There are many reasons why people love shopping at Costco and similar wholesale retailers. These membership-only stores allow customers to buy items in bulk, and it often appears like cheaper, more bang-for-your-buck deals are in store. However, some items are just not the best deal, whether it be because of quality or price. Here are 16 items we recommend you skip on your next trip to Costco.
1. Avocados
It's hard to find cheap avocados in general, considering they require a massive amount of water. This means that they can't just grow anywhere—many of them are produced in and imported from Mexico and Central America. At Costco, however, they cost $1.60 each — or almost $10 for six. Two bags of organic hass avocados (a total of eight avocados) can be obtained at Target for the same price, making Costco the pricier retailer for them.
2. Canned Soup
Canned soup is a great, convenient meal to have on hand. While Costco offers some great varieties, Lin says you should keep an eye on sales at your local supermarkets, as this is likely to help you save money in the long run. You may be able to get three cans for $5 or less—and you'll find a wider selection than you will at the warehouse.
Happy shopping!
3. Cereal
Cereal isn't the healthiest breakfast food around, but that's not the only reason you may want to refrain from buying it at Costco. According to Eating Well food writer Su-Jit Lin, large bags of cereal cost anywhere from $7 to $14 at the warehouse store. You're likely to find cheaper options at your local supermarket, especially when you apply coupons and take advantage of sales. "I’ve used this multi-savings method to get name-brand cereals for $1.50 a box with the purchase of six boxes," wrote Lin. Noted!
4. Spare Ribs
As one Reddit user and Costco shopper writes, "their fresh meat and fish prices are way above what you would pay in a grocery store especially if you shop the sales (which I almost exclusively do)." They are referring to the steep spare ribs prices at Costco, where the Kirkland Signature St. Louis Pork Spare Ribs are sold for $6.21 per pound. At grocery stores like Fry’s, they can cost anywhere from $2.79 to $4.99 per pound, a better deal in the long run.
5. Sandwich Bread
Costco certainly has some tasty bread options. But if you want to save the most money possible on your sandwich bread, Lin says you might want to stick to your local supermarket. Costco sells double-packs of loaves, which sounds like a good deal—but you could find cheaper buy one, get one deals at stores like Kroger and Publix. Freeze one loaf to avoid molding!
6. Chicken Breasts
When comparing boneless chicken breast costs, Costco's are pricier than ALDI's options, for example. At Costco, Kirkland Signature “Air-Chilled” Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cost approximately $3.75 per pound, while Kirkwood Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts cost about $1.89 per pound at ALDI.
Overall, Costco appeals to shoppers nationwide for so many reasons and the major retailer does offer convenient deals and discounts for members. This doesn't mean that every item is the cheapest option at Costco, so for these 4 items, it might help you save more money to look for them elsewhere.
7. Organic Milks
At Costco, organic milk can cost more per gallon compared to other retailers. For example, Kirkland Signature Organic 1% Low Fat Milk costs $13.67 for a three-pack of half-gallon containers, and Good & Gather Organic Milk at Target costs $3.89 per half-gallon, for a total of $11.67. Although their milks come in convenient packaging and they also sell non-dairy options, for the same amount of milk, you could be paying more at Costco than other stores.
8. Salad Kits
In addition to the fact that several salad kits were recently recalled, the price of the options products at Costco is another reason to be wary. Lin notes that the large, bagged salad kits at Costco cost around $7-$9, which may not be worth it if you're not going to eat them all. Instead, you can find smaller, more affordable kits on sale at supermarkets for just around $3, ultimately saving money.
9. Herbs and Spices
Spices are a great way to, well, spice up your meals. They're a staple in many kitchens, which is why it's important to ensure you're choosing the most affordable options. Lin writes that the bulk spices at Costco may not give you the most bang for your buck—because they're likely to expire before you finish them all. Instead, consider buying smaller varieties that you're likely to work through before they lose their aroma and flavor.
10. Blueberry Bagels
While blueberry bagels may sound tasty in theory, the unfortunate truth is that many customers say Costco's variety aren't worth your money. The store's blueberry bagels have recently returned to shelves after a few years of hiatus, but it may not be the for best. "These were just okay for me. The blueberry flavor was subtle. It didn’t taste right with cream cheese and was better with butter and cinnamon on it. Not terrible but wouldn’t buy again," one Redditor wrote. Noted!
11. Kirkland Signature Bacon
Who doesn't love some crispy bacon in the morning? If your family goes through this breakfast meat quickly, you may be tempted to buy a big pack of Kirkland Signature Bacon at Costco. However, although there are tons of high-quality Kirkland Signature items out there, shoppers have recently complained about the declining quality of their bacon. "I’ve returned one batch bc it tased so off," wrote one Redditor. "I’m ready to switch back to H‑E‑B or Wright bacon as it’s not as good but it’s better than the new flavor that’s in the Costco stuff."
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12. Turkey Swiss Sandwich
There's a new Costco food court item in town—but not everyone is excited about it. If you were hoping for the return of the Turkey & Provolone sandwich, we've got sad news. The new Turkey & Swiss doesn't seem to compare. Online, customers are expressing their disappointment. As one comment put it: "Just another cold and dry sandwich. Instant pass. I’m sure it will also cost more than the old toasted turkey provolone. It’s going to be another failure." However, only time will tell.
13. Grazing Mix
When you're craving something salty, there's nothing like a good old snack mix. Costco offers some of the tastiest snacks around, but unfortunately, shoppers warn that Bassé grazing mix isn't one of them. Mashable warns that the plastic packaging of this snack, which consists of dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, and crackers, traps extra moisture and renders the crunchy components stale. Luckily, there are plenty of other tasty options to choose from at the warehouse.
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14. Crispy Potato Corn Dogs
As delicious as Crispy Potato Corn Dogs sound, Costco members have expressed disappointment in this frozen food. @costcofoodreviews on Instagram wrote that "this corn dog was lacking some flavor," and was disappointed to find a lack of hot dog in the middle. Make note: there's only mozzarella cheese at the center of this "corn dog"! "Was so disappointed. So bland and cheese was weird consistency," one commenter lamented.
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15. Non-Stick Pan
An all-in-one non-stick pan from Costco sounds like a dream come true—and as it turns, it may actually be too good to be true. Comments of an Instagram post by @costcobuys express disappointment in this product. "I’ve had this pan since October and it’s the least non-stick pan I’ve ever had. Skip it. It’s a pain to clean. Everything sticks and I’ve pretty much just gone back to my stainless pans because they’re so much easier to clean," wrote one unsatisfied customer. Sounds like you're better off saving your money!
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16. Mama's Choice Fried Calamari Snack
Fried calamari is one of our favorite appetizers, despite the health risks associated with fried foods. So it should be good news that Costco now sells Mama's Choice fried calamari snacks—but for $13, are they worth it? According to shoppers, the answer is no. Mashable noted that the appetizer was chewy, with too-thick breading. Sad!
