The Daily Populous Sunday December 14th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by re.cglimb.com and submitted by Upper_Pop_8579

A Costco shopper’s plan to donate winter coats to a homeless shelter nearly fell apart due to rising prices — until an unexpected act of generosity changed everything.

The anonymous shopper, based in Colorado, shared the story on Reddit after visiting a local Costco with the intention of purchasing eight winter coats for donation. What was meant to be a simple act of kindness quickly became stressful when the prices at checkout were higher than expected.

“I was purchasing winter coats to give away as gifts to a homeless shelter,” the shopper wrote. “There were two conflicting prices being advertised. I decided to fill my cart with coats, hoping that they would ring up at the lower price, and unfortunately, they did not.”

A Price Mix-Up at Checkout Creates a Dilemma

According to the post shared on Costco’s unofficial subreddit, r/Costco, the shopper explained that the lower price applied to a different style of coat that was on clearance. As a result, the coats rang up at a higher cost than anticipated.

The shopper admitted they were close to abandoning the purchase altogether.

“I wouldn’t have been able to afford eight at the higher price,” they later explained.

At the checkout counter, the shopper decided to explain the situation to the cashier, including the reason behind the purchase.

“I mentioned I was buying the coats for a shelter,” the shopper wrote.

A Manager Steps In With a Major Discount

That simple explanation prompted an unexpected response.

“The Costco manager discounted the coats down to the clearance price of the other coat for me,” the shopper shared, adding that the adjustment “ended up being a 60 percent discount.”

Thanks to the price change, the shopper was able to move forward with the donation.

“With the discount, I was able to purchase eight coats for the price of three,” they wrote.

The impact of the gesture was immediate and meaningful.

“Thanks to the wonderful folks at Costco, eight ladies will stay warm this Christmas season,” the shopper concluded.

Reddit Reacts as the Story Goes Viral

The post quickly gained traction on Reddit, receiving more than 28,000 upvotes, with many users praising both the manager and Costco as a company.

One commenter, u/aknomnoms, highlighted the importance of employee empowerment.

“I don’t know if Costco employees get ‘make ‘em happy’ autonomy,” they wrote, “but I appreciate businesses that let their employees do nice things for customers when it doesn’t impact profits in any significant way, but can solidify their brand’s reputation and customer loyalty.”

The commenter added that such actions “can help employees feel empowered and boost their morale when they can help someone out.”

Shopper Says the Story Sparked Holiday Joy

Speaking to Newsweek, the shopper reflected on the overwhelming response to their post.

“I think people are looking for positive stories right now,” they said. “I hope that both the manager and Costco get some positive press for doing such incredible things for the communities that they serve.”

The shopper also shared their surprise at how widely the story spread.

“I was surprised to see the post gain so much attention,” they said, adding that they were glad it brought some seasonal cheer.

“Lots of people were inspired by the post,” the shopper explained, noting that “some may have even taken it upon themselves to buy coats for charity in other locations across the globe.