Costco slammed for turning away shoppers using trolleys from other supermarkets in new ban

There’s growing outrage over a new rule at Costco, with shoppers claiming they’ve been banned from the store over their choice of trolley.

Shopping trolleys have become the topic of outrage among Costco shoppers as some are being refused entry with trolleys from other supermarket – and claims Costco’s standard trolleys are anti-inclusive.

In an anonymous post to, one shopper explained how they discovered Adelaide’s Costco in Kilburn was no longer allowing outside trolley.

“ONLY Costco trolleys in Costco – empty or not!” the member posted.

“No Coles trolley into Costco anymore! Though I do wish Costco also provides smaller trolleys as well as their regular ones for y’know, lesser items and smaller people like me! #shortpeopleproblems.”

Shoppers are outraged as Costco’s trolleys are inaccessible for the elderly, the disabled, people with injuries and mothers. Picture: NCA NewsWire – Kelly Barnes

Many other shoppers joined the conversation, with many pointing out how the standard trolleys were impractical or sometimes painful to use.

One shopper wrote “too bad I can barely move their giant trolleys at 4’11.”

“I’ll be taking a trolley from elsewhere and if they don’t like it then they can push one of theirs around for me.”

Another commented: “I have broken vertebrae so the shallow Coles trolley helps me immeasurably.

“When asked if they would be providing more accessible trolleys, they said, ‘no we will have somebody help you’.”

Others pointed out the elderly, those with pre-existing injuries and mothers were among other groups who found the Costco trolleys “dangerous”.

“I went in today and only intended to buy two items but one was heavy … I was forced to use one of Costco’s giant, awkward trolleys,” one shopper wrote.

“The guy on exit commented on my two items so I took the opportunity to complain about the new trolley rule. He stated it was because workers were getting injured by the Coles trolleys.

“They are obviously happy for their customers to now get injured trying to lift heavy items from the depths of those trolleys.”

Costco employees have allegedly told shoppers that outside trolleys posed a risk to staff safety. Picture: NCA NewsWire – Kelly Barnes

One Costco member wrote the trolley was difficult to move “with my pregnant belly” and another mother said she couldn’t put her children in the trolleys because there were no adequate child seats.

According to the Costco Wholesale Australia member privileges and conditions policy available online, “Costco reserves the right to inspect any carrier or container of any kind including without limitation any bag, backpack, briefcase, trolley, pram, stroller or buggy upon entering or leaving the warehouse and to refuse entry to anyone at our discretion.”

Some shoppers commented that they were becoming “sick of Costco’s stupid rules” and others joked at the situation, with one commenting there would soon be a dress code to enter the warehouse.

Costco Australia declined to comment.

Originally published as Costco slammed for turning away shoppers using trolleys from other supermarkets in new ban