In news dated July 7, 2024, the American warehouse chain Costco is not only known for selling a variety of affordable and high-quality daily groceries and food items, but its free samples service is also one of the most loved aspects by members. Shoppers can browse products while sampling over a dozen free snacks.
The culture of free sample tasting is a part of the Costco customer experience and can be enjoyed repeatedly and without limit. The unpredictability of the samples is also one of the attractions of Costco, making shoppers feel a sense of anticipation every time they visit.
According to testimonials from Costco customers on Reddit and YouTube, Costco occasionally showcases some of the weirdest foods ever. In a nutshell, when you walk through the store’s entrance, it’s hard to know what you might come across.
Additionally, while Costco’s culture of sample tasting allows you to enjoy shopping to the fullest, one should not underestimate the impact of this strategy on your budget. Without self-control, your shopping cart may end up filled with unplanned purchases.
Here are some of the most unusual Costco free sample items compiled by “Tasting Table” website based on member feedback, not all of which are received well by consumers.
If one word were to describe Costco’s sample tasting, it would be “diversity,” such as braised short ribs, three-meat cauliflower crust pizza, coconut shrimp, oat milk, and many more. So, when you walk into a local Costco store and see someone handing out toast, doesn’t it feel unusual?
These unexpected Costco free samples have received mixed reviews from members. “Toast! I know what it is, how it tastes, and I can make it at home,” wrote a Reddit user.
“I don’t mind,” wrote other users. “(It’s) still my favorite.”
While offering trendy seafood samples and organic protein shakes, providing regular toast may seem like a strange business move, but evidently, it works for both Costco and its customers. Some social media users have praised Costco’s toast samples, with one store even offering almond butter-slathered toast.
If you happen to come across regular toast samples at Costco early in the morning, you might still get excited – it can be a free breakfast!
There are many varieties of honey in the world, but none are as fashionable or expensive as maculata honey. This honey is costly due to its centuries-old use as a wound-healing agent, known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Reddit users expressed surprise at seeing this expensive honey variety on Costco shelves, as it is rare in most stores. Therefore, offering maculata honey as a free sample at Costco is even more astonishing. One person wrote, “I was shocked when one day they were giving out samples of maculata honey. I had to try it.”
Maculata honey rarely appears at sample tables, and if it does, it may be scooped up with a small spoon for customers to taste directly or added to yogurt or toast. Regardless, encountering this expensive honey as a free sample should be savored, as most people wouldn’t typically spend money on such a luxury item.
Costco sells its maculata honey at $79.99 for an 8.8-ounce jar.
Reddit Costco fans have commented on this unusual free sample, but not all in praise. “I do enjoy a good bone broth, but to me, this one tastes too fake,” wrote a Reddit user. This customer did not appreciate it at all.
Adult fans did not find these freeze-dried snacks particularly delicious, which is why it became an unusual Costco sample choice. Furthermore, when freeze-dried snacks are placed alongside freshly cooked meats and oven-baked desserts, they can seem out of place.
Some Costco fans on Reddit wrote, “They stick to your teeth.”
These small yogurt balls were not specifically meant for adults, so why did Costco choose them as a free sample? “I can’t stand them, but they’re great as toddler snacks,” wrote another Reddit user.
A YouTuber also agreed, saying, “We prefer other samples, like cheese cubes or mini waffles. Let the yogurt balls be for the toddlers.”
Customers at a Los Angeles Costco store were surprised to find regular bottled water being offered as samples. However, these sample waters indeed had their unique qualities.
Reddit users discussed in the r/Costco subreddit that these “regular” samples were, in fact, alkaline water. While regular water and alkaline water might look alike, Costco’s decision to provide alkaline water had its reasons. Alkaline water has a higher pH than tap water, and some studies suggest that a higher pH can help prevent cancer and heart disease, though this conclusion requires further evidence.
Reddit Costco fans also maintain a cautious stance on the actual health benefits of alkaline water. One Reddit user believes buying pH water is a waste of money.
“It’s just fancy water (H2O),” wrote someone else.