Costco is an excellent place to shop for bargains. And as any member knows, a great Costco hack when you are hungry is to munch on a few of the retailer’s legendary free samples.
In fact, you can eat enough for a decent meal just by wandering the aisles and snacking on crackers, lunch meats, drinks, desserts, and frozen foods. If you're lucky, you may hit the jackpot and get some top-quality samples from your favorite Costco.
FinanceBuzz surveyed more than 6,000 self-identified Costco shoppers, asking them to rate their local Costco location on a 1-10 scale in six different metrics. Responses were collected from May 11 to Sept. 12, 2022.
So which stores offer the finest samples? Following is the best of the best, according to Costco shoppers.
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Members in Sun Prairie gave their Costco a 8.7 out of 10 for its samples.
One reviewer said the store had plenty of samples and the staff was well-informed about them.
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Tumwater, Washington
The Tumwater location received an 8.7 rating from shoppers for the quality of its samples.
A reviewer said the store had a lot of samples to choose from and appreciated that these samples helped them discover new items to add to their cart.
Altamonte Springs, Florida
This Florida location earned an 8.7 for its samples.
Delicious samples are around every corner at this Costco, according to one reviewer, who suggested shoppers go at lunchtime for the best options.
Matthews, North Carolina
North Carolina shoppers gave this Costco location a rating of 8.7 for the quality of its samples.
One reviewer said the store has more samples at this location than the reviewer had seen at other Costco locations.
Phoenix, Arizona
The north Phoenix Costco location on North 27th Avenue received an 8.7 rating for its sample quality.
Reviewers said the store offers a wide variety of options. One person highlighted samples that their kids liked to try.
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Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville’s Costco earned an 8.8 ranking for the quality of its samples.
A reviewer raved about samples offered on weekday afternoons. Another reviewer simply described the samples with an “Oh my!”
Kansas City, Missouri
The Costco location in north Kansas City on Northwest 88th Street picked up an 8.8 rating for the quality of its samples.
A reviewer said it’s been helpful to taste samples at this location before buying them.
San Antonio, Texas
Costco’s location in northwest San Antonio on UTSA Boulevard received an 8.8 for its samples.
Reviewers praised the samples here for the large selection of options available.
Raleigh, North Carolina
The Costco in Raleigh picked up an 8.9 rating for the quality of its samples.
One reviewer said the selection, service, and samples are all top-notch at this location.
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield’s Costco picked up a rating of 8.9 for the quality of its samples.
A reviewer specifically praised the people who set up the samples for weekend shoppers, saying these folks are always a delight.
Cypress, Texas
In Cypress, shoppers gave the Costco location a rating of 8.9 for the quality of its samples.
This Costco near Houston was singled out for having a lot of samples available.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo’s Costco location grabbed an 8.9 rating for the quality of its samples.
Reviewers say this store has plenty of samples to choose from, and the sample staff is friendly.
Cummings, Georgia
The Cummings Costco earns an 8.9 for the quality of its samples.
One reviewer said the sample servers are nice and generous with customers, and another reviewer praised the samples for being kid-friendly.
St. Peters, Missouri
The St. Peters Costco location near St. Louis nabbed an 8.9 ranking for the quality of its samples.
The samples at this Costco are better than those at competitors’ stores in the area, according to one reviewer.
Houston, Texas
Houston’s Galleria Costco location on Richmond Avenue got the best rating for its quality of samples, with customers giving the store a 9 rating.
Reviewers praised the number of sample stations in the store.
Bottom line
If you’re trying to save money on groceries, a Costco membership can help you keep some cash in your pocket by letting you access bargain bulk prices.
To get an even better deal, remember to check your wallet and pay for your items with one of the top credit cards for Costco shoppers.
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