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The One Costco Hack You Need To Know Before Shopping

Is your store clockwise or counterclockwise?

There are lots of things to remember about shopping at Costco. For instance, the bakery section is close to the produce area, and it's possible to eat healthy at the food court. But knowing one hack, in particular, can simplify every trip to the warehouse.

Speaking of things you should know about the warehouse, here are the 7 Products Flying Off Costco Shelves Right Now.

Before your next trip, you need to know about this hack.

costco shopping
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"Is your Costco a clockwise or counterclockwise store?" Reddit user @alexj765 asked others recently. They brought up a great point: familiarity with the layout of a warehouse can be a huge time-saver.

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Most who voted say their stores are counterclockwise.

Costco entrance
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The post is also a poll, and more 400 people said their warehouse was counterclockwise as of early Wednesday, June 16. For comparison, almost 300 respondents said clockwise.

However, one user pointed out the poll isn't totally inclusive because some stores have to make do with the room they have.

However, most of the almost 800 warehouses across the world don't multiple floors, according to another Reddit thread.

It can be jarring to enter a Costco going the opposite way.

Costco electronics
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Costco calls the main circle near the middle of the store (no matter the direction) "The Race Track," and following it should take you to each section. Electronics and clothing are at the front of stores, followed by produce, dry goods, and frozen foods.

It goes without saying that shopping somewhere different than normal may feel somewhat strange. Suddenly, you might find yourself walking toward the checkout by mistake. Being familiar with the layout can make the shopping experience both easier and faster.

Want some more helpful Costco shopping hacks?

Costco warehouse
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Costco "is a scavenger hunt," one employee told Business Insider in 2018—on purpose. But there are some ways to cheat the warehouse system, so they say. Knowing the layout is only one. Frozen items are usually a better deal, as well as the famous $5 rotisserie chicken, bottled water, gas, and tires.

Want another Costco hack? If the alcohol section is its own separate store, you don't need a membership to get inside. Keep this in mind for summer grilling season. (Costco is even selling an entire keg of beer right now for less than $20, and the fan-favorite Kirkland Hard Seltzer is also back.)

For more, here are the 14 more things to know before shopping at Costco.

Amanda McDonald
Amanda has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in digital journalism from Loyola University Chicago. Read more about Amanda