Crowds Flock to Costco Open House

Thousands of people fought the crowds and went bulk bargain shopping at the Medford Costco Friday. For one day only, Costco opened to the general public during their annual holiday open house for members and non-members.

Nearly 3,000 people walk through these doors every day and Friday that number was expected to double.

"The more the merrier," says Joe Moxley, Costco Marketer. "You don't have to have a membership, everyone's invited."

It's great news for the store looking to drive more business, and great news for non-members.

"It's really rare that Costco will waive the membership fee, but again it's something they wanted to offer the community to have that chance for non-members to come in and look at Costco and see what it has to offer them," says Moxley.

But for members it's just more people in an already busy store. That Forced some to change their shopping game plans when they saw the crowds.

"Quickly. In and out. Get what we need and get back to the car and get packed up," says Costco member Robert Stebbins after his family found a parking spot.

Cars wound through the parking lot looking for an open space. The minute one car left another was waiting to take its place.

"It's normally busy around this time but I've never had to park out behind the gas station and walk this far," says Stebbins.

Many customers made similar hikes into the store. Some across the Costco parking lot and reports of others walking as far away as the Wal-Mart and neighboring lots.

"I got a little tired. It's a hike. We thought we'd have to camp half way in," joked Stebbins.

Even the gas station was open to the public. Lines for gas wound as far as they possibly could without spilling into traffic. But with all the commotion Stebbins says it's still worth it for his family to shop at Costco.

"Costco's fun. It's kind off like a destination. You get to look at everything. You know, lot's of fun stuff on the shelves," says Stebbins.

Shoppers also got an advance taste of Black Friday. Costco ran some of their Day-After-Thanksgiving prices as a preview.