Instances of Costco customers consuming products such as peaches, rotisserie chickens, and cookies before purchasing them have surfaced online, drawing criticism and prompting discussions about retail etiquette and store policies. The issue gained significant traction after a Reddit post detailed the discovery of several partially eaten peaches left behind in a warehouse.

The original poster questioned whether Costco had a policy against such behavior, noting that the shoppers had at least consumed the entire fruit. This account was met with similar experiences from other shoppers and individuals claiming to be Costco employees. Common complaints included finding half-eaten rotisserie chickens, opened bags of chips, and discarded cherry pits, as customers allegedly ate the fruit while browsing the aisles.

One particularly disturbing anecdote described finding a half-eaten rotisserie chicken and a hot dog wrapper inside a display washing machine in the electronics section, which reportedly caused the appliance to be discarded.

Another shopper reported observing an older woman using her bare hands to select cookies from multiple open containers, transferring additional cookies into the container she intended to buy. An employee intervened and asked her to stop.

While Costco's membership agreement allows the company to terminate memberships at its discretion, there is no publicly stated policy that eating an item before payment automatically results in a cancellation. Enforcement of such issues appears to vary.

Reports from individuals who claim to have worked at Costco suggest that membership terminations are rare and typically reserved for more serious incidents, such as altercations with employees. However, some accounts indicate that being caught eating merchandise can lead to immediate membership revocation, particularly in certain regions like Texas.

Costco is not the only retailer to face this issue. A Walmart shopper previously sparked debate by consuming cereal before paying. In a more extreme case in 2011, a Hawaii couple was arrested for eating sandwiches in a Safeway before purchasing them. While the charges were later dropped after the couple claimed they forgot to pay, the incident underscored the differing views on pre-payment consumption.

There is no universal rule across retail stores regarding eating items before purchase. Some establishments may permit it if the customer ultimately pays for the opened product, while others strictly prohibit it. The distinction between pre-packaged goods and items sold by weight can also complicate the matter, as the latter's final price can be directly affected by consumption.

Retailers generally advise customers to ask an employee before consuming any merchandise and to always pay for items that are consumed.