pharmacy technician

pharmacy clerk

front end associate

commis

stocker

Costco Wholesale

I worked at Costco for a bit over two years as a Merchandiser. Costco is often praised online as a spectacular company to work for, but I believe for over 80% of employees there, it is miserable. My job was a bit more fun, so if you work at Costco as a merchandiser its one of the better roles. BUT, many many many positions suck and the pay is essentially minimum wage. To go from Part-time to Full-time often takes over 5 years of seniority. They give you 39.5 hours to cut you off of full-time status. I tried to climb the ranks by asking for training but they often ignore requests as there are tons of people with huge amounts of seniority over you. I think that's the main issue with Costco (some warehouses are better, some are worse) its all about seniority, seniority, seniority. Many people have been working there for 20+ years and you will not get the comfy position/schedule they have. You get old literal grandmas/grandpas working in Merchandising (or many other departments) that can't lift anything fast or heavy because they are so old, but they get gifted the best schedule and it's impossible to replace/move them. Merchandising is HEAVYYY, I have permanent back pain now.. and im in my early twenties. I walked about 25-30k steps every shift with steel-toe boots. They do not care for the physical well-being of you. You have to lift ridiculously heavy things extremely high (for example, the banana stacking in produce department or detergent in sundries). Also you sometimes will need to collect and push carts outside, which is a little heavy and dangerous too because the parking lot is constantly full and has tons of traffic. Do you get that machine every other grocer has to stack and push shopping carts with ease? No.

Another problem is the culture of higher-ups. I thought my direct managers were kinda bad, but holymoly when I had my first "walk" I realized what Costco culture really was. The whole warehouse has a panic attack every time a walk happens. They get informed a walk is happening from corporate like a week in advanced, so they hand out hours like its no one's business. So you get literally every employee working on this specific day, and the warehouse will be picture perfect...but so insanely unrealistic. They cut off hours all the time, but a walks happening where the regional manager (who has the worst personality you can imagine) walks through for 10minutes, okay, hand out hours like they don't care anymore. It does not feel like family (towrads managers) only really to equal coworkers its fun to talk and be friends with. People become manager's pets very easily as they want to climb the ladder fast and thus turn people against each other. 

I think its a overrated company to work for. They trap you in with benefits to get you working there for decades, and if you climb to the top pay you feel trapped as you have no skills plus anything outside will pay lower. Last complaint is the manager training program is mental. They work you like a pet for 18 months as a mini-manager, but you do not get paid any higher for that "training" time. Then finally after that long, you may become a manager. If you are considering Costco, just know its not all sunshine and rainbows. There are good aspects, but I just wanted to highlight the downsides are the upsides are usually whats visible.

I have been working there for almost 2 years now and though there are some positive aspects to working there like the pay and flexibility with school, my experiences working for Costco have been negative and I'm not impressed with the way the company works. Yes its true that they treat their employees well, but you basically have to work there for years to get what you want. A company like this runs its ideals based on seniority, so the people who have been there the longest tend to get what they want such as vacation, certain days off and so on. The managers can be nice people, but they really need to do a better job in terms of how they run the company and pick favorites which is lame. They help you out and such by letting you know what needs to be done but communication among employees is absolutely terrible. Work life balance for a college student is better when you're going to school because you only work there weekends, but the summer is horrendous for that. I told my manager that I wanted friday, saturdays off till September and she said it was fine, but these past weeks my days off changed which just ruins your week because you have to change your plans and whatnot and I wasn't even told about it. 

In my case, I'm in University, so I don't get weekends off unless I book it off in advance due to their policy. Also another issue I've noticed working for this company, especially since I've been there a while is that they like to over-rely on you (students particularly) which gets annoying because they never hire anyone part time. You have to start off seasonal, and the managers decide whether they want to keep you on or let you go. Most people there just work there because they like the money but are never happy which creates a negative work environment, and if you work hard like I've been told by several co-workers and managers, they become too dependent. 

The hardest part of the job is knowing that I have to go in and do it every single day until something better comes along and that people there are way too comfortable, especially the people who have degrees, the hours are not that great either. Working at 4am 5 days a week is tiring and routine, they aren't ideal hours for a college student. Also, people who are older than I am act like its high school , gossip and all that.  Honestly I can't remember the last time I enjoyed this job. The only good thing was when the managers were not around as well as some of the lifers. Regardless I've met some cool people who have told me to stay in school and get an education so I can be happy and successful in life later onwards. Getting an education is good so you can get a good career.

Started off as a stocker while in school, got decent hours over the summers and holidays. Free membership was nice and i loved working with my team because everyone was focused on more than just pure productivity and the daily slog. Granted, merchandising in any retail job is tough but over time I got used to Costco. I got along well with most of the management team and never had any issues about work schedules or hours per week or even job performance. Lots of perks to merchandising such as flexible break times, less customer interaction compared to membership or front end employees, and a relatively relaxed vibe due to the lack of mental and emotional stress. 

After graduating and some management changes, I was told I was no longer considered to be ready for opportunities  I wanted to pursue. I came to realize that true to any other job, Costco is a corporation and you are merely an asset. I started seeing less and less people working and the demand for our performance increased constantly. The newest batch of managers after I left school and intended to work permanently at Costco, while nice people, seemed to have no sense of what they're supposed to be doing as managers, not workers. Upper levels of management seemed to also be ignorant of the limitations and capabilities of the team and the staff as a whole without acknowledging why performance seemed to be dropping. Hours were cut from our team at an increasing rate and a lack of bodies and training time meant some nights were nightmares while being short-staffed constantly or simply not having enough team members to fill designated roles or being trained to operate equipment. 

I ended up getting a second job to support my income as part-time only hours was next to nothing while spread out over a 5 day week. Over time my mental state and physical health was deteriorating and I realized that as fun and relatively simple the work I was doing for the pay and potential pay increases, it was not worth it. If I had gotten full-time hours or my team was not so under-staffed and the systems/expectations in place were more competent and reasonable for the workload, I would have stayed. 

Ironically, the best and worst parts of being a Costco employee came down to the corporate consistency; when things were great, everyone felt satisfied in working for Costco and there was never any feeling of overwhelming pressure to perform and give 100% every single day. After significant management and operational changes, the daily work life myself and others experienced gradually worsened and is still of poor quality to this day. The turnover rate went from years to months or even weeks, and the loss of talented and dedicated staff meant the coveted Costco work environment became just like any other large retail store and wholesaler.  At one point Costco was prized for their work environment and still is considered to be one of the best employers for job stability and employee retention, however that was not my latest experience. Under different circumstances I would love to work for Costco again, just not while I have other opportunities and more of a life to live. 

a typical day at work started with grabbing a cart, some boxes, your bag with your allergy sign, table cloth, plastic table cover, hat, hairnet, and apron and putting on your hairnet and hat before heading over to the office to find out what product(s) you were demonstrating that day, retrieve all necessary paperwork, some necessary supplies such as 4-5 bags or boxes of large or small paper muffin cups or serving cups, and all of your purchased product(s) (if said product was food or drink). after everything needed from the office was in your cart you then headed to the back of the store and kitchen to grab your table or cooking cart and the rest of your supplies such as dishes before heading to set up where your product was located (or where 1 product was located if demonstrating multiple products) or before heading to cover a coworker if doing the later shift. once you arrived at your location for the day you set up your table, put the table cloth and plastic table cover on your table, put on your apron, put all needed supplies (such as 2 plastic serving trays) on the table put the boxes under the table with any supplies that wouldn't be needed immediately such as extra napkins and product, put all signs and price tags under the plastic table cover along with all paperwork and writing utensil, plugged in appliance if one was needed, prepared product by cooking it if necessary or putting it in a bowl start serving customers until your lunch break. at the time of your lunch break you either shut down your table if there was no one coming to relieve you or waited for one of your coworkers to come relieve you and then you went on your break for 30 minutes. after your break if you were on the early shift you served until it was either time to shut down for the day or time to shut down to cover a coworker on the late shift for their 30 minute break. if you were on the early shift and were covering a coworker on the late shift you went to their station with your box of gloves and continued where they left off until they came back from their break and then returned your gloves to the office, took off your hat hairnet and apron, and went home.

I learned how to sell a product and learnt some valuable customer service skills.
My coworkers were all very friendly and helpful and always treated me fairly.
The hardest part of the job was trying to get people to buy and try the product.
The easiest part of the job was answering customer questions and serving the product.

I am speaking the Regent Ave, in Winnipeg only, I hear the other location is quite different in its mgt. 

Of course actual job in practice totally goes against the safety training given in orientation.  If a dept head or manager is asked whether someone should lift 50 pounds far above shoulder level, the will say not to.  Dare you have another question or problem, you are identified as a problem, and are generally avoided or evaded to a degree....just keeping it real folks.  

No talking allowed for morning staff (4 am till opening).  The management can't actually tell you not to talk at all, but they will tell you 'if you want hours, you need to be visibly putting in 150% which means, don't be seen talking.'  I am not talking about standing around, talking and not working hard.... I mean, literally NO talking.  If you caught talking by a supervisor, your yelled at from a distance to 'move it' or 'let's go.'  I actually had no problem with this.  What I did take issue with was the inequity of 'old-timey staff protecting their own self-interests (extra privileges).

Despite the great, thorough orientation the Costco organization gives, the Regen the management ( 3 store managers, warehouse managers, two-tiered dept. manager, senior staff acting as unofficial supervising roles to new hires) all exist in a work culture as if they are working in a union setting despite Costco not being unionized. 

That is to say, as a new hire, you will be expected to work hard, lift heavy as fast as you can with no visible stopping or talking (if your a typical stockperson - excluding the cushier jobs in clothing or a cashier assistant).   

On the contrary, you will constantly see senior staff (outlined above) chatting, laughing at lengths ( I once timed a chat to 17 minutes!) and often times hard to find (smoking in their cars).  In other words, the managers do not lead by example, yet talk in strict fashion. There are senior staff members, not all, who are WELL-known to never hustle or work hard in comparison to most others, and yet they are somehow untouchable. I had seen many managers walk right past these staff members or even be engaged in chatting about non-work topics, only tell junior staff to 'move it.'  The harder management can make newer staff work, the more they carry on with their priviledged status quo.  If it sounds disheartening, it is because it is.

Applied as a front end supervisor and was not granted the oppotunity spoken about during the interview even after staying with the company working minimum wage for 1.5+ years. I provided phenomenal customer service and even on my last day of employment at Costco members came to say good bye and thanked me for the service I provided them. I am very happy I provided the members with such a positive experience while I was employed with Costco even though my managers did not see my potential.  I decided to resign and seek other opportunities that fit my qualifications elsewhere. Poor management, disorganized. Work life balance is non existent. I was working 5 days a week as  a PT employee full time hours most of the year being there with only 60% benefit coverage (so basically working the same as a FT employee but with half the benefits). Not one staff member I spoke to enjoys their employment at Costco. I had to move on I am worth more. 

Front end supervisors in charge yell and degrade the employees (not all but 2 in particular at the location I worked at in Sudbury) to the point where the members asked me how I tolerate being treated like this on a daily basis. This ultimately made me decide to move on and seek other employment opportunities. 

On a positive note, there are amazing front end employees I loved working with that I will miss and a few of the front end supervisors were very organized kind and courteous. 

I do not find it reasonable to expect a PT employee to work FT hours unless they want to pick up the shifts and do so. We are hired at PT not FT. I would have accepted this 5+ day work week in a different position as discussed (front end supervisor etc). This is beyond unreasonable of the company to expect this and it is causing massive burn out to all the staff. They do this to save money on hiring FT employees at the PT employees expense it seems. I was a cashier on a daily basis before my resignation as well, great way to save money Costco. 

Ultimately I did not expect this from Costco and I wish my experience could have been better I am a very hard worker and beyond devastated.


Coming from Canada, Costco’s pay sucks. $13/hr. Minimum wage is $12.65. That’s horrible, I can work at a restaurant with half the physical labour and earn more in tips. I was a Parttime/Fulltime, kind of confusing but I worked 40+ Hour weeks and was just considered part time. I was in freezer department which is notorious for being the worst position. Most people will get there at 2:30-10:30 with most managers asking you to stay till midnight. I get it a freezer is supposed to be cold but every week we had to spend up to an hour in each freezer to clean up the ice, and debris. We also 3 freezers. They don’t have gloves either, which is weird because the refrigerator staff did... but just imagine spending 3 hours in a freezer with no gloves at -30*. This is redicoulous, they also expect a pallet of 1000-2000 pounds of food to be completed/stocked and on to the next pallet in 5 minutes(some pallets can even get as heavy as 3500-4500 pounds if it’s a “miscellaneous” mix match of different products. That’s absurd. Mind you, you can go through 15-30 pallets in a shift. The only reason benefits are good is because once your 3 month probabtion is up, you’ll have some sort of back, knee or wrist issues. I hated working here simply because you have NO social life. The days you do usually get off are Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday. If you want different days, might have to wait a few years. Want different hours? Might have to wait 20 years(according to coworkers). I had coworkers working night shifts(what you’ll most likely get) for 8-10 years still waiting to get put up to day shifts(6:30am-2:30). If you want time off or to swap shifts, your department manager will frown apon you. My life was pretty much going down the drain working there, I had no social life, no more friends aside my coworkers, the only thing good was the holiday pay which was usually $40+/hr depending on your hours worked the past month. I will say the plus side of things were, the general managers were SUPER friendly, and coworkers were awesome, super friendly, super fun to hang out with. Just like secondary school, I miss my friends there, but hated showing up. I can’t hate too much, experience is experience

Costco Wholesale is a place that one can gain valuable experience from working. They may even choose to stay because of the competitive retail salary, and the fair chance of advancing their career through working full time. 

As a front end assistant, the shifts given is usually variable. On a typical opening day, we get ready to operate the very front line of the warehouse through cleaning the areas and stuffing the tills with boxes for members/clients to use. The bulk of the shift is taken up by either operating as a cashier or packer. Often times, members change their mind on an item that they were about to purchase, and I can be tasked with putting the collective items back to their place. If I am placed on a later shift that extends through closing time, we go out to help cart-pushers put back carts in their respective places. 

Going to Costco has immensely improved my communication skills and attention to detail regarding customer service. Not a single day goes by without speaking at least a couple thousand words to everybody, so an improvement in communication skills proves to be imminent working as a Front End Assistant. As one would expect, the hardest part of work is maintaining the enthusiasm and positive attitude in the face of the mind numbing work environment. 

However, Costco Wholesale treats their employees with a great amount of respect, and their hard work is recognized. This fair work environment encourages positivity, and it simultaneously teaches one on what hard work is like. With the combined experience of talking to members and coworkers alike, socializing is a huge aspect of working Front End. That being said, being able to socialize and have the ability to be your own personality is the most enjoyable part of the job.

Overall, I firmly believe that working at Costco will give a leg up to any type of sales position that one may apply in the future, as we are also pushed to promote our programs, which is for the members' own benefit. The position is relentless with communication, and my personal relationship with management has been efficient and amicable.

My day is usually boring and all that. I go in, stock stuff before the store opens then find something to do before my shift is done. Overall, Its not a place where I want to work at after my degree. The management is pretty horrible. I get that you go in to do your job, but even that alone doesn't satisfy them. Managers should thank their coworkers as we work hard to do what you want. Some (not all) Coworkers don't treat you that great even if you work hard on the job. Yes you work as a team but a lot of people I work with have no ambition. I've been there almost 3 years and trying to move to the front end because a lot of younger staff work there, and the hours are more realistic. That's another thing, these hours aren't ideal, and if you're late you get a write up. Scheduling is horrendous as they make mistakes quite a lot on the schedule and I have to remind them what days off I originally gave them. I don't get benefits since I'm a student which is find cause its just temporary till I find something better. The job nature is fairly boring, routine and repetitive. Its just the people you have to work with at times that make it unbearable. Overall they "treat their employees well" but that doesn't mean that they value you as a person. The hardest part of the job I would say is that it can be physically challenging but that's about it. Also, once you do it over time, you don't really learn anything, and its not really a fun environment since people there just do it for the paycheck rather than passion.  Most enjoyable part of the job is that the people who have been there for too long know what their doing so it makes your work easier when someone tells you how to do something. All in all, Costco needs to take into consideration the value of how hard employees work. If you don't like it, might as well find a job that will make you happy in the long run rather than working there for years which has made some people go crazy.

**Position: Front-End Assistant at Costco Wholesale**

**A Typical Day at Work:**
In my role as a Front-End Assistant at Costco Wholesale, each day brings new challenges and opportunities to interact with customers. From assisting with checkouts to managing queues and ensuring a clean and organized front-end area, I find fulfillment in the dynamic nature of the work.

**What I Believe I Learned:**
During my time at Costco Wholesale, I've learned invaluable skills in customer service, communication, and teamwork. Operating point-of-sale systems, handling various payment methods, and effectively managing time in a fast-paced environment have become second nature to me.

**Management:**
The management team at Costco Wholesale provides excellent support and guidance, fostering a positive work environment. Their clear communication and encouragement of feedback create a sense of trust and collaboration among the staff.

**Workplace Culture:**
Costco Wholesale boasts a vibrant and inclusive workplace culture where respect and integrity are paramount. I appreciate the strong sense of teamwork and dedication to customer satisfaction that permeates throughout the organization.

**The Hardest Part of the Job:**
While the role of a Front-End Assistant can be demanding at times, particularly during peak hours or when dealing with challenging customers, I've found these moments to be opportunities for personal growth and development. Maintaining composure and delivering exceptional service in such situations has been a rewarding challenge.

**The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:**
The most enjoyable aspect of my role is undoubtedly the opportunity to interact with a diverse array of customers and colleagues on a daily basis. I take pride in providing assistance, resolving issues, and ensuring that every customer leaves with a positive impression. Being part of a supportive team and contributing to the overall success of the store brings me immense satisfaction.

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