Sample Scarfing: Americans Gorge Themselves at Club Stores

[Jazzy]

Whoever said there's no free lunch obviously didn't have a membership to a giant discount store like Costco or Sam's Club.



Every day, millions of Americans head to these places under the auspices of shopping for ginormous cans of refried beans or 24-roll packs of paper towels or 64-roll packs of toilet paper.



But what they're really going for is a free lunch made up of little samples from stands in the aisles and end caps, everything from chips and guacamole to chicken nuggets shaped like Mickey Mouse to chicken Alfredo washed down a small cup of a caffeinated Tang-like beverage.



Since Costco has at least 416 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, that's a lot of free lunches. No wonder many sample scarfers like Larry Zinter have developed techniques to get the most out of their food freeloading.



I come to Costco about three times a week, said Larry Zinter, a veteran sample scarfer in La Mesa, Calif. I try and get all the nutritional stuff first and avoid all the sweets and stuff if they're up front. If you start there, you're full by the time you get to the good stuff.



Story link with video: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/a...-on-free-samples-at-costco-sams-club/19728116

 

[Evil Eye]

Hehe, clever.

 

[Nebulous]

We got a new costco in our town a few years back. I went that day and there was over 100 sample tables. It was crazy.

I went around like 2 or 3 times and was stuffed.

 

[Jazzy]

We have a Sam's Club and I see people doing this all the time. Sadly, most of the people I see are elderly. I'm wondering, for some of them, if this is the only way they can eat. I don't touch the samples as I'm picky about eating food prepared by others that's sitting out in the open like that.

 

[Corleone]

For dessert visit the Mall and go around the food court.

I always go around the entire food court sampling food, even though I already know what I'm going to be having prior to sampling.

 

[Nebulous]

Our mall doesnt have sample's. Once in a while I might see a person standing out in front of a food place with a sample tray but its rare.

 

[Ignitusion]

Hehe, clever.

I agree