Costco check?
- Thread starter irvinehomeowner
- Start date
NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
There are less people at Spectrum Costco. I only go around 12:30 and the store has very few people. No line to get in and check out. I actually went today also. Fully stocked of everything except for TP at the moment. I don't need to buy TP since we already have a pack, but aquabliss said he could get it 6pm yesterday so maybe try that time if you need to get one.
Unexpected bonus #1: Frozen water bottles included with the orders to keep things cool.
Unexpected bonus #2: Dry ice used with some orders to keep things cool that my daughter and I then get to play with in the bathroom sink after the food is put away.
Thanks Qwerty. I went to Costco and I bought Toilet Paper. I saw several people have multiple that got more than 1 toilet paper package. However, there are workers that walk around the store and enforce the rule. Get there early because the TP and paper towels might run out. I went the same time as Qwerty mentioned around 10:15ish today and I was lucky enough to get toilet paper. There were only a few left. (Keep in mind I did not ask so there might be more)
One tip is that you can ask to go to the self checkout line when the worker is about to assign the cashier checkout lane.
I had to pickup a prescription medication at Costco in Tustin on El Camino ~10:30am. No line to get in. Stocked with TP, paper towels, and water. Not sure about any wipes. The line to checkout did back up to the refrigerated section due to social distancing but moved very quickly (<10 min). I was impressed that all the staff were wearing masks (and many customers as well) and gloves, they wiped down all the carts, they were socially distancing, they installed large clear barriers for the cashiers, and have a touchless pay system: they scan your member card through the glass and you can pay using your Costco Visa card by laying it on top/near the credit card reader (no signature required). Getting a prescription was not as good: they still make you sign the pad to accept the medication and push the pad to process my HSA debit card. While walking out, they don't touch your receipt but have you hold it up for inspection near a clear barrier wall. They exemplify best practices for retail shopping.
I'm stocked for another 3-4 weeks on food that I would like to eat, then I'd have to move into the canned good territory and I don't have much of that...are people still making weekly food/TP runs? I don't plan on leaving the house for the rest of April, except maybe to walk around the block and to grab the mail every few days.
It's not that crowded early morning at the grocery stores and later mornings at the Costcos... wear a mask, disinfect, wash your hands and practice safe social distancing and you should be fine.
I use these "essential" excursions to get away from the stir craziness of staying at home but make sure I reduce as much exposure as I can when out (as are most others I see out and about).
We also do quite a bit of takeout to support our local restaurants, so it's interesting to see the measures they have put in place to ensure safety.
Before Coronavirus Taco Bell and Wendy?s food preparers all wore gloves. It was hit or miss. I would think standard practice now would be for all restaurant workers to were gloves. I could see some customers getting turned off by not workers not wearing gloves.
Each one is different. For the bigger chains, if you are part of their email list, they tell you what they are doing to stay safe. You can also go to their website.
For the smaller ones, if you know the owner or the manager, you can ask them. One recent small family-owned place we went to doesn't even let people inside, they have a table set up outside and then have gloves and masks on when they give you your food.
I know it's risky, but at the same time, we need to help support businesses.
paydawg said:
There are less people at Spectrum Costco. I only go around 12:30 and the store has very few people. No line to get in and check out. I actually went today also. Fully stocked of everything except for TP at the moment. I don't need to buy TP since we already have a pack, but aquabliss said he could get it 6pm yesterday so maybe try that time if you need to get one.
Just a lone data point here, but we have not gone to a warehouse or grocery store since the lockdown started. Whereas we used to be very frequent shoppers of B&M Costco and other places, and had never had groceries delivered, we have adopted a pure delivery lifestyle. Costco, Amazon & Ralph's show up each week. I never liked the idea of paying more and not being able to select my own produce, but the benefit of time saved (and now, of total social distancing) is certainly nice. It helps that there's always someone home to put things in the fridge since we work from home now.paydawg said:
Unexpected bonus #1: Frozen water bottles included with the orders to keep things cool.
Unexpected bonus #2: Dry ice used with some orders to keep things cool that my daughter and I then get to play with in the bathroom sink after the food is put away.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
@daedalus:
Can't seem to use Amazon Fresh in Irvine, never any schedule delivery dates available. Been trying for over a month now. I can use Amazon Prime Now though.
Can't seem to use Amazon Fresh in Irvine, never any schedule delivery dates available. Been trying for over a month now. I can use Amazon Prime Now though.
qwerty said:
Thanks Qwerty. I went to Costco and I bought Toilet Paper. I saw several people have multiple that got more than 1 toilet paper package. However, there are workers that walk around the store and enforce the rule. Get there early because the TP and paper towels might run out. I went the same time as Qwerty mentioned around 10:15ish today and I was lucky enough to get toilet paper. There were only a few left. (Keep in mind I did not ask so there might be more)
One tip is that you can ask to go to the self checkout line when the worker is about to assign the cashier checkout lane.
iacrenter
Well-known member
eyephone said:
I had to pickup a prescription medication at Costco in Tustin on El Camino ~10:30am. No line to get in. Stocked with TP, paper towels, and water. Not sure about any wipes. The line to checkout did back up to the refrigerated section due to social distancing but moved very quickly (<10 min). I was impressed that all the staff were wearing masks (and many customers as well) and gloves, they wiped down all the carts, they were socially distancing, they installed large clear barriers for the cashiers, and have a touchless pay system: they scan your member card through the glass and you can pay using your Costco Visa card by laying it on top/near the credit card reader (no signature required). Getting a prescription was not as good: they still make you sign the pad to accept the medication and push the pad to process my HSA debit card. While walking out, they don't touch your receipt but have you hold it up for inspection near a clear barrier wall. They exemplify best practices for retail shopping.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
So it seems a good rule to follow here for Coscto and other stores is to get there about half an hour to an hour after it opens in the morning to avoid lines but still get the "precious" stuff.
irvinehomeowner said:
I'm stocked for another 3-4 weeks on food that I would like to eat, then I'd have to move into the canned good territory and I don't have much of that...are people still making weekly food/TP runs? I don't plan on leaving the house for the rest of April, except maybe to walk around the block and to grab the mail every few days.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
akkord said:
It's not that crowded early morning at the grocery stores and later mornings at the Costcos... wear a mask, disinfect, wash your hands and practice safe social distancing and you should be fine.
I use these "essential" excursions to get away from the stir craziness of staying at home but make sure I reduce as much exposure as I can when out (as are most others I see out and about).
We also do quite a bit of takeout to support our local restaurants, so it's interesting to see the measures they have put in place to ensure safety.
qwerty
Well-known member
eyephone said:
Before Coronavirus Taco Bell and Wendy?s food preparers all wore gloves. It was hit or miss. I would think standard practice now would be for all restaurant workers to were gloves. I could see some customers getting turned off by not workers not wearing gloves.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
eyephone said:
Each one is different. For the bigger chains, if you are part of their email list, they tell you what they are doing to stay safe. You can also go to their website.
For the smaller ones, if you know the owner or the manager, you can ask them. One recent small family-owned place we went to doesn't even let people inside, they have a table set up outside and then have gloves and masks on when they give you your food.
I know it's risky, but at the same time, we need to help support businesses.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
District Costco stacked with TP and paper towels right now.
If you need them, go now.
If you need them, go now.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Most Costcos seem to have an ample supply of TP now.
It?s interesting to see how their safety protocols have evolved. There used to be just a plexiglass in front of the cashier area, now it?s across the whole entire conveyer belt and extend to the post product area after the cashier.
It?s interesting to see how their safety protocols have evolved. There used to be just a plexiglass in front of the cashier area, now it?s across the whole entire conveyer belt and extend to the post product area after the cashier.