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Brace yourself for a treasure hunt.
- Costco stores can be tricky to navigate.
- That's because the store is known to move items around constantly, in a bid to get you to buy more.
- But employees know how to navigate - and which people you should (and shouldn't) ask for help.
Costco stores are like sprawling labyrinths, with bulk-sized pallets and free samples instead of a fearsome Minotaur.
But, as a result, they can be pretty hard to navigate. That's not a result of poor planning, though. It's by design.
"I think people assume stuff isn't there when they can't find it right away," an employee with two years of experience told Business Insider. "Costco is a scavenger hunt."
Costco warehouse designer Stan Laegreid wrote in Fast Company that the store layouts function as a large "racetrack" that exposes shoppers to "a greater number of products."
Business Insider recently spoke with 46 Costco employees. A number of these store employees had tips for navigating the store and having a better shopping experience, whether you're a first-time shopper or a pro looking to hone your browsing skills.
Here's how to get around the store without getting lost or spending a fortune: