It's been little over a year since I've work at a Costco warehouse, and I've compiled a few frequently asked questions that I've either been asked or asked.
Q: While cashiering or assisting, I ask box or no box?
A: This is a standard for Costco warehouses. Since it's mandatory to ask, and such as mundane question, I like to change it up, mix it up, every other member or so. I ask if they like boxes today, or if we're hating on them. Or I quip that "We're boxless in Seattle".
The question on occasion has polarizing answers.
Here's the oddest / funniest "Yes" and "No" answers I've received thus far.
"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I want a box? How am I to carry my items into my home? With my hands?" I thought, Dude, I just wanna do my job, which requires to ask this question, in the end all I wanted was a yes or no. Speaking of "No"...
"No, I don't wanna box. I know what you're up to Carlos from Costco. You're one of the agents in order to rid your garbage via your own members. I'll NOT be party to your conspiracy to filter your rubbish through me!" Again, all I wanted was a "yes" or "no". Sheesh ...
Several members have asked me specifically what favorite answer. I reply with I'm here for you, so I'll do as you wish. If you're asking for my preference, it would be, 1) no box 2) box but on top of it, as you'll pack it yourself 3) and of course, box, please and I pack it up.
Q: Where is X item(s)?
A: Costco Members are loyal, therefore they shop with us quite frequently. So by frequency they are conditioned to find their favorite items in relatively the same area as the previous visit. What they don't realize our merchants are constantly under pressure to showcase the new items but yet merchandise the existing items.
The treasure hunt mentality is what drives business for Costco, so we are constantly rearranging where merchandise locations regardless. I've learned to do myself a favor to walk the floor each day I work EVEN IF I closed the night before.
Q: Why did you get rid of Y?
A: This segues nicely to this question. Merchants, Buyers, Managers, all know that Costco limits the amount of SKU's (items) within a warehouse - not so much with Costco.com. That being said, if new items are constantly arriving how do you solve the issue of volume and honoring the SKU limit?
You delete items, that's how. Invariably, the item deleted is the item the member in front of me asking about it is their new favorite. The member begrudgingly accepts my answer because frankly they have no other choice. I usually offer up to send our Buyers a Tell Us What You Think card to request that item back into the warehouse.
Q: What's your delivery charge? Or can I leave my oversized purchase here?
A: As much as I wanna help our members because the 2nd tenet of our Code of Ethics is "Take care of the member", I still must answer that we're a cash, and carry business. You buy, you fly with the item. On occasion we're able to hold the paid item for a couple hours during business hours. But Manager's approval is needed overnight, and that request is usually denied due to several reasons surrounding it's not our business practice, logistics of space for storage, and principle of paid merchandise needs to leave with the member.
That being said, I'm consistently asked what our delivery charge is for large items like bed mattresses, furniture pieces, etc. I said there is no delivery service therefore no delivery charge. Then the next one is can I pay for it, leave it, and come back for it tomorrow. Nope, cash and carry. The member usually drives to the warehouse with a small vehicle, saw something shiny they wanted, due to the conditioning we've done to our members of buy-now, regret-later, now they have no idea how they'll transport it home.
Thankfully we work with a local delivery service that we connect members with which seems to resolve the matter.
Q: Does Costco accept any type of VISA credit card?
A: This question is one I really don't understand why after almost 7 months of operating, and much fanfare and information about it, isn't self-evident. I think it might be a question of verification. Like the adage, "Trust but verify". I'm hoping that's the origin of the question.
The answer I provide is yes, we accept any VISA credit card, but I'm encouraging you to use your Citibank Anywhere VISA. Or if they don't have it, to encourage them and educate them on they should sign up for it.
As you can imagine these aren't the only questions I'm asked throughout the day as a Costco employee, but more often than not, the specific question falls into these buckets of type of questions.
More from me later!
Until then, keep digging
'los
Q: While cashiering or assisting, I ask box or no box?
A: This is a standard for Costco warehouses. Since it's mandatory to ask, and such as mundane question, I like to change it up, mix it up, every other member or so. I ask if they like boxes today, or if we're hating on them. Or I quip that "We're boxless in Seattle".
Here's the oddest / funniest "Yes" and "No" answers I've received thus far.
"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I want a box? How am I to carry my items into my home? With my hands?" I thought, Dude, I just wanna do my job, which requires to ask this question, in the end all I wanted was a yes or no. Speaking of "No"...
"No, I don't wanna box. I know what you're up to Carlos from Costco. You're one of the agents in order to rid your garbage via your own members. I'll NOT be party to your conspiracy to filter your rubbish through me!" Again, all I wanted was a "yes" or "no". Sheesh ...
Several members have asked me specifically what favorite answer. I reply with I'm here for you, so I'll do as you wish. If you're asking for my preference, it would be, 1) no box 2) box but on top of it, as you'll pack it yourself 3) and of course, box, please and I pack it up.
Q: Where is X item(s)?
A: Costco Members are loyal, therefore they shop with us quite frequently. So by frequency they are conditioned to find their favorite items in relatively the same area as the previous visit. What they don't realize our merchants are constantly under pressure to showcase the new items but yet merchandise the existing items.
The treasure hunt mentality is what drives business for Costco, so we are constantly rearranging where merchandise locations regardless. I've learned to do myself a favor to walk the floor each day I work EVEN IF I closed the night before.
Q: Why did you get rid of Y?
A: This segues nicely to this question. Merchants, Buyers, Managers, all know that Costco limits the amount of SKU's (items) within a warehouse - not so much with Costco.com. That being said, if new items are constantly arriving how do you solve the issue of volume and honoring the SKU limit?
You delete items, that's how. Invariably, the item deleted is the item the member in front of me asking about it is their new favorite. The member begrudgingly accepts my answer because frankly they have no other choice. I usually offer up to send our Buyers a Tell Us What You Think card to request that item back into the warehouse.
Q: What's your delivery charge? Or can I leave my oversized purchase here?
A: As much as I wanna help our members because the 2nd tenet of our Code of Ethics is "Take care of the member", I still must answer that we're a cash, and carry business. You buy, you fly with the item. On occasion we're able to hold the paid item for a couple hours during business hours. But Manager's approval is needed overnight, and that request is usually denied due to several reasons surrounding it's not our business practice, logistics of space for storage, and principle of paid merchandise needs to leave with the member.
That being said, I'm consistently asked what our delivery charge is for large items like bed mattresses, furniture pieces, etc. I said there is no delivery service therefore no delivery charge. Then the next one is can I pay for it, leave it, and come back for it tomorrow. Nope, cash and carry. The member usually drives to the warehouse with a small vehicle, saw something shiny they wanted, due to the conditioning we've done to our members of buy-now, regret-later, now they have no idea how they'll transport it home.
Thankfully we work with a local delivery service that we connect members with which seems to resolve the matter.
Q: Does Costco accept any type of VISA credit card?
A: This question is one I really don't understand why after almost 7 months of operating, and much fanfare and information about it, isn't self-evident. I think it might be a question of verification. Like the adage, "Trust but verify". I'm hoping that's the origin of the question.
The answer I provide is yes, we accept any VISA credit card, but I'm encouraging you to use your Citibank Anywhere VISA. Or if they don't have it, to encourage them and educate them on they should sign up for it.
As you can imagine these aren't the only questions I'm asked throughout the day as a Costco employee, but more often than not, the specific question falls into these buckets of type of questions.
More from me later!
Until then, keep digging
'los
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