Costco shoppers are upset after reports surfaced about a popular in-store feature being removed.
Signs began appearing during the holidays announcing that communal coffee grinders were no longer available for use. Shoppers could no longer grind their coffee beans for free before leaving the store.
Reddit user @phteven1989 shared the news last week, posting a photo of a sign that read, "Attention members: Coffee grinders will no longer be provided."
"Uh oh, I don’t know what happened … but we lost our grinder privileges," he wrote in the post.
Another Reddit user confirmed the change after failing to find the grinders near the checkout or food court area. "What happened to make them remove the grinders?" asked user @StinklePink.
Comments quickly poured in from disappointed shoppers. Many valued the convenience of grinding a two-pound bag of coffee beans in just minutes.
A former Costco employee, @Storkman1007, suggested the service ended due to misuse. "The grinders were broken at least once a week," they said. "Even with signs to not double grind, people would do it all day long and clog the burrs."
The employee also revealed that cleaning tools, like paint brushes, were mishandled. "People would drop the brushes and grind them into their coffee," they added. "Those grinders cost a few thousand dollars each."
Other Reddit users chimed in with similar stories. "Someone put chocolate-covered coffee beans in one at my store," one said. Another remarked, "Members can't be trusted not to disrespect property they don't own."
One shopper shared a bizarre reason for the removal. "Ours were next to the food court, and someone stuck a hot dog in one of them," they said. "No more grinders at our warehouse."
Grinding at home is an alternative, but not all shoppers are willing. "I won’t be buying their whole bean coffee anymore," said one user. "It’s a good price, but grinding that amount at home takes forever. Not worth my time for the discount."