Reddit’s Costco Hot Takes Are Saying What We’re All Thinking

This week has been a big one for hot takes on Reddit. Well, actually, the discussion site is never exactly short on people giving their opinions – but in the food world, those have been coming in full force over the last few days. The reason? A Trader Joe’s Reddit thread that asked people to give their hot takes about the store, which generated over 4,400 comments in two days. Folks had a lot to say. A lot. 

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And as it turns out, customers from other stores were watching. Shortly after the Trader Joe’s thread appeared, a virtually identical one popped up on Costco’s Reddit page, again asking people what their hot takes were. There’s a lot to agree with here. 

Leave Me Alone!

By far the most popular hot take that came up again and again related to all the soliciting that goes on in-store from representatives of companies that aren’t Costco. “I would love if they ended their contract with third parties who try to get your attention right when you walk in. I think it’s ridiculous to allow soliciting when I pay a membership to shop in relative peace,” said the highest-rated comment of them all, with 12,000 upvotes. This sentiment was repeated countless times.

But you know what? Someone else flipped it on its head, giving the contrary opinion that made me think twice about the whole thing. “Here’s an actual hot take. I feel bad for the solicitors. No one likes them, and the most they’ll ever get from me is a smile and a, “No thank you”. But their job is essentially to get rejected 1000 times a day. And that’s how they’re trying to pay their bills.” And as someone who’s worked a cold-calling job (not by choice, mind you) where I’ve had to try and sell utterly useless stuff that no one would ever want, I agree. Those folks are just doing what they have to.

Family Values

Going to Costco always feels like a bit of an event. For me, at least. It’s exciting. And as it turns out, other people feel the same – and they bring their whole family along for the ride, much to the chagrin of others. “The entire family does not need to come on the Costco trip. Mom, dad, 4-5 kids, plus grandma and grandpa and it’s also everyone’s first day on earth so they just walk at a snail’s pace down the main aisle 6 across,” said one comment, which was reworded and repeated time and time again. 

Given that I quite literally just finished writing an article about Costco etiquette, this one resonates (although I probably wouldn’t word it as bluntly as the quote above). Maybe if you’re going to take everyone along for the ride, pick a quieter time. Or drop the kids off in the food court with your mom.

Food Court Fails

Speaking of the food court…some of the most hot take-y hot takes in the whole thread were about the perception of Costco’s food court menu, which is typically praised by its customers, both for its selection and its prices. Not everyone thinks so, though. “The food court is low cost, but everything is high-calorie slop that can’t really be eaten more than a couple times a month,” said one person. Others, meanwhile, called its famous churros “tough and mediocre,” while its chicken bake was dubbed “kinda nasty.”

Is this sacrilege? Or are these people just unlocking everyone’s subconscious thoughts about its food court? Maybe this place does get a bit too much love…but then, the prices! The sundaes! I’m on the fence on this one, folks. And honestly, you’ll have to pry that hot dog from my hands as I breathe my last.