‘It’s so disrespectful’: Woman shares Costco ‘life hack.’ It backfires spectacularly when people realize it makes workers’ lives worse
A woman from New Brunswick, Canada, shares her strategy for avoiding crowds when shopping at Costco. However, some workers say they feel disrespected by her life hack.
In a video with over 69,000 views, TikToker Knot Kinky HairTies (@knotkinkyhairties) walks down an empty aisle in Costco. She fills her cart with bananas, chips, paper towels, and beverages.
The entire time she shops, no customers seem to be occupying the aisles. However, there’s a controversial reason her shopping goes uninterrupted.
What is the Costco life hack for shopping at an empty store?
On-screen text reads, “Life Hack: Costco @ 8 pm is a vibe and they don’t kick you out when they close.”
According to Costco’s website, the warehouse typically closes at 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.
While shoppers may be able to quickly grab their groceries in the mostly empty store before closing, the TikToker’s suggestion of staying past closing time garners pushback from viewers.
“I’m sorry but this is so disrespectful for the employees working. At least be on the till checking out by the time they close,” one writes.
“8pm is fine but if they’re closed at 9, you should respect that and not stay after close or encourage others to. They’re tired, their shift has ended, they want to go home. There’s no other shoppers at that time for a reason,” another says.
“As a former retail worker: we don’t kick you out because we can’t, but we hate it. People wanna go home after their shift,” a third adds.
In a comment, the TikToker clarifies that she didn’t actually stay past the store closing time.
“I do respect that and didn’t stay after close! I’m just saying it was nice to not be rushed and hounded about closing times and to be told to get out,” she writes.
Does Costco kick customers out after closing time?
In a post on the subreddit r/Costco, warehouse workers discuss how their locations handle customers who try to stay past closing time. Some suggest the policy for members staying after closing varies from store to store.
“The door people should be informing people that come in right before closing or the time the store closes. The members should be aware they’re limited on shopping time. They dim the lights. There is no announcement over a speaker to tell members it’s time to go,” one worker shares. “They do a ‘sweep’ where they have employees starting at the back of the store and working their way up front. If they come across any members, they see if they can help them find what they’re looking for.”
“My old store would start the push at 6 pm and be aggressive about getting people out. My current store starts the push at 6:10 qnd is so passive about letting people past them its kind of aggravating because were in the back part of sundries dropping pallets for the stockers,” another writes.
“Once it hits closing time we quickly push all the members out. We have a few extra to go run and grab stuff for them but otherwise we are pretty strict about getting everyone out. We have a lot to stock and take out from the dock most nights,” a third explains.
@knotkinkyhairties Will forever be doing this✨ lil mom getaway and the aisles are a dream!!! #costcotiktok #costcohaul #costcocanada ♬ Crazy – Myles Lloyd & BUNT.
The Mary Sue reached out to Knot Kinky HairTies via email and to Costco via media contact form for further comment.
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