Most of you know that Costco is a great place to shop and get some seriously awesome deals. I have been a Costco employee for a number of years and I've worked in every major department of the warehouse from Cart Crew, Front End, Membership and Sales. Working at Costco has really changed how I treat people overall, as retail is not always a walk in the park.
Ever shift at Costco is a completely different experience from the shift before...That difference is the member.
I have put together a list that I believe will forever put any member within the graces of every Costco employee they interact with. Because who doesn't enjoy top notch service?
- Grab your shopping cart/orange flat from the parking lot. Help us, help you by taking a perfectly useful shopping cart from one of the corrals situated out in the lot before you get to the door. The lot crew always appreciates when a member helps lessen their load, by not taking a cart by the side of the warehouse...especially when the store is busy.
- Have your membership card always at the ready Your card is your key that allows you access to the greatness that is Costco. On occasion I've noticed some members have an issue showing their card at the entrance to the building. Here's why: we ask to see your card so that it prevents non-members from slipping through and slowing down your transaction at the register.
You'd be surprised that some people have no idea how Costco works or that a membership is required to shop within the store. Not showing your card can actually have you barred from entering the warehouse and if persistent you'll be asked to leave by the managers. Just have it out of your wallet so coming in and checking out it is a quick and easy process.
- Always look for the coupon expiration date on the item sign. Costco makes it really easy to know how much time is left for an active coupon. Many items go on and off sale every day, this includes items not listed in the monthly mailer delivered to your home. A typical item sign with a coupon goes: Item name, price, manufacturer rebate with expiration date, final price.
- Definitely ask us questions, but understand our limitations. A typical Costco carries over 4,000 SKUs, which is a ton of product. Throughout the day I constantly have members asking extremely specific questions about a product they've found on the floor and expect an invested response/answer. Costco is not a speciality store. Just because we carry a product does not mean an employee is trained by the vendor to sell it. I.e, if you have a question on how to install a Carbon Monoxide detector, don't expect Sally who's folding clothes to be able to assist you. Head to a Home Depot or YouTube.
- If you have a question on item stock, head to the Front End. If you're wanting to see if we have your favorite ice cream or pretzel in stock, wandering around the store floor looking for someone with a name badge is not the best use of your time. Look for someone available on the Front End to jump on one of the computers and check our inventory. Be as detailed as possible when you're describing an item. If an employee doesn't have an item number to check against, it can be hard to find it in our system as we search by keywords. Bringing your receipt in that has the desired item listed is your best bet on getting a result.
- Keep your receipts for large/expensive purchases. Costco has a great return policy, but working behind the counter is always a grueling 8 hour shift. If you're going to buy a TV, a refrigerator, a patio set...KEEP YOUR RECEIPT! I know most don't expect to return stuff like that later on in the future, but day in and day out, members bring back merchandise that can date years back.
Yes, we do have your purchases on file, but trying to find your item in our system can be described like walking into a warehouse(heh) sized room that's lined with row after row of file cabinets. A refunder then has to aimlessly scramble back and forth, opening drawer after drawer after drawer, hoping we find the necessary receipt.
It can easily and very quickly turn into a frustrating experience for member and employee. Over the years I've been cursed and berated for not being able to find someone's purchase from 7 years back, under their ex's wife's account that has since been cancelled. Keep it easy, keep your receipt.
- Treat every employee like you would a family member. As soon as I clock in, my job is to serve...to an extent. I typically have good days dealing with members, solving their issues and making friends with regulars. However, one overly intense member can really kill the mood.
While you do pay to shop at Costco, we ask that you treat us with a level of respect that you would expect to be given in return. Every membership has a section within the account for comments. Blow up on an employee because a line is too long/slow? Expect a comment. Cut in line at the gas pumps/return desk without permission? Expect a comment. Allow others to use your membership without you being present? Expect a comment.
The more comments you have stacked against you, the least likely we will be to bend the rules or give exceptions to policies. Throwing out the line "I've been a member for 'X' amount of years and spend $XX,XXX dollars here a year" puts you on the fast track to losing our willingness to help immediately. Trust me, we will never forget your face.
Just be our friend! If you've been nice to us in the past, an employee will go leaps and bounds to make sure you leave satisfied.
Try this stuff out on your next visit. I know for a fact you'll earn brownie points with the employees. I'll continue to add to this list if we fellow employees feel like joining in.
Submitted March 18, 2015 at 01:14PM by MistahNative http://ift.tt/1FzeA73 Costco
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