What Costco Employees Wish You Knew About Bringing Your Own Bag

After scouring the shelves of Costco for the best deals, the only remaining challenge is taking your haul home. Since the chain's checkout stations don't offer bags, bringing your own is often more convenient than carrying those giant, bulky items out one by one. But if you show up with a tote, prepare to get stopped at the warehouse entrance or exit, as Costco staff have the right to search customers' bags and might even refuse you entry based on these checks.

This policy is something Costco employees know that most shoppers don't, even though the rule is actually posted on signs near the entrance of many locations. Costco staff can not only ask to look inside reusable shopping bags, but also personal bags like purses, briefcases, and backpacks. The reason behind this is likely to cut down on shoplifting, but employees aren't necessarily singling you out — the chances of a search have more to do with your bag itself. According to customers on Reddit, the larger the bag, the more likely it is to be searched by employees, especially if it zips closed, likely because these carriers can conceal more stolen merchandise.

A random bag check can feel invasive, but this clause is listed under the conditions for membership, so as long as you have a Costco card, an employee can ask to take a look. Regardless, some Costco customers are mighty unhappy about this policy, especially if they're confronted with it by surprise. However, you should think twice about outright refusing a search.

Costco's rule book doesn't explain why shoppers may be refused entry after a bag check, though customers speculate that if you refuse to be searched, you might get booted out. Some even claim that your membership could be revoked. However, some shoppers find this policy so irritating that they're prepared to beat Costco to the punch. "If they start asking to check my wife's purse, then that's the day I cancel my membership," one Reddit user wrote. Another user agreed, writing, "If Costco does this to me, I'm going over to customer service and getting a refund of my membership. I don't shop at prisons."

Another Costco shopper even claimed that when asked to stop for a bag check, "I told [the staff] no and kept walking. There's nothing they can do." We suggest taking this with a big grain of salt — if a bag search would really put you off your Costco food court goodies, the best way to avoid one is to use something else to carry your groceries. The most convenient alternative? The open-topped cardboard boxes found at every Costco are meant specifically for customers to carry their items. You can take as many of these as you like. According to Reddit, the best Costco checkout boxes are the ones originally used for produce like bananas, apples, and avocados. These are extra large and sturdy, guaranteed not to break and spill your groceries on the floor.