Costco Connects Diverse Shoppers Through Unique Shopping Experience – I Want to Live Like Costco People

A millennial author recently joined Costco for the first time, reflecting on how the warehouse retailer serves as a social and commercial crossroads. This personal journey suggests Costco’s broad appeal and the emotional resonance it may hold for diverse shoppers.

The author’s observations include Costco stores in the Pacific Northwest, near Kirkland, Tacoma, and Portland, Oregon. They describe a range of customers—from families and elderly shoppers to veterans and young couples—and note the striking variety of products, including a five-pound brick of Tillamook cheddar and a $219 bottle of Dom Pérignon. Costco’s design employs psychological tactics akin to gambling to encourage spending, while offering services like hearing exams, which the author’s mother recently used. The removal and partial return of the books section in 2025 also illustrates evolving inventory choices. The author counted about eight different languages spoken during visits, which may reflect the store’s demographic diversity.

Limited availability of books has returned to some Costco locations in 2025.

While Montana is not mentioned specifically, the state’s dispersed population and preference for value may make Costco’s bulk-buying model and service offerings appealing in similar ways. Montana businesses and consumers might potentially find parallels in how Costco integrates broad product ranges with community-oriented experiences.

I Want to Live Like Costco People
By Jordan Michelman, TASTE