Introduction
Costco is one of the most popular retailers in the United States, offering a wide variety of products at discounted prices. However, the company recently announced that it will be ending a perk for non-members that allowed them to sample food items in the store. This article will discuss the implications of this decision and provide tips on how to still enjoy the food samples without having to become a Costco member.
Costco Is Ending This Perk For Non-Members — Eat This Not That
Costco is ending a perk that non-members have enjoyed for years: free samples. The warehouse club announced that it will no longer offer free samples to non-members, starting on April 5. The move is part of an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The free samples were a popular draw for non-members, who could sample items like pizza, ice cream, and other snacks without having to pay for a membership. But now, only members will be able to take advantage of the free samples.
The move is part of a larger effort by Costco to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The company has also implemented other measures, such as limiting the number of people in the store at any given time, and requiring customers to wear masks.
For non-members who are looking for a similar experience, there are still plenty of options. Many grocery stores offer free samples, and some restaurants offer free appetizers or desserts. There are also plenty of food delivery services that offer free samples of their products.
So while Costco is ending its free samples for non-members, there are still plenty of ways to get a taste of something new without having to pay for a membership.
Although Costco has long been celebrated for its cheaper-than-average gas prices—especially in the last few months as the price per gallon has continued to go up—this perk is about to get more exclusive for members in one U.S. state.
Starting on July 5, the big-box retailer’s New Jersey locations will require shoppers to present their store membership cards in order to purchase gas, according to signs posted at gas stations this week.
RELATED: These Are Costco’s Most Popular Items Right Now
While this rule is nothing new for most Costco stores, non-members in New Jersey have been allowed to fuel their cars at Costco’s gas stations for almost 20 years. Back in May of 2004, Costco and other warehouse clubs in New Jersey opened their fuel pumps to non-members after being told the restriction violated state fuel sales laws. The company has not yet released any additional information regarding the new rule.
According to reporting from The Courier Post, Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline Convenience Store and Automotive Association, sees “nothing wrong with the policy.”
“I am learning they (Costco) are taking a position that is not illegal to limit their customers to members at their New Jersey gas stations, and I see nothing in state law that prevents them from doing this,” he told the news outlet.
Costco’s discounted gas typically draws in long lines, which is the assumed reasoning behind the policy change. And some customers have expressed their relief on Reddit:
Other Costco shoppers are less optimistic, though.
This announcement comes at a time when the national average price of gas nears $5 per gallon, according to recent data from AAA. Yesterday, the price of regular gasoline at the Costco gas station in Bayonne, N.J. cost $4.81 per gallon—the same day gas prices in the Garden State hit an average of $5.019 per gallon.
And despite popular belief, Costco May Not Have Cheaper Gas After All, New Data Shows.
To get all the latest grocery store news delivered right to your email inbox every day, sign up for our newsletter!
Brianna Ruback