Weekday mornings, right when they open, the earlier in the week the better.

Early Morning / Late in the evening is really your best bet.

Pro-Tip: They open most days @ 10AM for the general public, and @ 9AM for corporate card holders, if you are a non-corporate card person, they won't turn you out if you show up at 9:30-9:45. It's always busy, it's the only Costco in the state. Plan your trips wisely.

I laughed audibly - because I do the same thing. I’m not really a people person, so anywhere too many of them congregate make me crusty without good cause. I hear you on this specifically, though. If we go it’s 6pm or after on a Friday night. It’s damn near empty.

Amateur tip: Shop elsewhere. I used to shop at Costco all the time, but discovered that it was less expensive to just buy smaller quantities elsewhere, especially Aldi, and have less waste. Plus I am not tempted to buy stuff I don't need, like a new 24 pack of giant muffins ✅, a new kitchen appliance ✅, or a cedar playground for the kids ✅.

That said, I miss going. Twas always fun (my local store back then wasn't too crowded).

730pm, week night, during a snowstorm. It's dead there then.

The closest Aldi is in Rutland?

Yes and id love to tell the internet

Costco muffins are the best.

I find noise canceling headphones and a favorite podcast or album helps me deal with shopping in crowds.

^Plattsburgh

Are you paying for the ferry or driving around north?

Or Bennington in my case.

I always prepare to be stressed to the max when going there. Slow walkers with massive carts and tons of time to kill.

Well I don’t really go at all but if I did it would be over the top. YMMV

I've tried so many different days and times and around 2:30 pm on a Tuesday has been best. That's the post-free-sample-for-lunch crowd and pre-afterwork crowd. Mondays and Fridays are the worst weekdays and I wouldn't dream of going on a weekend.

For my partner and I, we learned we were wasting money until we learned to buy bulk that doesn't expire. Toilet paper, paper towels, butter for the freezer, chicken breasts for the freezer, jarred and dry food items that last at least 6 months. We do save money, but we definitely wasted a lot of food before we realized that the amounts sold of many items are too large for 2 people to consume.

Just as long as not oblivious to things happening around you and clogging up the aisles

Sorry, but this is false. They soft open at 945 Sunday thru Friday, 915 on Saturdays, no one special gets in the door early without advanced permission from the GM. It's a safety issue

Business card holders used to get in an hour early about 25 years ago

Gas station opens at 6am Monday thru Saturday and 7am on Sunday

The day before their new sales go into effect.

The old sale stuff is gone and the new stuff hadn't started yet. Blissful peace.

Right when they open there's a line of retirees waiting to get in.

When I worked in there, the hour before closing was always the quietest.

Editing to add - benefits go out for the first of the month. That day was always crazy.

Not from my experience working food samples. That was the hour for parents who had picked up their kids from school and were looking for quick snacks to appease the kids.