Costco makes 'genius' store change to protect customers... now they want it rolled out nationwide

Costco is one of the biggest retailers in the US, and as such its stores have some of the largest parking lots - and biggest traffic problems - of any store chain in the country.

Minimizing traffic issues is an important goal, and one Costco warehouse has erected bollards around the entrance that prevent cars from parking or driving directly in front of the store.

A Reddit post on the upgrade has racked up more than 10,000 upvotes, with some shoppers calling for the idea to be rolled out nationwide.

The original poster shared a photo of the warehouse's entrance, saying it 'Makes it so much less congested and safer to walk out of the store. Not sure how common this is, does yours?'

Other Costco customers talked about similar layouts at their local stores.

One Reddit user noted that the Cherry Hill Costco set up cones to protect pedestrians, while another said their location did it during the pandemic as a way to curb crowds. 

Another said Marina del Rey in California has a 'modified' version of the barricade. 

The purpose of bollards is threefold: Divert traffic away from a congested area, protect customers from distracted drivers and stop members from parking directly in front of the entrance, which is a fire hazard. 

But even then, some noted the barricades didn't stop reckless shoppers from pulling up to the entrance. 

'They have this set up at my Costco in Colorado Springs, too,' one Reddit user wrote. 'People still tried to drive around it on the sidewalk, so they've had to start blocking it with carts.'

Overwhelmingly, shoppers at the retail warehouse agreed this parking lot update is a safety-forward idea. 

'Between people parking to load, customers flying out pushing carts and no care for stopping and cars driving way too fast - I am shocked no serious issue has happened,' one Reddit user wrote. 

'My three stores do not have it,' another Reddit user added. 'It feels very unsafe to walk at the front of these stores. People are often in groups of families, distracted and minds elsewhere. Same with the drivers.' 

Meanwhile, in Bellevue, Wisconsin, temporary concrete blocks have been placed near an intersection leading into the membership warehouse. Drivers traveling in either direction will only be allowed to make right-hand turns - and a permanent barrier is expected to be installed in the fall. 

For some Costco shoppers, the parking lot is a huge disadvantage. Some describe it as 'disorganized,' even if improvements are in the works. 

'I never understood why Costco cannot figure out their parking lots,'  one Reddit user wrote. 'Any major department chain, like Walmart, Kroger and Meijer has a simple open lot and it's nowhere near the sheer chaos that Costco is.'

Despite its traffic-clogged parking lots, Costco remains one of the most popular retail stores, surpassing rival chains like Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale in members. 

Costco membership fees are $65 per year for Gold Star/Business memberships and $130 per year for Executive memberships, and include access to the coveted food courts and gas stations.  

Costco even opened its first-ever standalone gas station in Mission Viejo, California this summer. 

The groundbreaking gas station replaced a now-shuttered Bed Bath & Beyond at 25732 El Paseo. It's a member-exclusive gas station, meaning without a Costco card, drivers will be turned away.