We’re formally dwelling within the Costco pie economic system.

A lighthearted Craigslist publish about sharing a 4.5-pound Costco pie has was an sudden financial assume piece.

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After resurfacing on TikTok, the advert, the place one Costco shopper sought strangers to assist cut up a large dessert in a scorching car parking zone, began conversations about what @dare_market calls a “goods-splitting economy.”

Their answer led to hypothesis on a future goods-splitting development that would cut back each grocery payments and loneliness.

“Will you split a Costco pie with me?”

This ask on Craigslist first appeared on Aug. 3, 2023, and ended up within the Best of Craigslist archive after a number of social media posts gushed concerning the concept of sharing a Costco pie with strangers.

“I really want to try the Costco peanut butter chocolate pie but it’s 4.5 lbs and I hear it’s very dense,” the publish reads. “I can’t eat it by myself, so I am looking for 3-4 people to meet me in the parking lot of Costco and split it with me. We will have to be fast since it’s 118 degrees outside. I’ll buy the pie but you must provide your own plate and fork.”

On Sept. 30, 2025, TikToker @dare_market turned the most recent to function this traditional. The younger man used the Craigslist advert as a leaping off level to debate the still-struggling economic system that will encourage folks to seek out new methods to chop prices.

@dare_market Would you crowd supply a Costco pie? #greenscreen ♬ unique sound – dare market

“I think there’s a new economy of splitting goods coming,” he stated. “It’s giving Uberpool and I kind of love the scrappiness.”

Though the Craigslist person didn’t appear to be involved concerning the worth of the Costco pie, many individuals aged millennial or youthful are getting increasingly creative in an try and get by. The solely different choice is debt, which younger of us are additionally moving into.

According to the American Bankers Association, near half of the millennial and Gen Z respondents to their 2024 survey stated they’ve used “buy now, pay later” choices whereas procuring, in comparison with simply 21 % from older generations. Nobody took this as excellent news for the economic system, particularly alongside abysmal job numbers.

In the feedback on the current TikTok video, folks additionally introduced up the loneliness drawback. As we’ve more and more come to work together on-line whereas third locations disappear, a variety of TikTokers assume this Craigslist advert was, partially, a cry for neighborhood.

“The people yearn for community and friends,” wrote @hcone_.

Meanwhile, @patronsaintofbees famous that “this seems like a fantastic way to make foodie friends in a city actually,” including, “lots of folks don’t have space for full-sized bulk items especially if they share kitchen space with roommates!!”

At the identical time, and growing variety of individuals are opting to remain single fairly than courageous the fashionable horrors we name relationship apps. These of us might or might not be lonely, however they do wish to attempt Costco gadgets with out going into sugar overload.

“Seriously I’ve been dying to try their pumpkin cheesecake but I am just one person,” stated @.havewegotashowforyou. “This is brilliant.”

“I really want an app for singles to share things,” wrote @dirty_stanley_straw. “Things like this pie or leftovers or ‘I won four tickets to a baseball game, does anyone wanna go?’ Like let’s go places and enjoy things without any expectations of romance.”

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