The good news? We’re about to tell you how to avoid it.
Shoppers Say This Is One of the Most Annoying Things About Costco—And No, It’s Not the Parking Lot
Published on Jul. 21, 2025
The second I got this article assignment, I ran—not walked—to my nearest Costco. Mostly because I was out of dog food and coconut rolls (a staple at my house and, frankly, a form of self-care). But also because now I had an actual reason to chat up all the salespeople inside. I’m very chatty, and there are a lot of salespeople inside Costco.
I had barely made it through the entrance before a man asked, “Do you have a spare key fob for your Toyota Sienna?” I was stunned. How did he know what kind of car I drove from 50 feet away? “Oh, that’s a skill I’ve learned doing this job,” said Miguel S., a sales rep for a company that makes backup key fobs on the spot. “It’s one of my favorite parts of my job.”
Miguel told me the job can be boring sometimes, so he entertains himself by guessing people’s cars based on their keys and, apparently, overall aura. (He said my key, which was clipped to the outside of my purse, looked like an “older Toyota,” and I gave off “minivan mom” vibes. He’s not wrong, but still … ouch, Miguel!) He then proceeded to hard-sell me a key fob—even though I told him three times that I wasn’t interested. He continued shouting after me as I walked away.
And just like that, I got a taste of what many Costco shoppers say is one of the most annoying parts of the store. Which is saying something, considering the parking lot is a demolition derby with shopping carts, and the checkout line often resembles the start of the Boston Marathon. So what is this one thing that really gets under the skin of regulars? It’s not the crowds. It’s not the people who lose all spatial awareness the second they grab a cart. And no, it’s not the existential crisis you face when asked if you really need a jumbo bag of “keto candy” that you know will taste delicious but then make you feel less than ideal afterward (ask me how I know).
Read on to find out what this sneaky annoyance is, how to deal with it and the most polite way to shut it down.
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What is arguably the most annoying thing about Costco?
Being accosted by the third-party salespeople posted up in the aisles—most famously, the folks trying to sell you a new phone plan when you were just trying to check out the 85-inch TVs. And sure enough, I immediately ran into one: Greg O., an AT&T salesperson who is not, in fact, employed by AT&T. He’s not employed by Costco either. Plot twist: Most of these salespeople aren’t Costco employees at all.
“I work for a third-party company. I get hired and paid through them, making a base hourly rate plus commissions,” Greg told me. “I do actually make a lot of money here. Plus, it’s fun seeing people come in who had no intention of changing their phone provider now getting a better deal and saving money. It’s kind of a game to me now—the thrill of the chase.”
And that last sentence might be why so many shoppers find these sales reps irritating. The “thrill of the chase”? Sir, I’m holding a two-pack of down-alternative pillows I didn’t plan to buy and don’t fit in my cart and I’m wearing Crocs—I am not emotionally equipped to be prey right now.
Is it only the tech department where this is an issue?
Oh, no, friends. If only.
During my one-hour trip (yes, I’m very proud of myself, that’s practically sprinting for me), I saw reps hawking cellphone services, air purifiers, blenders, house siding, drink packets, vitamins, solar panels and one dude energetically offering samples of what appeared to be some sort of protein bar while simultaneously explaining the nutritional benefits of elk. (Unclear if the two were related.)
Turns out, that’s because many of these folks—sample stations, included—are hired through third-party companies. Olga L., a retiree who works part-time handing out food samples, says, “I really do enjoy it. The working part is not my favorite because people are rude and pushy, but all my friends work for the same company, and when it’s slow, we can talk.”
(Note: There are some Costco employees giving samples of Costco brand products as well.)
Why is this so annoying?
“It’s the feeling of being trapped by a salesperson hitting you up left, right and center to buy something,” says etiquette expert Jo Hayes, founder of EtiquetteExpert.org, who adds that it can feel like an invasion of your time, energy and sometimes even your physical space. After all, you don’t expect to get ambushed with a sales pitch when you’re just trying to check the price of an Instant Pot. It feels … sneaky.
And according to Hayes, that’s by design. “Salespeople capitalize on social behaviors—like feeling obligated to engage in small talk, actively listen and not walk away while someone is speaking—to get a sale,” she explains.
Greg, the AT&T rep, proves her point. “My pet peeve is when people interrupt me or try to talk over me once I’ve started,” he says. “It’s so rude.” Fair, I guess? He didn’t say the quiet part out loud: So then they’re trapped listening to my entire spiel.
It can also get annoying because there are just so many of them. Two aisles after Olga, I met Jeremy S., the rep for previously mentioned protein (elk meat?) bar, who flagged me down by telling me: “You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen! What a unique color!” My eyes are the color of dried mud with a sheen of algae. I know it. He knows it. But still, I felt compelled to say “thank you.” And just like that, I was stuck in yet another sales pitch.
What should you do if you encounter one of these reps?
The short answer: Do not make eye contact. (Even if your eyes really are the most beautiful, unique color.) Do not acknowledge them. Don’t say anything. That’s how they get you.
I’ll be honest: This probably doesn’t feel good to most of us. These reps look official. Their booths look official. And if you’re someone who was raised not to be rude (hi, Mom), it can feel downright unnatural to just breeze past without acknowledging them. And yet, learning how to say no politely and firmly is a life skill, Hayes says.
“The skill and confidence to politely decline a sales pitch is one we all do well to develop—not just when visiting Costco, but for a multitude of life situations,” she says. “Be kind, calm and clear. Give a polite smile, say ‘no, thanks,’ divert your eyes, keep your head down and keep moving. That’s usually all that’s needed.”
If you do engage, how can you extricate yourself politely?
I think Jeremy weakened my resolve with his flattery, so when I came across Marlena T., a rep for a nutritional product, I was easy pickings. She had me at “Have you heard about the benefits of probiotics?” But hey, we’ve all slipped up like this, right? You smiled. You asked a question. You said, “I’m not really looking, just browsing,” and now you’re knee-deep in a 10-minute pitch about 5G speeds.
It’s OK—you and I can still escape.
Hayes recommends using both verbal and physical cues. “Try to keep distance, move away, walk away, avoid the person. Avoiding eye contact is also powerful,” she says. “If you haven’t actually approached the salesperson—just been hit with the pitch while passing—it’s certainly A-OK to politely decline and keep walking, even if they’re still talking.”
Yes, you’re allowed to walk away mid-sentence. No, it’s not rude, Greg. It’s Costco.
As for sample tables, Marlena adds one more tip: “Don’t take the product just to make me happy and then discard it in the next aisle. That creates extra work! Just say ‘no, thanks’ if you’re not interested.”
But wait—should you give these items a second look?
Now, before you ghost every sales rep like an ex who still texts you “hey bb” at 2 a.m., take a breath. There’s a reason that Costco allows them in the store—because they’ve negotiated extra good deals for you. Depending on the promo, third-party vendors can offer Costco-only deals or bundling discounts you won’t find anywhere else, not even online.
For example, one recent AT&T plan included $200 off a new phone … plus a Costco gift card … plus $100 off your first bill. Not too shabby. When I talked to the HVAC guy by the exit door, he quoted me a new AC unit for $1,000 less than we’d recently purchased one. So if you do have a minute—and your Costco cart isn’t already maxed out with coconut rolls and a carpet (I needed it!)—it might be worth it to hear them out. Just know that the power to say no (or yes!) is all yours.
Oh, and I did end up buying the probiotic powder from Marlena. I’m a sucker for nutritional supplements, and she was a very convincing salesperson!
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Sources:
- Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert and researcher and founder of EtiquetteExpert.org; phone interview, July 16, 2025
- Greg O., AT&T affiliate rep, in-person interview, July 16, 2025
- Marlena T., nutrition brand rep; in-person interview, July 16, 2025
- Olga L., food sample worker; in-person interview, July 16, 2025
- Miguel S., key fob sales rep; in-person interview, July 16, 2025
- Jeremy S., protein bar brand rep; in-person, interview July 16, 2025
