Hidden Secrets You Didn't Know About Costco's Free Samples

Good things can come in small packages, and great things can come in those little sample cups at Costco. One of the major Costco membership perks is the mysterious access members are sometimes granted to pizza cut into fractions of a slice, portions of a turkey pesto panini, a toothpick full of cheese, or dollops of dip on a cracker. Anyone who's been to Costco on a day where the samples are flowing like so much cheap yet fine Costco wine knows that there is no tastier treat than making a literal meal of samples.

Sure, the average Costco consumer looking to save a buck can get a notoriously cheap Costco rotisserie chicken at the back of the store, or the equally famous $1.50 hot dog-and-drink combo at the front. But for shoppers willing to brave a few lines and possibly a few cart-induced bruises, totally free tapas de Costco awaits.

Well, almost totally free: changes to Costco in 2025 mean it's less easy to scarf up samples — er, browse the aisles — without a membership card to scan at the door. That little morsel of information is just one hidden secret you may not have already known about Costco's free samples. The following secrets about Costco samples are just like Costco samples themselves: sometimes surprising, fleeting, and occasionally so good that you find yourself coming back for more.

The friendly faces under hairnets and behind sample carts might seem like Costco employees. Actually, these sampling superheroes work for a food demonstration service that works with Costco. Club Demonstration Services, or CDS, is Costco's "preferred in-house product demonstration provider," per the company's website. While there's some psychology behind free samples boosting sales (as well as the scent of hot snacks luring customers to impulse purchase bulk boxes of mini corn dogs), CDS workers aren't judged by how many samples they give out. However, they are sometimes evaluated on how well they can pitch their products.

A CDS sampler may not know where every item is stocked at a Costco store, since they don't technically work there — but chances are, they have a sales pitch they may be required to trot out if a manager is watching them like a hawk, or simply if a hungry customer has questions. Which is extra impressive, considering that a CDS sampler's samples might change frequently. And no, CDS samplers don't choose which product they're demonstrating (or sampling).

Costco's vendor companies request promotions through CDS, who work with Costco to position the promotion: those sweet, sweet sample carts. Sometimes, Costco makes the call on what products should be sampled. These samples are usually something that isn't selling well or fast enough. It could even be a newer product that customers might need to acquire a taste for. If you've ever sampled some simple bread and butter at Costco, for example, the store might be pushing an overstock of Costco bakery deals before their sales go stale. Usually, though, Costco vendors lobby CDS with promotional requests.

Scores of former Costco samplers have shared highs and lows from their line of work on social media message boards, like Reddit. Some workers have answered questions, while others give solid tips on making the most of your free little lunch.

Per many sampler comments, weekends at 1 PM is when the full fleet sample variety is out on the floor, and Saturday is slightly less haywire than Sunday. Sizes of samples might be great on random weekdays or when shifts are ending, too. Sometimes the difference between scooping up a single sample shrimp or a whole buffet's worth is just how close to quitting time it is. Which brings up the biggest secret there is behind Costco samples: technically, they're unlimited. No sampler or customer should expect to yoink a whole pizza straight from a sample cart toaster oven, but if you find yourself wanting to come back for another bite, no problem — unless you, yourself, are the problem.

Costco customers and samplers know that free samples can be a wonderful, but the open secret is:free samples can turn otherwise decent people into craven little gremlins. Costco sampling is a largely thankless job. Workers stand for long hours, and interact with massive amounts of people per day. The horror stories about rude, selfish, or simply oblivious sample-snatchers could fill a Costco-sized warehouse. Don't be a Costco sample creep. Keep things moving, keep things kind, and for everyone's sake, check the allergy information before you stuff a sample in your mouth, then demand the sampler to tell you what you just ate.