Costco Free Samples Returning This June

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Costco storefront on sunny day

Costco is bringing back free samples!

Starting in mid-June, Costco will start offering one of their most well-known features again – free samples!

Since the coronavirus pandemic, free samples have been eliminated from stores and the popular food court menu has limited items that are only available for takeout.

stetson eating samples at costco

Along with the return of the beloved free samples, they will be initiating new sanitary procedures. It is not clear yet what sampling will look like as face coverings are required in stores and 6-foot social distancing guidelines are still in effect. We’re excited to see what the new Costco free sample process will look like starting in June!

“We’re going to start doing some things in mid-June on a slow rollout basis in sampling. I can’t tell you any more, but it’s — needless to say — not going to be where you go and just pick up an open sample with your fingers.”  — Costco CFO Richard Galanti


While you wait for Costco samples, check out these freebies!

(Thanks, Benjamin!)

Join The Discussion

Comments 41

  1. marykatz

    Thanks for letting us know Yipee …Missed the samples …

    • Jennifer (Hip Sidekick)

      You are welcome, marykatz!

  2. Jen

    Off topic: my free tree seedling from Arm & Hammer Earth Day celebration arrived in the mail today. I received a Norway Spruce which is perfect for my zone 6.
    Be sure to carefully read how big the tree gets before choosing a spot to plant your tree seedling!!!

    • Jennifer (Hip Sidekick)

      Cool! Thanks for letting us know it arrived, Jen!

  3. Meranda

    I think little to-go samples that are pre-packaged would make me feel safest taking some!

  4. Ms. Frizzle

    Yayyyyy!!! Thanks for the heads up!

  5. Tiffany

    Get rid of face masks and I’m there!!

    • Alice

      Not going to happen because NO state in the contiguous US has control of the corona virus. Samples are non-essential.

      • ccmama

        I’m with you!

      • Kate

        Masks are non-essential because they don’t protect you from the virus. But, people are going to have to lift their masks to taste the samples, so it seems pretty counterproductive.

        • Zara

          I just imagined that. Who cares for the dirty hands when you touch food and mask, if you have a mask on it will save you! People educate yourself! That dirty mask that you touches even once with your dirty hands does not protect you!!! In addition to the sample my local Costco also don’t sanitize carts anymore 🙁

        • Pat

          Totally agree

    • Lori

      Amen!

    • lydia

      I saw a woman in my Costco get kicked out of the store after being told repeatedly to cover her nose with her mask. She was only covering her mouth, which defeats the purpose. I’ve never felt happier to spend over a thousand dollars a month at a store.

    • sharonljallred

      Totally agree! Hate masks- can’t breathe, can’t hear what the cashiers are even saying to me!

      • Kim Hein

        Um…your mask goes over your nose and mouth, not your ears…geez…

        • erin

          Um, the mask is over the mouths of the people talking to her . . . geez . . .

          • Rhonda

            Lol

          • Kim Hein

            Maybe she should clean her ears out…many people say they have no problem hearing people with masks on…geez…

      • Gramma C

        Yeah yeah yeah it’s hard. It’s even harder having the virus. Or watching a loved one with it. Deal with it.

        • john908

          Ya ya ya… 333 million people in this country and 1.7 positives with 100k deaths. That means .005% of people have been infected and .0003% have died from it (assuming we can even believe the numbers based off the incentive to over report deaths from it). Yet the news acts like it’s something that will kill us all if we just step outside.

          • Oy.

            Sure, but when it affects you or a loved one, maybe you’ll take this more seriously.

          • Math is hard, y'all

            Guess percentages aren’t your thing. Assuming 1.7 million positives (which is likely very low due to inadequate testing), the rate is 0.5%, not 0.005%. And, of those that were confirmed positive, 6% have died.

      • Deb

        If you can’t breath try a different kind.

    • HEATHER

      I am doing as much shopping as possible at Costco BECAUSE they require masks. I work in an OR. My husband works every night in a COVID only ICU.

      You will want me to wear a mask to protect you.

      I am 32 weeks pregnant, please have the same consideration! This is what is wrong with America…

      • Deb

        Same at my household. When someone is near me without a mask I say “ you might want to put a mask on I live with someone treating covid patients”. So everyone not wearing mask you’re welcome that I am. How about you return the favor?

      • mccom13

        hey @HEATHER–i just want to THANK YOU & your hubby for your incredibly SELFLESS & HEROIC service to your community–&, by extension, ALL of us!! i pray that you both will stay safe & have a healthy baby! <3

    • Robyn

      I’m with you too. We all know the masks don’t protect us from the virus. It’s the touching that is dangerous this is why I do my shopping online at Sams club.

      • Gigi

        The masks are to protect others so if everyone wears them, then everyone is better protected. Unfortunately there are too many selfish people in this country that can’t wrap their head around that.

        • C

          Well actually if you look at FACTS, the Spanish flu pandemic PROVED masks don’t work; what did work is social distancing (in fact “elites” who never wore masks didn’t get it)… also a huge issue is that ppl with masks think they don’t have to social distance (it’s like airbags- ppl thought with airbags they didn’t need a seatbelt and that’s how they were sold to car companies- ppl didn’t wear seatbelts, so these will save them! Now if you look at FACTS, actually airbags are quite deadly, ESPECIALLY if you aren’t wearing a seatbelt- this doesn’t include the shrapnel issues with the airbags- distancing is to seatbelts as masks are to airbags) and ppl who are sick (or work with COVID patients) who shouldn’t be out think it’s ok bc they have a mask on which is so far from the truth… I base my decisions on facts- which includes the fact that masks that might be effective aren’t available to the general public (and those shouldn’t be worn more than 2 hours straight otherwise you risk carbon monoxide poisoning), ppl are more at risk with masks as they are touching their faces more due to adjusting it (making it more likely they will get the virus if they come into contact with it) or taking it on and off, ppl aren’t sanitizing their masks properly which puts themselves and others at risk (if they don’t have COVID, they’re at risk from wearing a dirty mask, but if they have it, other ppl are put at risk bc their mask is full of the virus and they touch it and then everything else- a clean sanitized, good mask (like N95) slightly protects others from a sicko by decreasing droplets that go past the mask, but droplets still get through (and if it’s one of those homemade cloth masks it doesn’t do much) and if you have a virus it’s not just in your mouth or nose, it’s everywhere (eg skin).. what would work better is ppl breathing through their noses and not talking and no sickos or COVID workers in public).. I have immunity issues, so I’m always informed and am also that person on the airplane who wipes down my seat, tray table, etc and has hand sanitizer (pandemic or not)… the news has brainwashed sheeple into thinking masks are like some sort of magical safety device

          • lenin1991

            I’m impressed that these two incredibly long sentences manage to be so crammed with inaccurate information about such a wide variety of topics.

    • Victoria

      Well stay at home then! Safety first

  6. Bunny

    Looking forward to the samples coming back. I’ve bought lots of new things at Costco based on a taste test. Thanks for the heads up 🙂

  7. Gibbon

    Not quite ready to lift my mask for a sample indoors. Nope, not worth a mini snack.

    • Kathleen

      Agreed!!

    • eadybakegirl

      Yes you are right. I was putting my guard down, just to find out close relatives currently are sick with covid al tested positive. 7 adults from 3 different households. All are recovery except for 2 adults that were taken to urgent care Because they had trouble breathing.

    • Jo-Ann

      Me, too!

  8. lydia

    Samples always caused so much congestion in the isles at my store. I was kind of happy when they got rid of them lol
    It’ll be a while before they’re available here though since we’re still a hot spot.

    • Me Myself &

      I second your comment. Traffic flow (especially having to stay apart) was much easier without the traffic jams due to the samples. In our state, masks are required in any store or enclosed area, so unless they offer packaged “to go” samples, I doubt they will do this. Even if they are packaged “to go”, people will take their masks off and eat them, so I don’t know how this would go over.

  9. Kenzo

    He is very handsome!

  10. JMcRayde

    Yay, I miss samples too! Thanks for posting! 😊 Sure they will have a creative way of serving them:)

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