Sport or Not? Costco Shopping

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors would never understand the challenges of traversing through a crowded Costco.

Shopping in Costco is a physically taxing activity that requires your fullest attention. At any moment, a fellow shopper could enter the same aisle and cause the narrow space to feel even more confined. If someone stops to examine what’s on the shelves, then you’ll have to push your unwieldy cart around them, hoping that you don’t ram your cart into theirs.

Even exiting an aisle is a chore. You never know if someone is moving from outside the aisle, as your field of vision is blocked by the end caps.

This feat is not only a test of endurance, but a test of strength. After stocking up in the meat department, you’ll need to exert all your energy just to push your cart forward. Moving a fully loaded cart requires the same amount of, if not more, force than a football player pushing a training dummy during practice. 

Finally, you make it to the checkout lane but of course, there is a line; now your grocery shopping trip becomes an exercise in waiting. After what feels like an eternity, you’re finally greeted by the cashier, who has also had an overwhelming day. After paying, you pass the huge food court but have to resist a snack as you make your way to your car. As you’re lifting the heavy bags and bulk items into the trunk, the weak brown bags rip in your hands. You stand in silence as your avocados roll down the parking lot, frustrated by your entire grocery shopping experience.