I went to Costco for the first time. Here are 12 things that surprised me.

Grace DeanJan 14, 2024, 01:02 IST

I visited Costco's store in South Croydon, London.Grace Dean/Insider

I went to a Costco store for the first time.
I was impressed by the tidiness of the store, the prices at the food court, and the extensive range of goods.

Until recently, like many Brits, I had never set foot in a Costco. The discount retailer currently has just 29 stores in the UK, compared to 591 in the US and Puerto Rico and 107 in Canada.

Growing up, my parents weren't members, and because I don't own a car it never made sense for me to join myself.

But earlier this month, I finally went to a Costco store. Here's what surprised me from my first visit:

1. Staff check your cards by the door and you have to show your receipts and purchases on the way out

Staff checked customers' membership cards on their way into the store.Grace Dean/Insider

2. It was really busy for a Friday afternoon

We hadn't expected the store to be so busy.Grace Dean/Insider

3. Items were sold in giant packs or as smaller packs bundled together

I was wowed by the five-kilogram (11-pound) blocks of cheese.Grace Dean/Insider

4. I saw more American brands than I expected

I saw American products I'd never spotted at other UK grocery chains before.Grace Dean/Insider

5. Everyone raves about Costco samples but I found them disappointing and small

This sample consisted of shards of chip that, added together, made up just one chip.Grace Dean/Insider

6. You can buy stamps

Costco was selling stamps in 64 packs.Will Martin/Insider

7. My illusions about a cake sold at my local café were shattered

Costco sold this whopping carrot cake that weighed in at nearly five pounds.Grace Dean/Insider

8. I hadn't expected quite so many luxury and big-ticket items

A lot of the jewelry on sale cost more than £1,000 ($1,200).Grace Dean/Insider

9. The store was difficult to navigate

The aisles, though numbered, didn't appear to be labelled with the type of goods they contained.Grace Dean/Insider

10. Despite this, the store was pretty tidy overall

There wasn't much clutter.Grace Dean/Insider

11. The food court was crazily cheap

Grace Dean/Insider

12. You can book vacations and get your tires replaced

You could even get your eyes tested and buy glasses and contact lenses.Grace Dean/Insider

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