Line ups at stores.... still there?

[FigmentSpark]

I haven't been to Costco in two months, whereas I usually go every week. That 1+ line up and the 10kms to the nearest one has me daunted. I've mostly been doing online purchase and pickups at our local store and I've been running in while I do my pick up. But now, they're starting to charge for pick ups on some days and I wasn't getting everything I wanted anyway, so I'm thinking of venturing back to Costco.

Anyone know if the lines are better at Costco or are they still long? Also, when's the best time to go? I used to go in the mornings, but I think everyone else goes then, too. At least it seemed that way.

We're in Ontario - GTA area.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I haven't been to Costco in two months, whereas I usually go every week. That 1+ line up and the 10kms to the nearest one has me daunted. I've mostly been doing online purchase and pickups at our local store and I've been running in while I do my pick up. But now, they're starting to charge for pick ups on some days and I wasn't getting everything I wanted anyway, so I'm thinking of venturing back to Costco.

Anyone know if the lines are better at Costco or are they still long? Also, when's the best time to go? I used to go in the mornings, but I think everyone else goes then, too. At least it seemed that way.

We're in Ontario - GTA area.

For any store go within the last hour and you'll find the shortest lines. Costco specifically we go about 30 minutes before they close -- even before COVID-19 -- because once you cross the threshold they won't kick you out

I went to Shoppers last Saturday around 9 pm and i think there were maybe 10 other people in the store, perfect time to go.

Caveat -- our Costco has a self-check line that is NEVER busy so although the line to get out at the end of the day is positively NUTS we simply head to the self-check and we're done in jig time.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I haven't had trouble with our Shopper's, yet. Maybe I just live in an area where there are lots of other choices? But We've been able to go there pretty much any time.

 

[alohamom]

I don't know if they are better than before BUT I will say it was well worth it for me to line up at Costco the two times that I have. I went to the Guelph Costco simply because it tends to be a little less busy than others within driving distance of my house. A couple Of times I have driven past the Burlington store and the line up wrapped around the building. That would be enough for me not to go. At Guelph, I would say the line both times took between 15 to 20 minutes to actually get into the store but because they are limiting people it was so easy to shop, there were so few people in the store. Checking out was great too.
I went on a Thursday afternoon and a Saturday morning. The Sat was a little busier but not by much. I did end up spending waaaay more than usual but I totally stocked up on things that are staples for me.
Just give yourself some extra time, just in case.

 

[bcwife76]

I haven't had trouble with our Shopper's, yet. Maybe I just live in an area where there are lots of other choices? But We've been able to go there pretty much any time.

Same. In fact I was just there yesterday, around 3pm and the only line up was at the post office at the back of the store. No lines to get in though.Never seen any at Shoppers

 

[FigmentSpark]

I don't know if they are better than before BUT I will say it was well worth it for me to line up at Costco the two times that I have. I went to the Guelph Costco simply because it tends to be a little less busy than others within driving distance of my house. A couple Of times I have driven past the Burlington store and the line up wrapped around the building. That would be enough for me not to go. At Guelph, I would say the line both times took between 15 to 20 minutes to actually get into the store but because they are limiting people it was so easy to shop, there were so few people in the store. Checking out was great too.
I went on a Thursday afternoon and a Saturday morning. The Sat was a little busier but not by much. I did end up spending waaaay more than usual but I totally stocked up on things that are staples for me.
Just give yourself some extra time, just in case.

See, that "around the building" is what scares me. It took me over an hour the last time, but I thought that was good, because someone told me that it would be a 2 hour line up and even that was supposed to be good. I felt like I was lining up for FOP, but without the cool payoff (just a pay out, lol).

Yes, once inside, shopping was great. It felt like havin the store to myself. But that line up was intimidating and I'm loathe to do it again.

 

[alohamom]

I felt like I was lining up for FOP, but without the cool payoff (just a pay out, lol).

LOL-no kidding!

 

[hdrolfe]

I don't shop at Costco but there is still a line up at the one near some other stores I shop at. Also the LCBO's have big lines. And the Marshall's Winners places. Most others are fine though.

 

[Donald - my hero]

As mentioned above the Guelph store rarely has a line that's taken me more than 40 minutes to get thru and that was early on in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. They are very well organized at that store and I was impressed with the efficient way they are handling the customers, markings on the pavement outside, carts well cleaned, actually limiting the # of shoppers inside, someone directing traffic at the tills and the way they clean everything down before, during and after each transaction is great.

Yeah, some love for my city

OH but be forewarned we are now under a mandatory mask wearing order in the entire county. (might find the crowds even lower cause some people have seriously lost their over this and swear they'll be going elsewhere to shop

 

[TammyLynn33]

As mentioned above the Guelph store rarely has a line that's taken me more than 40 minutes to get thru and that was early on in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. They are very well organized at that store and I was impressed with the efficient way they are handling the customers, markings on the pavement outside, carts well cleaned, actually limiting the # of shoppers inside, someone directing traffic at the tills and the way they clean everything down before, during and after each transaction is great.

Yeah, some love for my city

OH but be forewarned we are now under a mandatory mask wearing order in the entire county. (might find the crowds even lower cause some people have seriously lost their over this and swear they'll be going elsewhere to shop

I wish we had that here in Kingston. We’ve had zero cases a couple weeks now and everyone is acting like we are invincible

 

[Starwind]

I find Google's info for a store can be helpful [though not totally accurate] as they have a little infographic with how busy the location tends to be in one hour blocks each day. Even if not entirely accurate, it does give a good idea for when heavier vs lighter times are.

Also, see

https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/04/costco-stores-toronto-lines-tracking/
https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/04/grocery-store-wait-times-toronto/
For Costco here (not GTA) the last time I went was a Monday morning at somewhere between 9-930 am. No line at all outside or inside and (for a costco) relatively few people inside. By the time I was done there was a line started outside. I realize I got incredibly lucky hitting that sweet spot.

I have noticed for other grocery stores around here that mon, tues, wed first thing in the morning tends to be lightest, with tuesday morning seeming to be the sweet spot for dead stores. weekends are crazy busy at pretty much any time though a bit less so first thing in the morning.

SW

 

[Silvermist999]

I stopped shopping at my Costco (GTA) in March, right before everything shut down, but went back (nervously after hearing about the huge lineups) for the first time after the Victoria Day weekend primarily for the garden Centre. I went for the 9am opening (for regular customers) and lined up at 8:45 but once they let us in, it was a fast moving line.

I like that the carts are all sanitized outside, there are canisters of disinfecting wipes for use throughout the store and they are even handing out masks to customers at the door who want one. Once inside, it is not crowded at all.

I have started to shop at Costco again, on a biweekly basis, right at opening mid-week a bit after 9 am and there is no line up to get in. So happy to be back, I missed shopping there.

 

[vegs1]

If you’re a front line worker or a senior over 60 you can get early access. In fact, front line workers go to the front of the line.

I go at 8 am (since I’m over 60) and there are maybe 10-15 people ahead of me. When I come out at 9:00, there usually isn’t a line up or if there is, it’s short.

I try to not go anywhere near closing time as the staff at our store mentioned that they often end up having to stay quite late to wait for people.

I’ve been really impressed at Costco with their distancing policies and cleaning. They seem to keep up good spirits, too, for how hard they are all working so kudos to them.

I have never waited to get in to Shoppers. Won’t go near Winners, Marshall’s or Homesense as the lines are always crazy.

 

[alohamom]

@FigmentSpark you have made me curious to see if the lines are dying down so I think I am going to plan a trip for Tuesday or Wednesday and see.
I will let you all know how this week compares to the other times I have been as far as outside line up wait times

 

[FigmentSpark]

Good luck, @alohamom

I find Google's info for a store can be helpful [though not totally accurate] as they have a little infographic with how busy the location tends to be in one hour blocks each day. Even if not entirely accurate, it does give a good idea for when heavier vs lighter times are.

Also, see

https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/04/costco-stores-toronto-lines-tracking/
https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/04/grocery-store-wait-times-toronto/
For Costco here (not GTA) the last time I went was a Monday morning at somewhere between 9-930 am. No line at all outside or inside and (for a costco) relatively few people inside. By the time I was done there was a line started outside. I realize I got incredibly lucky hitting that sweet spot.

I have noticed for other grocery stores around here that mon, tues, wed first thing in the morning tends to be lightest, with tuesday morning seeming to be the sweet spot for dead stores. weekends are crazy busy at pretty much any time though a bit less so first thing in the morning.

SW

I downloaded the lines app they mentioned. It's still too new to be of much use, however. I was hoping it would have used some of the google data, but it looks like it's relying on user input. It doesn't even have a full list of all the stores. You have to add your store and then report your line time. I am hoping the minimal wait times I have seen are reflective of regular times, but the only way to know will be going to the store. Maybe Monday or Tuesday.

Now the question is... what's for supper today and tomorrow. I'm out of proteins and ideas. lol.

 

[Starwind]

I downloaded the lines app they mentioned. It's still too new to be of much use, however. I was hoping it would have used some of the google data, but it looks like it's relying on user input. It doesn't even have a full list of all the stores. You have to add your store and then report your line time. I am hoping the minimal wait times I have seen are reflective of regular times, but the only way to know will be going to the store. Maybe Monday or Tuesday.

Now the question is... what's for supper today and tomorrow. I'm out of proteins and ideas. lol.

The Google info os probably better then, even if you have to load each store yourself. But easy enough to bookmark the ones you care about.

For dinner: pasta ? soup ? those are our fallbacks when nothing else inspires or we are too lazy to make anything else ;-)

 

[FigmentSpark]

The Google info os probably better then, even if you have to load each store yourself. But easy enough to bookmark the ones you care about.

For dinner: pasta ? soup ? those are our fallbacks when nothing else inspires or we are too lazy to make anything else ;-)

Spaghetti is always my fallback. But, I made that last night, lol. Maybe soup. I would have done bacon and eggs, but DS17 has taken to making 4 egg omelets for lunch. I'm almost out of eggs.

 

[isabellea]

My fallback are crepes, especially if we have cheese and/or ham in the fridge. Gives us both dinner and dessert.

 

[Aladora]

I’ve been going to Costco this entire time and for the first 6 weeks the line was consistently 1 hr on Saturday. The last few weeks it has been closer to 20-30 mins tops and today I walked right in.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Ooo. Maybe I'll get lucky then on Monday. I don't like hitting up any store on the weekends because, in the before-times, all the people who worked during the week would be out doing their shopping. Stores were so quiet on the weekdays, particularly mornings. It was great. Now all that has changed.