It's official: Costco workers are paid to be nice to you

• The Costco employee handbook says front end workers must "greet every member with a smile." 
• The company says it takes significant pride in putting members' needs first, outlining a high standard for workers.
• Costco boasts the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any major general merchandise retailer surveyed by the ASCI.

First-time visitors to one of retail giant Costco's wholesale warehouses may notice something special when a red-vested associate walks up: they're just so… nice.

As it turns out, that's by design.