Costco has another surprising free sample rule

Shopping at Costco can be a huge money-saver, thanks to the store's fantastic prices on bulk grocery items and household essentials.

But if you're not careful, shopping at Costco can also be a huge budget buster.

For one thing, when you roam the aisles of Costco, you're likely to come across new products you've never seen before. And given the attractive price points, it's hard to say no to a new snack food or cozy fleece hoodie, even if you have three others that are very similar at home.

In fact, some people make a point to stick to a shopping list when visiting Costco so they aren't tempted to buy new things.

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If you pledge to stay out of aisles that don't contain a list item of yours, you might minimize impulse shopping at Costco to some degree.

Costco has another surprising free sample rule.

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Costco's free samples are a huge driver of impulse purchases

Even if you're being diligent about following a shopping list at Costco, you may get tripped up by the store's free samples.

Free samples are a huge perk of shopping at Costco. And depending on when you visit the store, you may find that there's a food or beverage station at nearly every turn.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with grabbing some free tasty snacks as you're doing your shopping. The problem is when those free samples at Costco inspire you to go off-list and bring home extra items you weren't planning on buying.

If there's room in your budget for extra purchases, then this, too, is not such a bad thing. It's when you're stressed about your Costco credit card bill that impulse buys become problematic.

And while you could always pledge to try the samples only and then move along, sometimes, when a really great bite comes along, it's hard not to bring home the bulk-sized version of whatever it is you've just tried.

Costco free sample rule may surprise members

There are certain hours of the day when you're more likely to find a large number of free samples at Costco.

Typically, the samples start to come out in full force during the mid-morning hours, and they tend to continue going strong through late afternoon. Weekends, too, are a popular time for samples in general.

If you're someone who likes to get to the store as soon as it opens, you may be too early to find much in the way of samples. And if you tend to stop at Costco on your way home from work, your options for sampling free food may be limited.

Now, we've all had our moments when we've tasted something at Costco and thought, “Wow, that was delicious.” And when that happens, you shouldn’t hesitate to go for a repeat.

One lesser-known Costco rule is that you're actually allowed to try as many free samples as you want.

Granted, you shouldn't abuse this rule. If there's a limited quantity of a given item or a long line of customers behind you waiting for a free bite, then you should take one sample, move along, and come back for another later.

But the purpose of Costco's free samples is to encourage members to try new foods and see if they're worth bringing home. So Costco is willing to let members try things more than once if it helps them make those purchasing decisions.

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And if you're worried about being judged for coming back for seconds or thirds, fear not.

Costco is a company that prides itself on outstanding customer service. As long as you're not rude or inconsiderate, you shouldn't get pushback for trying things more than once — especially if you're willing to follow up with a simple “thank you.”

Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.