meats, but they aren't exactly door-busting deals. The non-perishables and frozen foods are the best deals because, of course, they last the longest!

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Hopefully, this makes you feel better about buying that 100-pack of Oreos or 1 kg bag of trail mix.

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You Can Always Fill A Prescription

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Toronto Star Archives/Toronto Star via Getty Images
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There's no membership required to go in and fill a prescription at the Costco pharmacy. Just walk in and tell the greeter what you're doing, and you'll have no problem.

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The Costco pharmacy also touts lower dispensing fees than any other drugstore, so you'll be saving money in the long run.

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Learn How To Use Those Price Tags

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Dominic Bracco II for The Washington Post via Getty Images
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Just like may other retailers, there's a rhyme and reason behind the prices at Costco. If a price ends in .97, then it means the item is on clearance.

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If the price tag ends in .00 or .88, then it means the manager cut the price for a special reason, like it could be the last one in stock, doesn't have a box, or has pieces missing.

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Talk To The Roadshow Sellers

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Roadshows will go in and out of Costco, and they all stay for different amounts of times. Lindt, Krispy Kreme, and even items like specialty bedsheets will set up roadshow displays that rarely last more than a few weeks.

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Either stock up now, or ask how long they'll be in store so you don't miss the deals.

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Low Costco Gas Prices

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One thing Costco does right is gas prices. It seems like gas is getting more expensive every day, but you can generally count on Costco to get you the best price on gas in your area. Those long lines are daunting, but the price is worth it. Those Costco gas bars will save you a lot of money in the long run.

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Make sure you fill up before you shop, though, so all of your ice cream and frozen goods don't melt in the back of your car.

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There's Nothing Else In The Back

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RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images
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It's common to ask a normal store if they "have any more in the back" but don't even bother if you're at Costco. They are a warehouse store, which means they're stocked like a warehouse.

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There's no backroom at Costco hiding the best deals. They're all out on the floor for you to see.

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Don't Worry If You Miss A Sale

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Costco has a lot of great sales all throughout the year, but if you miss a sale, it's not the end of the world. You can still get the best price on that item you had your eye on. Costco may not price match like some other retailers, but you can get a price cut within 30 days if an item you bought goes on sale later.

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All you have to do is put in a simple request online. Costco has some pretty great customer service.

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Why The Hotdogs Are So Cheap

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Photo credit: Instagram / @barzy123
Photo credit: Instagram / @barzy123
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Half the point of making a trip to Costco is to get the super cheap jumbo hot dog and soda combo for only $1.50. Costco doesn't exactly make a huge profit off the deal, but they know it gets customers in the doors.

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For many people, having such a cheap meal on hand (especially if shopping with kids) helps justify the annual membership fees.

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They Check Your Receipt To Protect You

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Shoppers have their receipts and trolleys checked by an employee
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
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You might think that the Costco employee that you show your receipt to on the way out is making sure you didn't steal anything, but there's actually a much more wholesome reason. In reality, the number one reason is to make sure you didn't get overcharged for anything. The employee checking your receipt is aware of the sales and wants to make sure any coupons were applied.

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The other reason is inventory control. They want to make sure the cashier scanned everything properly.

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Do Some Shopping Online

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Costco is known for stocking just about everything imaginable, and you can find even more weird things online. Go to Costco.com to buy a funeral casket, a $1,000 doomsday emergency-food kit, or even coupons for local car dealerships.

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The best part? They'll ship these strange things to most states across America.

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Some Strange Things Go On Here

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Costco is a massive establishment so it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your kids. It can be like a giant playground for little kids but instead of swings and monkey bars it’s full of food and forklifts.

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If you’re not worried about something bad happening to them, you may just find them stuck behind a freezer door like this guy. Chances are he was hot from running around and needed to cool off for a bit.

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Costco Is Delivering The Jokes

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Remember that horrible phase when teenagers were eating Tide Pods and posting videos on the Internet? Well, while other stores were locking up their Tide Pods, Costco was giving them out as samples! Looks like Costco was in full support of this trend and was using it as an opportunity to thin the herd.

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We're not sure why they wanted to do this because less people living means less people shopping at Costco. We all know that’s the last thing they want!

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Not Quite 21

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If you've ever been inside a Costco, you know that their alcohol section contains more than a fraternity could drink in a lifetime. It’s a great place to buy booze, only if you’re over 21. However, apparently the rules are different at this Costco, and you’re only allowed to buy alcohol if you’re under 21.

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We’re sure it didn’t take long for the college freshman to take their chances buying alcohol here. The sign clearly says it’s okay.

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Heat Up That Chicken

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It's no secret that Costco’s rotisserie chicken is pretty darn good. Although eating it cold is an option, it’s worlds better is served hot right out from under the heating lamp. Yet, if you have more errands to run, it’s critical to keep that chicken at the perfect temperature.

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Lucky for us, nature has blessed us with a giant heating lamp that works perfect for keeping Costco chicken nice and piping hot. We wonder if this person has been picking away at it all day.

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Vodka Is The Best Medicine

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While alcohol is known to kill bacteria, we don't think that exactly means that it will help to cure an illness, especially the flu. While some people might go to the doctor to get a flu shot, it looks like Costco wants people to pick up a handle of Kirkland vodka and ward off the flu by getting drunk.

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Most people probably wouldn’t go this route but maybe the people that do know something that we don’t…

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Waiting For Mom To Come Back From Costco

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We've all been there. You’re driving in the car with your mom and the next thing you know, you’re in the parking lot of Costco. She claims that she just has to "run in" and get a few things, but we all know what that means. You definitely don’t want to go in with her, but you also know you might die of boredom in the car.

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Looks like this poor soul made the decision to stay in the car. Legend says their mom is still shopping in Costco today.

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That Doesn't Sound Too Good

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Safety in the workplace should always be a concern. Nobody wants to get hurt while at work and nobody wants to get hurt on a trip to Costco. The fact that this Costco has only gone two days without injury is a little concerning. The real question is, was it an employee or a customer who was injured?

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If I saw this I'd probably take my business somewhere else, for fear of a Kirkland car tire falling on my head.

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Do Not Sample

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One of the best things about Costco are the samples, everyone knows that. But we can all agree that it would be disappointing to see that one of the samples was toilet paper rather than food of some kind. How do you even sample toilet paper?

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Do you just keep it in your back pocket until you need to use it? Or do you just feel it with your fingers before throwing it away? It's an odd sample no matter what.

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The Booze Is Flowing

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Well, we guess we know where we can find the alcohol to put inside of that giant wine glass, just on the side of Costco. While we know that this pump doesn't actually contain any liquor, it’s just another thing that isn’t all that surprising to find at Costco.

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For all we know, a truck does come each week full of Kirkland brand alcohol that is pumped through here and then bottled inside of the store.

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Not All Products Are Meant To Be Sampled

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At a glance, it looks like Costco really started pushing the boundaries and were offering condom samples. Thankfully, that's not the case. However, you do have to wonder how many people bolted over thinking that they were.

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We just feel bad for the poor girl working next to the Trojan area as she offers what looks to be vitamin samples. Hopefully, she’ll get switched positions tomorrow because that must be an awkward situation for everyone involved.

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Mexican Hotdogs

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For the most part, everyone loves Costco hot dogs. They're of relative quality and reasonably priced. Also, shopping at Costco can definitely work up an appetite, so it’s the perfect option as you’re walking out the door.

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However, it looks like the Costco’s in Mexico aren’t messing around when it comes to their toppings. Not only do you get jalapenos, but they line the entire hot dogs, just to make sure that you aren’t craving any extra heat. This dog is not for the faint of heart.

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Those Aren't Sausages

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Costco isn't always the best place to make healthy choices. They have so many options both healthy and not that often you may find yourself making the wrong decision. While this person was originally going to go with with the healthy coconut clusters with organic super seeds, it appears that the smoked shorty sausages caught their eye.

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Let’s be honest, nobody can be blamed for making this decision. Chances are, that bag of coconut clusters will remain there long after all the shorty sausages are gone.

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A Creative Employee

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Looks like Costco entourages their employees to have a little fun on the job. It's either that, or someone snuck in and got their hands on the nametag labeler. We’re sure that anyone that’s a fan of The Princess Bride really got a kick out of seeing someone walking around with this name tag.

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We wonder if this employee also walked around with a sword attached to their side, although we highly doubt it.

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Working Hard Or Hardly Working?

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When a pigeon manages to get inside of Costco, it's up to the employees to get it out by any means possible. Looks like this employee decided to set a trap in hopes of capturing the bird before a customer asks to speak with the manager about it.

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We’re sure that the employee would rather do this than stock the shelves or hand out samples, so they probably pray for wild animals to get in the store all of the time.

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Mmmm, Chihuahua Cheese

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If you're ever in the market for some cheese made from Chihuahuas, then Costco is the right place for you. They have no shortage of this product and apparently, it’s great for tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and salads.

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While this may seem like an unusual item in most other grocery stores, we all know that anything goes at Costco. We’re also sure it pairs nicely with a Labrador quesadilla and some German Shepard salsa.

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She's Plotting World Domination

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You can buy literally anything at Costco, they even have an area designated to books of all kinds. While most little girls might pick up something by Dr. Seuss or a book about a princess, but not this one.

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She picked out The Art of War by Sun Tzu, a book that is considered to be the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare. That's definitely not a very light read but to each their own!

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One Glass Kinda Gal

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We can't say that we’re surprised that you can buy an unnecessarily-sized wine glass at Costco, but this is just absurd. You must be able to fit around five bottles of wine into that glass, which is enough to send anyone to the hospital.

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Although it’s a novelty item, we can’t imagine anywhere that someone can fit this in their house without making it look like the inside of a sorority house. We just hope that it’s plastic instead of glass or things could get messy.

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Just Went In For Some Milk

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This man's wife sent him to Costco in order to get some milk, which he did. However, he also happened to pick up a 65″ flat screen television. While some people’s significant others might be furious because of this, you also shouldn’t send someone to Costco thinking that they wouldn’t come back with a little something extra.

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Most people’s carts at Costco look similar to this because it’s a trap for shoppers who just need a few things but can’t control themselves.

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That's A Long Storm

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The products at Costco make it very clear what's written in the fine print so that people don’t try to take advantage of the store. In this case, it looks like they even made a warning sign for the parking lot in case the place flooded.

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We’re not sure which 100 year storm they’re talking about, but now nobody can complain if their car gets flooded because there’s clearly a warning sign. Costco is always one step ahead of its customers.

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Wasting Away In The Furniture Aisle

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Sometimes, going to Costco can be a fun adventure, and at other times, it can be a nightmare. We've all been stuck in Costco for so long that eventually we just give up and find a nice piece of furniture to sit on.

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That’s exactly what this stuffed bear looks like, someone whose mom has been looking at a new vacuum for hours. It’s either that or the bear is sad because nobody has taken it home with them yet.