Sampling at Sams/Costco

[DisneyPhD]

Buying something at cost co to try it is a real commitment of money and space (in your freezer or pantry.) Most things cost around $10, so the samples are a great way to find out if something really is worth buying.

The thing is my cost co seems to have samples running every day, almost all day long (starting an hour or so after opening.)

I do like how they can keep the kids in the cart (and busy) while shopping. We don't normally sample everything, but I have been know to go back for seconds for the kids if they really liked it. Then again I don't always get myself one, so the 2nd one really counts as mine. If we go back a number of times we do buy the item too.

 

[hydster]

I have no problem with people sampling things....it's the constant hover samplers or the ones that won't move out of the way or won't move their cart while they wait for said samples that gets me.

I've let my kids have a sample here and there but I'd never consider making 2 plus trips back to get more. A sample is a sample. A taste. It's not meant to be a meal. If you want the sample fine but those of us that don't...let us through and let us buy our milk or eggs.

 

[cardaway]

If a person is standing around waiting for something (and blocking the way of others in the process) does it even still qualify as a sample? Seems like crossing the line into a free food order to me. The only reason these people are standing there is they are not going to allow others to get in the way of their free meal.

 

[hydster]

If a person is standing around waiting for something (and blicking the wya of others int he process) does it even still qualify as a sample? Seems like crossing the line into a free food order to me. The only reason these people are standing there is they are not going to allow others to get in the way of their free meal.

You have a point!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

ughh this is soo annoying! we always see people PARKED in front of the sample tables like it's a flippin buffet! i mean they get one cup and then another and then they eat them and grab two more fo rthe road and hit up the next one! 1 our of 4 actually have a cart!

 

[Aidensmom]

Since I work during the week, when I go to Sam's it is usually on Saturday around sample time. Yes, we get the samples. That is what they are there for, isn't it?

It's usually DS and I, and we get one sample each from each thing that looks interesting to us. We don't go back for seconds or anything. We just like to try things, we're not trying to offend anyone. Personally, my time is too valuable to waste standing there 10 minutes waiting for the next sample batch to be ready, but if there is something ready to go, and it looks interesting, we will get some. If someone else wants to wait though, doesn't bother me. I can't say I usually have enough to consider it a meal for myself, but for my 38 lb child, it usually counts as lunch.

 

[hydster]

Since I work during the week, when I go to Sam's it is usually on Saturday around sample time. Yes, we get the samples. That is what they are there for, isn't it?

It's usually DS and I, and we get one sample each from each thing that looks interesting to us. We don't go back for seconds or anything. We just like to try things, we're not trying to offend anyone. Personally, my time is too valuable to waste standing there 10 minutes waiting for the next sample batch to be ready, but if there is something ready to go, and it looks interesting, we will get some. If someone else wants to wait though, doesn't bother me. I can't say I usually have enough to consider it a meal for myself, but for my 38 lb child, it usually counts as lunch.

Then you aren't offending me personally! It's those that use it as a means to feed their family and who wait for the next one that we are talking about. If something is ready to go that's fine. It's waiting for it *at least for us* that is such an annoyance and actually I don't care if you wait for it if you are respectful and let us get what we came to get. It's those that clog the aisle up, won't move for anyone, wait for the 20th sample of the day that get to ME personally. I won't speak for the OP or anyone else..but for me it really tweaks me off!

 

[mookie]

Buying something at cost co to try it is a real commitment of money and space (in your freezer or pantry.) Most things cost around $10, so the samples are a great way to find out if something really is worth buying.

The thing is my cost co seems to have samples running every day, almost all day long (starting an hour or so after opening.)

I do like how they can keep the kids in the cart (and busy) while shopping. We don't normally sample everything, but I have been know to go back for seconds for the kids if they really liked it. Then again I don't always get myself one, so the 2nd one really counts as mine. If we go back a number of times we do buy the item too.

I'm guilty of samplling too. And, yes, we've made it a meal before. But not on purpose...there are just so many that you can get filled up and not need another meal after that !!!

No, we don't go back for seconds (except the smoothies....) and yes, we do buy the items if we like it.

Heck - that's what the samples are there for - TO SAMPLE!!!!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I refuse to go to Costco on the weekends anymore! I get so tired of all the people hovering around waiting for that 1 little tiny morsel and they won't move so I can get the milk I came for. It drives me insane!

If there is a sample and it's available sure but to stand and wait for it just drives me crazy.

I actually had one lady tell me to just chill out and wait for the pizza bite or whatever it was to get done cooking and THEN she'd move so I could get my eggs. She would not move until those puppies were done and then she grabbed a handful of them and popped them in her mouth one at a time. I was so tweaked off I haven't been back on a weekend since.

In general I don't have a problem with the samples *though I'd never eat them because I've seen people sneeze near them etc* but I do hate the hoover hoverer's!

Hoover hoverers!

I agree. We'll take a sample if it's something we want to try. Dd3 likes to try everything, and she actually does fill up on just 2 or 3 little samples, so yea, I'll joke occasionally that she ate lunch at Costco. Occasionally we might even wait for something she really loves (only if we can see that they are seconds away from setting out the tray). But we don't wait for minutes at a time, or block anyone's way, nor do we ever take more than one of each item per person.

I hate those selfish folks that shove a couple in their mouth while grabbing more for the road, leaving 3 pieces on the tray for the 8 people in line behind them.

 

[disykat]

I've never seen anyone take more than one sample! It makes me wonder, am I just not observant or do I live in a polite community?

 

[binny]

we sample but just because we're there anyway doing our weekly shopping. I would prefer to go during the week but that doesnt always happen.



My kids have discovered lots of new foods that they like that I wouldnt have bought normally. Isnt that the point?