Seattle Costco suspends free food samples as coronavirus precaution

If you’ve ever stepped foot into a Costco, you know that samples are the best part of the entire shopping trip.

With panic shoppers sprinting into the wholesale mega-store for their toilet paper and stockpiled goods, the Costco in Seattle has officially pulled the plug on their free samples.

As of last week, all vendors have ceased handing out samples and have instead begun sanitizing the store, said a representative of Seattle Costco to Daily Hive.

• See also:
  • Here’s how Seattle transit is being cleaned to limit spread of coronavirus (VIDEO)
  • World Health Organization declares coronavirus outbreak a pandemic
  • Pandemic worries force closure of all “non-family” events in Seattle

The “disinfectors” work for the vending company CDS, and have reportedly been handing out disinfecting wipes to shoppers and helping to clean the warehouses’ food court areas.

Here’s how people have been reacting to the news:

Costco samples have been suspended until further notice. Where am I supposed to get free lunch now?

— Jawbreaker (@sixfootcandy) March 7, 2020

ALRIGHT CORONAVIRUS YOUVE GONE TOO FAR. TAKE MY GRANDPA? ION CARE BUT YOUVE TAKEN MY COSTCO SAMPLES😡😡😡 NEXT TIME I SEE YOU IT IS ON SIGHT

— professional dum🅱️ (@Jonquiqu1) March 9, 2020

Honestly wasn’t worried about the Coronavirus, but then I heard Costco is halting all samples…now I’m just pissed. pic.twitter.com/KiAcOxPyqY

— Bill Scott (@bilbo813) March 6, 2020

I wasn’t worried about Corona Virus until I walked into Costco today to discover that they aren’t giving out samples anymore. This just got real.

— Ethan Bridges (@BridgesEthan) March 9, 2020

My weekend plans fell through when Costco opted to pull their free samples…so hmu.

— Shade 5 🎬 (@Shade510) March 9, 2020

It’s no longer all fun and games, the coronavirus just hit home for me. My beloved Costco “out of an abundance of caution” has stopped handing out samples. Time to move up the Doomsday Clock.

— Ben Maller (@benmaller) March 7, 2020

Costco no longer doing free samples hurts

— Adam (@LikeIGive_Adam) March 12, 2020