Costco pauses free samples over COVID-19
Costco is suspending free samples over safety concerns with the spread of the coronavirus.
It was not immediately known if Costco has pulled samples from all stores in the U.S. or only in select areas or when the suspension would end.
Club Demonstration Services, which provides in-store marketing events for Costco, declined to comment late Friday and referred calls to Costco. Costco did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Costco stores in California, Washington state and Florida said they did not know when Costco would begin offering free food samples again.
The news that product demonstrations would be suspended first surfaced on Reddit on Thursday.
On social media, consumers mourned the loss of the smorgasbord of free snacks. Costco free samples are a legendary draw at the warehouse clubs, whether you’re casually grazing or going for a whole meal. Shoppers can sample a meatball here, a few pretzels there, while piling toilet paper and bottled water into an oversized cart.
Costco said last week it’s struggling to keep bottled water, disinfectants and other critical supplies in stock as shoppers stock up while preparing to hunker down. Some Costco locations have limited how much toilet paper or paper towels they can purchase.
“We’re getting deliveries daily, but still not enough given the increased levels in demand on certain key items,” Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said in an earnings call with investors Thursday.