Understanding the Diverse Shopper Personas at Costco: 9 Types of Shoppers

9 Types of Costco Shoppers: Which One Are You?

Costco has a unique shopping culture that's created several interesting shopper personas. Learn the nine most common Costco shoppers.

Kirkland die-hards

Kirkland die-hards are brand ambassadors of Kirkland Signature products. It might be hard to spot them at a Costco store, but in their homes it's clear where their loyalties lie: Everything is signed by the Kirkland name. Olive oil, toilet paper, paper towels, coffee grounds, wines, batteries -- If Costco has packaged it under its label, you can bet the Kirkland die-hards have tried it at least once.

Weekday shoppers

These shoppers are averse to lines and crowds and know the best time to shop at Costco is during the week. You might even see them pushing their carts in the -- gasp -- center of the aisle, because, guess what? They don't have to worry about people coming up behind them or bumping into them upfront.

Stock-uppers

The stock-uppers show up at Costco and buy a van-load of stuff to last a presumably long, long time. They're not necessarily hoarders. They're just taking advantage of what Costco does best: Giving us supremely good deals when we buy in bulk.

One-time purchasers

The one-time purchasers know that Costco frequently runs good deals on single items. It might even be worth it to buy a Costco membership for a single purchase, but only if the savings are big enough to be worth the effort.

Samplers

The samplers never say no to a sample, even if they truly have no interest in buying it. These shoppers, like all Costco members, can return most items at any time for a full refund, but they shouldn't use the privilege too liberally.

Executives

Executives have an Executive Costco membership and earn 2% back on their Costco purchases. Every now and then, you might see them paying with their cash back vouchers (usually in March or April), which hopefully amount to more than $60, as they have to pay $60 extra each year ($120) to be a part of this group.

Fashionistas

A refined class of Costco shoppers, these members know how to spot the best deals on clothes. If you befriend a Costco fashionista, hold on to them for as long as you can -- they're an invaluable asset when you're shopping for new clothes.

The budgeteers

The budgeteers are on a strict budget and are not fazed by all the great, low-priced, tasty products. You won't see them walking out of Costco with excess consumerism.

Instacarters

A relatively new breed of Costco shoppers, the Instacarters order their groceries through Instacart or Costco's app.