YONKERS, N.Y. — Shoppers across the country rated Costco Wholesale Corp. as offering the most pleasant shopping experience, a Consumer Reports survey in the magazine’s March issue finds.

Shoppers across the country rated Costco Wholesale Corp. as offering the most pleasant shopping experience, a Consumer Reports survey in the magazine’s March issue finds.

In polling more than 26,000 readers on their shopping experiences at 10 of the country’s largest retailers and on the companies’ websites, Consumer Reports found that Costco was the only company that shoppers felt deserved an outstanding grade for the overall quality of the merchandise it offers in its stores and online.

"It earned above-average scores for all 10 product categories rated, including electronic entertainment, jewelry and sporting goods," the report says. "Costco’s website did better than its walk-in stores on all counts except product quality (for which the two types tied) and earned top marks for layout, product value and checkout."

Meanwhile, Target Corp. won high marks for its layout. Readers, however, said the company’s in-store shopping experience was just average,and Target’s website was not especially easy to use.

Meijer Inc.’s stores were also cited as having better-than-average layouts, and consumers liked the quality of the kitchenware, personal care items and electronics.

Walmart’s Sam’s Clubs stores — both online and brick-and-mortar versions — scored high on product quality but got low marks for long lines and limited selection.

At the bottom of the rankings were the brick-and-mortar stores operated by Walmart and Kmart. Each received low marks for quality and length of checkout lines.