Costco mania clears out the shelves

A month after its grand opening, Costco madness continues as shoppers queue to get into the Auckland store, and some highdemand items are selling out hours before it closes.

On Monday, queues had once again formed in Costco’s carpark, and security staff were staggering shoppers’ entry onto the escalators to take them down to the store.

Long queues had also formed again at the desks where shoppers collect Costco membership cards.

The nearly 147,000 members of the Costco NZ Westgate Community Facebook fan page have been swapping tips on the best times to go to the store, but going later in the evening on working days can mean finding gaps in the meat chillers and bakery.

Retail expert Chris Wilkinson from First Retail Group did not think the daily queues at Costco were a symptom of dissatisfaction with prices at the supermarket duopoly of Countdown and Foodstuffs.

‘‘New Zealand consumers very much get wrapped up in the phenomenon. We do tend to get very excited and embrace new concepts.’’