Costco? (employee, sample, applying, interview)

[Mr.Bungle]

I'm curious about what it is like to work at Costco? There is a new store opening up in my neck of the woods and I applied for ****s and giggles. They called me for an interview for a part time entry level position. I just want to see if it would be worth it as a second job? What were some negative and some positive experiences you had working there?
How are the employee discounts and do they allow discounts on gas?

I am wondering if the majority of positions at a new store are "entry level part time"? I have about 6 years retail experience, though I have not worked retail in over 6 years. So why would I be considered only for entry level?

[LongtimeBravesFan]

I know nothing about Costco or their staffing policies, but here's my guess why you are marked for "entry level", despite having retail experience.

1. You only want to work part time and it will not be your primary job. They aren't going to make a moonlighter store manager.

2. You haven't worked retail in six years. So you have some rust and whatever you did before may be different than what Costco does.

3. They may just hire everyone as entry level until they see what their skills are and how quickly they catch on.


Good luck!!!!!!

[moved]

Costco does not give employee discounts of any type, it's a warehouse store. You might to check out this website: Addicted To Costco!.

[Mr.Bungle]

Originally Posted by moved

Costco does not give employee discounts of any type, it's a warehouse store. You might to check out this website: Addicted To Costco!.

What does being a warehouse store have to do with not giving discounts to employees? That is a bummer!

[a34dadsf]

Its like any other dead end job.

1. Low pay
2. Mostly likely work your butt off (definitely if its retail)
3. No guaranteed hours. Can swing anywhere from zero hours to 40 hours or more.
4. Get nickled and dimed at every step of the process.
5. The only good job is the store manager job. Assistant manager and manager positions are often hard to get and not much more pay.

Its not a good job to have. Only take it if you have no other options. Most of the big box retailers all operate the same way. Retail is highly competitive so these stores have to move large volumes of merchandise and cut costs to the bone to survive. The most successful big box retailers are simply the best at moving large volume of stuff + nickling and diming everyone.

Entry level part time simply means you are paid at the bottom (probably min wage) and no guaranteed hours. That's what it means.

[beachrunner]

I know some people who worked there and they said that it was not too bad. They sometimes did not get their first choice of position (wanted to be a stock person, ended up being cashier...some had to change position to get more hours), but they said they started out at around $10.50/hour which is pretty good for retail. For discounts you might be eligible for Intel Retail Edge Program Intel(R) Retail Edge Program

[e_cuyler]

I had always heard they paid a little more than the others. I've considered applying there myself at this point.

[lastinshow]

Like e_cuyler I've heard that they pay more than regular retail outfits with better benefits. They also close on Labor Day, July 4th etc to give all of their staff days off.
The staff at both of my local Costco's are very long term, working there for years and seem to be much happier than other stores.

It should be worth checking out, although I agree with others that part timers wouldn't really be considered above entry level in the beginning.

[LetsRock]

Be prepared to work whenever they need you so your schedule will be tailored to the business. That also means you may be sent home early if business is slow.

This is NOT real retail. Your job will be to stock shelves and keep the ailes cleared. Their mission is to move product quickly. Your "experience" is not needed except if you are in a position of handling money.

[PacificFlights]

A coworker's wife works at Costco. She's been there for 10+ years. Somethings she mentioned over the years about working there:
1. They do pay above what other similar stores pay.
2. regardless of what you were hired to do, you are expected to assist any other employee in need of help.
3. Your main purpose is to make the store an efficient selling machine and customer service int he warehouse is number 1.
4. many promotions happen when new stores open and they promote a person to a higher level at that new store. She stressed that they don;t create promotions, they happen witin the structure of the warehouse and best opportunity for advancement comes as new stores open and experience people move up to fill management positions within the new store. This makes room for promotions within the existing store. (her two promotions came when a new store open and she moved to that store in a higher position and next when another new store opened and her boss moved to that store and she filled his position)
5. Store managers will try to balance work hours among all so that your not working so many different shifts and days that you don;t know what time or day it is.
6. Costco is unlike any other retail operation because they focus on customer sales and happy experiences. they don;t have other operations where they bring "retail" sales ideas into the warehouse unlike Sam's club she said that may try something with emplyess (company way of doing things) that works at WalMart but fails in a warehouse enviroment.
7. She gets to munch on many free samples!