First Time Shopping at Costco? 5 Things That May Surprise You

The first time I walked into Costco, I was astounded by the size of the store and the range of inventory it housed. In fact, "astounded" may not be the right word. In reality, I was probably a bit overwhelmed.

These days, shopping at Costco is something I do weekly, so I'm used to the various nuances. But if you're gearing up for your first Costco shopping experience, you may not know exactly what to expect. Here are a few points to keep in mind that could help you avoid unwanted surprises.

1. The shopping carts are huge

If you're someone who enjoys getting a good cardio workout, then here's some potential good news. The simple act of pushing a Costco shopping cart around the store could burn some serious calories.

But kidding aside, because Costco's shopping carts can house so many items, it's important to keep your spending in check if you're used to filling a smaller cart at your regular grocery store. Not only might you risk overspending the first time you visit Costco due to the ability to bring so many items over to checkout, but you also risk getting home and realizing you don't have the space to store everything. That's far from ideal.

2. You'll be bombarded with sales when you walk in the door

One trick Costco employs to get customers to spend extra money is placing sale items at the front of the store, so you're bombarded when you walk in. Try to resist the urge to grab those items, because they could result in a higher bill than you're comfortable with.

That said, it's not just the front of the store that might tempt you with impulse buys. You'll find a host of seasonal items all over the store.

It's a good idea to make a shopping list for your first Costco experience and do your best to stick to it. Otherwise, you might come away with a much larger credit card tab than you're comfortable with. If you really want to limit your Costco impulse buys, bring cash for your first shopping trip.

3. The checkout lines can be long -- even if you're shopping at an off-peak time

One thing I've noticed at Costco is that whether I'm shopping there in the morning, the afternoon, or the evening, the lines just tend to be long. That's something you may want to prepare for so you don't run into a jam. For example, you may not want to squeeze your first Costco trip into your lunch hour if you're short on time.

In my experience, I find that the store tends to be less crowded when it first opens and in the hour leading up to when it closes. On the flipside, my local Costco is an absolute nightmare on weekends, and I've had friends in other areas say the same. So if you want your first Costco trip to be pleasant, aim to go during the week.

4. You can enjoy as many free samples as you want

When I first joined Costco, it took me some time to feel comfortable accepting free samples -- even though that's part of the membership experience. Not only should you feel comfortable trying a sample of a different food at each station you encounter, but you should also know that you can have as many samples as you want.

Let's say you grab a bite of cheese on your way to the dairy section and are on the fence about buying a whole block of it. In that case, go back over and ask for a second bite. The whole purpose of sampling Costco's offerings is to feel more confident that you're purchasing items you'll actually use and enjoy.

5. Your receipt will be inspected before you leave the store -- but not for the reason you think

At a traditional supermarket, you pay for your goods, take your receipt, and leave. At Costco, you're required to show your receipt to a store employee before leaving the store. And they may take a minute or two to review that receipt and compare it to the items in your shopping cart.

But don't assume that the reason for this is to make sure you aren't stealing anything. Actually, the reason Costco inspects receipts is to make sure you weren't charged incorrectly for the items you've purchased. To put it another way, this policy is meant to benefit customers -- even though it might delay your Costco exit by a minute or two.

So there you have it. Shopping at Costco is probably going to be worlds different than the shopping experiences you've had before. But with any luck, knowing what to expect going in will make your initial experience a positive one.