I walked into my local Costco and talked to 8 incredibly helpful employees about the best day and time to shop and they DID NOT disappoint with the insider knowledge they gave me. My goal was to talk to a couple cashiers, someone in the bakery and meat department, someone in the tire center, and even try to grab the attention of a manager on the floor if they weren’t busy. I’m proud to say I accomplished ALL of this and I think the information they gave me will be helpful to all Costco members looking to save some time. Let’s get to it. 

What’s the Best Day to Shop at Costco?

Tuesdays.

From talking to 8 different Costco employees, the consensus was Tuesday is the single best day to shop at Costco.

What Makes Tuesdays SO Great?

Several reasons actually.

Perhaps the easiest way to break this down is to tell you why the other days of the week are less than ideal for getting your Costco shopping done.

Let’s start with Wednesday and work our way through the week.

Wednesday – Surprisingly, 2 cashiers that I chatted with both pointed out that it’s smart to AVOID Wednesday if possible.

They told me Wednesday is the day of the week when the Costco coupon book starts and they get busy, especially in the first few hours after they open.

Thursday – I was told Thursday isn’t terrible but can be a bit busy. Probably the 2nd best day of the week to shop.

An employee in the Costco meat department also told me that they have to restock Thursday afternoons because of all the shoppers snatching up meat for their weekend BBQs.

Friday – A couple employees said Friday afternoons can be VERY crowded, often as busy as Saturday.

Saturday – 5 of the employees that I talked to said Saturday is their busiest day of the week. Stay away if AT ALL possible.

If you have to shop on a Saturday, do it right when they open (usually 9 a.m.) or show up at 6 p.m. which is one hour before they close.

Expect a line at the door when they open on Saturdays, but you’ll get in quickly and the aisles won’t be very crowded.

Sunday – 2 employees said that Sunday is their busiest day.

Three employees said if you’re going to shop on Sunday, come during the time of the local NFL team’s game and it’ll be way less crowded or right when they open as many people are at church.

Monday – Surprisingly, I was told Mondays can get busy as local businesses and restaurants tend to stock up for the week.

WINNER – This leaves TUESDAY as the single BEST day to do your Costco shopping, you’ll avoid the crowds -AND-  the coupon users and get in-and-out quickly.

OK…So What Time on Tuesday Should I Shop?

Early if possible.

When I asked this question to a friendly cashier at 9:30 a.m. on a Tuesday, she looked around the empty store, and the 2 empty checkout lines near us, and said with a laugh, “Right now is good!”

Enough said.

After a bit more probing, she also said that the store tends to get a little less busy during the middle of the week about an hour or two after they open.

She said “the morning rush dies down and people are off at work.”

What About Using Other Services, is Tuesday Also Good?

Yes.

Entering Costco on a Tuesday is also good when using the following:

Pharmacy – I was told by the gal working the counter at the Costco Pharmacy that there’s rarely a line on Tuesdays and the wait to get your prescription filled is often short.

Optometrist – Tuesday is also a good day to schedule an eye appointment as well as shop for new glasses and contacts.

See Also: Considering Costco Optical? 10 Must-Knows Before Getting an Eye Exam

Tire Center – According to the tire center tech that I briefly spoke with, try to schedule a visit to for a new set of tires on a Tuesday or Wednesday if your schedule permits it.

I was told it’ll be way less crowded and your car will be ready to roll fairly quickly.

Does the Same Apply to Getting Costco Gas?

No, well sorta.

On my way out of the Costco parking lot I stopped and filled up my tank and asked the station attendant when it was the least busiest.

He minced no words and immediately said, “Tuesday through Thursday between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.”

I was like, “Wow, okay, why do you think that is?”

He said, “Because everyone is at work and nobody is on their lunch break yet.”

Makes perfect sense to me.

See Also: Costco Gas: 7 Insider Tips for the Next Time You Fill Up

What Day is the WORST to Shop at Costco?

Saturday.

As mentioned above, and to no surprise, Saturday is the worst day to shop at Costco, especially in the early afternoon.

I’ve driven past my Costco on a Saturday and it looked like the parking lot was completely full and cars were waiting for a spot to open up.

Now I realize some of you have no choice but to shop on Saturday due to work and family obligations, so try to go early when they open -OR- show up a hour before they close.

Will I Still Find Yummy Samples on a Tuesday?

Yes, unless you’re early.

If you show up when the store open on a Tuesday, you’ll find that sample stations are still being setup so you might have to hang out a for a bit before you can grab some free treats.

Otherwise, yes, Costco hands out free samples every day of the week.

Ask the Reader: When do you think is the best day and time to shop at Costco? Let me know if you’re a Tuesday fan as well?

By Kyle James

I was always confused why Nordstrom Rack had a worse return policy than the amazing “Unlimited Days” return policy that you’ll find at Nordstrom. After researching this article, and talking to some Rack employees, I was blown away with how much they’ve had to crack down on “return abuse” the last couple years. So it brought up a lot of questions about their return policy that I know you’re going to want to know so let’s break it all down.

How Many Return Days Does Nordstrom Rack Give Me?

30 days for in-store purchases.

40 days for online purchases.

Nordstrom is one of the only stores that has a different return window for in-store purchases compared to online.

What Happens After 30 Days?

You’re NOT completely out of luck.

Nordstrom Rack will give you a gift card for the amount of the purchase for any late return received up to 60 days after the original purchase date.

After 60 days you’re up Schitt’s Creek without a paddle.

See Also: Macy’s Return Policy: We Explain It ALL On a Single Page

Do They Offer an Extended Holiday Return Period?

Yes.

The Rack is one of many stores that gives you more time to make a return around Christmas.

Specifically, for purchases made between 10/16/23 and 12/24/23 you have until 1/15/24 to make the return.

Can Items Be Worn or Laundered?

No.

Unlike Nordstrom, the Rack seems pretty strict about this one.

Stuff must still have the tag on it and not show any wear or be washed.

Did Their Policy Get Worse in Recent Years?

Yes.

In recent years, the Nordstrom Rack return policy has definitely gotten stricter, especially in terms of the days allowed for a return.

It wasn’t long ago that they offered 120 days, then it was cut to 60 days, now it’s down to 30 days.

It’s WAY worse that the Nordstrom return policy which offers UNLIMITED return days.

For whatever reason, the Rack was getting a lot of shoppers abusing their liberal return policy and were forced to crack down.

Is There Anything I Can’t Return?

Yes.

You CANNOT return any of the following to Nordstrom Rack:

– Beauty Items – Doesn’t matter if they’re opened or not, you CANNOT return them.

– Final Sale Items – Anything with a Final Sale tag cannot be returned under any circumstance.

– Non-Returnable Items – The same as Final Sale items.

– Fine Jewelry – This one is a little different and only applies to jewelry bought at Nordstrom.com or Nordstrom….these items CANNOT be returned to a Rack store.

– “Designer” Items – The same policy that applies to fine jewelry (see above) also applies to designer items.

See Also: Lululemon Return Policy: We Make Sense Of a Confusing Policy

Can I Return Stuff to a Regular Nordstrom Store?

Yes.

This one surprised me as I thought the Rack and a regular Nordstrom store carried different merchandise.

But alas, after a quick conversation with a Rack associate, I was told you absolutely CAN return your Rack purchase to ANY Nordstrom location.

What If I Lost My Receipt…Can the Rack “Look Up” My Order?

Probably.

If you have a free Nordy Club account they can look up the details of your purchase history and essentially use that info as your receipt.

It’s free to join so it’s kind of a no-brainer as it alleviates the need to hold on to your Rack and Nordstrom receipts.

Can I Return Stuff to Any Rack Location?

Yes.

As long as you’re within the return time window, you can return items to any Rack location across the country.

How Long Will It Take to Get My Money Back?

Depending on your credit card, you can expect it to take 3-5 business days to get your money back.

For online returns, it can take 10-14 business days to process your return and get your money returned to you.

How Do Online Returns Work?

To start your online return via the mail, you’ll want to VISIT THIS PAGE on the Rack website and start the process.

Note: You’ll need your order number to start the return.

You’ll find your order number on either your email confirmation or your packing slip.

Who Pays the Return Shipping Fees?

You do.

When you start an online return the Rack is gonna take $9.95 out of the return amount when they generate the label.

To avoid the shipping fee, take your return back to a Nordstrom Rack store for immediate service if at all possible.

It’s worth noting that I was told by a Nordstrom Rack chat representative that they’ll make “an exception to the fee” if the reason for the return is the fault of Nordstrom Rack.

Note: If for some reason you need to return an in-store purchase via the mail, it’s worth noting that the purchase is ineligible for a return UNLESS the purchase is available in your Nordy Club account via your Purchase History.

Can I Take My Online Return Back to a Rack Location?

Yes.

As noted above, this is the preferred method as you’ll avoid the $9.95 return shipping fee by doing so.

Can I Make an Exchange Rather Than a Return?

No.

Instead of making an even exchange, you’ll have to return the item and rebuy it in the correct size or color (for example).

Will Some Rack Cashiers Be Lenient on the 30 Days?

Yes.

I’ve read several accounts of Nordstrom Rack allowing the return if you’re just a few days over the 30 days.

Be polite and friendly and your success rate will rise even more.

Also, I’ve heard from some diehard Nordy shoppers who recommend taking your Rack return back to a Nordstrom location as most cashiers won’t care how long it’s been and make the return happen regardless.

Ask the Reader: Am I missing any important details when it comes to the Nordstrom Rack return policy? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Photo Courtesy of Nordstrom Rack.

If you found this article you’re either considering a job at Hobby Lobby, have an interview scheduled, or are a recent hire with questions. In either of these cases, you’ve probably discovered that their website does not have much information on the Hobby Lobby employee discount or job benefits. So I thought I’d try to fill the void and I enrolled a friend who’s worked at Hobby Lobby for over a year to answer all my questions. Here’s everything you need to know about the job perks at Hobby Lobby.

Does Hobby Lobby Offer an Employee Discount?

Yes.

All Hobby Lobby employees get a 15% off employee discount on in-store purchases regardless of position or seniority.

The discount will work on sale and clearance items as well, along with any coupons that you stack for additional savings.

Do Part-Time Employees Get Health Benefits?

No.

Only full-time Hobby Lobby employees (over 35 hours/week) are eligible for health benefits.

You also need to work for at least 30 days to be eligible as a full-time worker.

See Also: Here’s the Hobby Lobby Sale Schedule….Use It to Save BIG

What I Be Offered Dental Insurance?

Yes, if you’re full-time.

The same rules apply to dental coverage as medical.

Will Hobby Lobby Offer Tuition Assistance?

No.

Unlike the folks at Starbucks, Hobby Lobby does not offer to pay or reimburse you for your college tuition.

But I was told that some locations will offer discounts for employees to attend local junior colleges and universities.

If you know anything about this please drop a comment, thanks.

Will I Get Any Paid Time Off (PTO)?

Yes.

Full-time employees accumulate 14 days of paid time off per year and it accumulates if you don’t use it all in a calendar year.

I was also told by my friend, who works at Hobby Lobby, that her store does not let folks take vacation days in November, December, or January.

Also, the number of vacation days that you get starts to increase after you’ve worked at Hobby Lobby for 5 years.

Part-time workers unfortunately do NOT get any paid vacation or time off.

See Also: Hobby Lobby Return Policy: How It Works + Savings Hacks

Does Hobby Lobby Offer 401(k) Matching?

Yes.

Hobby Lobby does offer a 401(k) program which includes a company match.

Specifically, they’ll match 100% of the first 3% of your contribution and then a flat 50% matching after that.

In order to get the company match I was told that you need to work 1,000 hours as a part-time employee or 1 full year as a full-time employee.

But you certainly don’t have to wait that long to start contributing to your 401(k). For part-time workers you can start after 90 days and full timers can start after 30 days.

Does Hobby Lobby Hand Out a Christmas Bonus?

Yes.

Part time employees typically get a bonus at the end of November of $50 for the first year of employment.

The Christmas bonus then goes up by $50 each subsequent year.

So the 2nd year you’d get $100, 3rd year would be $150, and so on.

Can I Get Paid Maternity Leave?

Yes and no.

If you’re a part-time employee you’ll get 6-8 weeks maternity leave that is unpaid.

If you’re a salaried employee at Hobby Lobby, or a store manager, you WILL get paid maternity or adoption leave of 6 weeks.

Does Hobby Lobby Require a Drug Test Pre-Employment?

Yes.

I was told that warehouse employees have to do a swab drug test before they are officially hired.

Not sure about cashier and sales floor positions, let me know in the comments if you know.

Also, I was told that they reserve the right to drug test after an accident or injury that occurred while working at Hobby Lobby.

I Have a Medical Marijuana Card, Will That Be An Issue?

Yes.

My friend said she has an acquaintance who has a medical marijuana card and applied for a job at Hobby Lobby.

Apparently they were denied employment because of this.

This could vary by store, I’m not sure. Let me know if you know.

See Also: Here Are the Hobby Lobby Hours So You’ll Know When You Work

Will I Have to Take a Math Test During Interview Process?

Yes.

My friend had to take a basic math test right after her Hobby Lobby interview which she said was “pretty easy”.

The test was graded right on the spot by a co-manager and she passed it with flying colors.

Will Hobby Lobby Hire a Felon?

Yes.

BUT…the felony that you were convicted of CANNOT be within the last 7 years.

This internal policy goes for all positions at Hobby Lobby and is part of the background check that they perform on ALL applicants.

Ask the Reader: Help me make this article the most accurate Hobby Lobby employment resource online by dropping a comment with what you know. Is there anything about their job benefits, employee discount, or hiring process that I missed or got wrong?

By Kyle James