A tense altercation inside a Costco store went viral just before Thanksgiving, sparking heated online debate about shopper behavior as the busy holiday shopping season begins.

The confrontation occurred when a frustrated customer, identified as a man with a small dog, grew impatient with the crowd of shoppers blocking his path.

In a video posted to Reddit, the man is seen ramming his shopping cart into a woman’s cart in an effort to push through the crowded aisle.

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The video, which was uploaded to a Costco-specific Reddit thread, shows the man speaking angrily about needing to get through, while the woman initially tried to resist before being knocked aside.

“You’re going to lose that battle,” the man told the woman, as a Costco employee intervened, asking him to calm down.

It remains unclear what led to the confrontation, or exactly where or when it took place, though the video was shared on social media the day before Thanksgiving, as many shoppers rushed to grab last-minute items for their holiday meals.

The footage quickly ignited discussions online about proper shopping etiquette, with some viewers sympathizing with the man’s frustration.

Thanksgiving shoppers are Wilding out there.
byu/pandabatron inCostco

One Reddit user commented, “There’s nothing I want less than to be in a Costco near a holiday. People are already the worst there, I can’t imagine how awful they would be the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas.”

Others pointed out that while the man’s reaction was excessive, the crowd blocking the aisles was a contributing factor. One poster wrote, “He shouldn’t be acting that way, but why are there 3 carts blocking the aisle?” Another added, “I mean I feel that way when people block aisles, but I could never act like that [for real] lol.”

Some commenters questioned why so many shoppers seemed unaware of the disruption they were causing.

One social media user noted, “The way he reacted was wrong, but why are so many people just standing around in the middle of the store not allowing people to get through?”

Others voiced frustration with the general chaos of holiday shopping, with one Redditor asking, “Okay but seriously why is everyone blocking the aisle?”

The incident also drew criticism for the man bringing his dog into the store, which many found inappropriate. “Ugh, I hate when people bring animals inside grocery stores,” one commenter said.

A request for comment from Costco has not yet been answered. While the store was closed on Thanksgiving, it reopened on Black Friday for the usual post-holiday shopping rush.

As the footage circulated online, a Reddit user offered their support to Costco employees, writing, “God bless all the Costco workers this holiday season,” highlighting the challenges faced by retail staff during the busiest time of the year.

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