25 Items That Are Never Cheaper at Costco
Buying things at Costco has become a rite of passage in the United States. Americans can’t get enough of the one-stop big box store filled with what they think are one-of-a-kind products and incomparable deals. And shoppers everywhere always look for a few tips and tricks to get the most bang for their buck while in the store.
Personally, I love a good Costco run. Where else can you get some of the most unique foods at great prices? Plus, with the Costco Anywhere Visa card, you can earn Costco cash rewards anywhere Visa is accepted, plus get a free Costco membership. That will certainly go a long way in offsetting your bill from the big-box retail giant!
But some things aren’t worth getting at the retail giant. And sometimes, things aren’t worth getting because you’ll be wasting more than you’ll be using, and waste is always expensive. Whether the items are overpriced, not worth the value, or both, avoid getting these 25 items the next time you’re in Costco.
1. Produce
Fruit — and vegetables, and any fresh produce — are some of the worst things to buy at Costco because they are only in bulk packaging. And, according to Yahoo! Finance, most of the produce spoils before you’re able to consume it. (Even if you’re a vegetarian or a vegan — like me — how many pounds of spinach can you really eat in a week? And won’t you get sick of it?)
The only exception to this rule is if you have a large family (that is, one comprised of four people or more) or you’re expecting a lot of house guests for a dinner party. (Shopping for produce at Costco is convenient if you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, for example.) But any other time? Stop by the grocer — or better yet, the local farmer’s market.
2. Milk
The dairy milk gallons at Costco are often the topic of derision for customers due to their odd shape, which makes them prone to spills and awkward to handle. They also don’t fit neatly into most refrigerators, taking up unnecessary space and leaving no room for other refrigerated necessities.
MoneyTalksNews points out that because of the waste factor thanks to that weirdly-shaped bottle — not to mention the price, which is sometimes the same as or even more expensive than the price of milk at your local grocer — it’s best to leave the milk on the shelf.
3. Snack Chips
If you have school-aged children, it’s not unusual to buy a variety pack of snack chips to include in their lunch boxes. However, experts say to avoid doing so at Costco.
“Unless you are absolutely certain your family loves every flavor in the pack, it’s not worth it,” said the experts at AllRecipes. “There is bound to be one flavor or variety in the pack that’s either a ‘not my favorite,’ or worse, an absolute no-go for your family, especially if you have little ones or picky eaters.” (Nobody wants to get stuck eating the oatmeal raisin cookies. Nobody.)
4. Travel Packages
Costco is just the latest big-box grocery store — along with BJs and Sam’s Club — to offer travel packages for its members. But while the offering is certainly convenient for its members, it’s not necessarily the best value for your dollar.
Kiplinger notes that the travel packages the retailer offers are often very limited in their selection, and customer service is hard to come by for travelers, which can be a real problem if issues arise outside the United States. (Imagine explaining that to the embassy.) And if you’re someone who likes a little flexibility in your travel plans — preferring to “go with the flow” instead of following a regimented schedule — the Costco travel packages definitely don’t pay.
5. Books
Costco has recently announced that it will no longer be selling books year-round, according to Apartment Therapy, because it’s too labor-intensive to do so.
This announcement, plus the lack of variety and competitive pricing, makes books a bad Costco buy. Instead, patronize your favorite local bookstore, or pick up a library card and check out some of the buzzy best-sellers you’ve been hearing so much about. What’s the likelihood you’ll be re-reading a Jackie Collins compendium, anyway?
6. Canned Soups
If you’re the type of person to keep your pantry stocked in the event of a weather emergency, canned soups seem like a good Costco purchase. Doomsday-ers, rejoice, and stock up on that Campbell’s! Right?
But according to EatingWell, canned soups are a better buy at your local supermarket. In some cases, you can even snag them for $1 per can — a price that Costco will never offer.
7. Flowers
As with other “fresh” things at Costco, buying flowers at the big-box giant is never a good idea.
In addition to having a substandard selection, the flowers tend to be poorly maintained, meaning that they’ll most likely die before they reach their intended destination. (How’s that for making a bad first impression on a first date?)
8. Soda
Whether you call it soda, pop, or cola, you’re talking about a fizzy carbonated beverage with sugar and artificial flavoring. But whatever name you give it, don’t buy it at Costco.
A former Costco employee revealed to Reader’s Digest that soda is what’s known as a “loss leader” product in supermarkets, meaning that it’s deliberately marked down at a much lower price to encourage customers to buy other, more expensive things around the store. But soda isn’t a loss leader for Costco — which is why it’s not as competitively priced.
Plus, your local supermarket accepts manufacturer’s coupons for the soda, whereas Costco does not.
9. Rice
The question of buying rice at Costco boils down to price.
According to YouTuber Flo Lum (via SimplyRecipes), a 25 lb. bag of rice at her local Asian supermarket was 30 percent cheaper than at Costco. And while that may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, all the little savings add up in the long run — and if you can pay 30 cents on the dollar less for a staple like rice, why wouldn’t you?
10. Bread
A professional shopper gave some advice to would-be Costco shoppers for The New York Post, and she actively warned readers against purchasing bread at the retailer.
According to her, some loaves of bread are more competitively priced at your local supermarket. (Check your weekly circulars, or look online, for the latest deals.) What’s more, the sizes of the Costco loaves are often much bigger than the ones in the grocery store — meaning that they’re likely to get moldy before you’re able to finish them.
11. Eggs
Eggs are a staple in most American households, but buying them in bulk at Costco doesn’t make much economic sense.
Money.com reveals that members can expect to pay between $8.99 to $10.00 for five dozen eggs — but there are some supermarkets, such as Food 4 Less, that offer one dozen eggs for $1.49 (meaning that five dozen eggs will cost around $7.50, or up to $2.50 less than Costco).
Besides, who in the world needs five dozen eggs in their house?
12. Spices
While melanin-deficient folks often think salt is too spicy, there are still plenty of people who aren’t afraid to liberally use various spices. (Seriously, folks, give them a try sometime. You’d be amazed how far some Adobo will go in seasoning even the most basic of meals.)
But unless you’re running a restaurant, skip the spices at Costco. According to CNBC, spices only have a shelf life of about six months before losing their potency, so the five-pound tub of onion powder will taste like baby powder on your pizza before you know it.
13. Flour
The average bag of flour from Costco is 25 pounds. Yes, that is a lot — and as RealSimple notes, most flour can’t keep for more than six months once opened, unless it’s stored in an airtight container. (This also prevents vermin from getting in the bag.)
So, unless you’re running a bakery from your kitchen, stick to buying smaller bags of flour at your local grocery store. Trust us: you’re not going to bake more than a dozen muffins at a time.
14. Cooking Oil
Believe it or not, cooking oil has an expiration date. The average cooking oil only lasts about six months from the time it’s originally opened, after which it begins to lose its flavor and efficacy. (For what it’s worth, oil used after its expiration date isn’t poisonous or otherwise detrimental to your health, but it will make your food taste funny.)
Mashed points out that the average Costco cooking oil comes in a six-quart size, and the average American family simply can’t use that much oil in that time.
15. Toilet Paper
If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us nothing else, it taught us to keep a stockpile of toilet paper on hand at all times.
But unless another pandemic breaks out (Heaven help us all), avoid the toilet paper at Costco. Yahoo! Finance notes that the quality of the Kirkland brand toilet paper has decreased significantly in recent years, which means you’ll have to use more to get the same effect (and, consequently, making it not worth the perceived savings).
16. Cookies
Costco customers have a love-hate relationship with the store’s cookies: they either love them or hate them.
But because of the volatile nature of the cookies, they’re not a good buy for casual customers — especially if they have young children or finicky eaters at home (which is sometimes the same thing). And, in fairness to all people and all things, you really don’t need that many cookies laying around your house. It’s not good for either your wallet or your waistline.
17. Mayo
Mayo — and condiments in general — are another thing that is not a good Costco buy.
Mashed points out that the average shelf life of the condiment is only two months from the time it’s opened — so unless you really like mayo, stick to getting it from the supermarket. (And trust us — not only does nobody like mayo that much, but the average American doesn’t use as much mayo as they think they do in each serving.)
18. Linens
Linens may seem like a good deal at Costco, but in reality, you’re not getting much bang for your proverbial buck.
According to ALOT Finance, the linens at Costco are of poor quality (that is, the thread counts are usually very low), and are limited in both color and style selections. So unless you like sleeping on sandpaper (yikes), shop for your linens at department stores, or scour online shopping sites for the best bargains possible.
19. Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergent at Costco seems like a good deal, but the reality is, that it’s an absurd purchase for someone who either lives alone or has a small family.
Mashed says that the Kirkland brand of soap has a particularly nasty smell, with many customers returning it after it left a “sour” smell in their clothes. Between the cost, the low quality, and the general customer dissatisfaction, it pays to get smaller sizes of laundry detergent elsewhere.
20. Grills
Recently, Costco got into the grilling business, and now offers a Kirkland brand of barbecue grills.
TastingTable (via Yahoo!), however, points out that the grills are not worth the price. Although the grills are affordable, they are also cheaply made — and a good grill should, according to BBQ experts, last you for more than a few years. Investing in one good BBQ that lasts for a decade (or more) is a better move, financially, than investing in a new, shoddily-made grill every year, or every other year. After all, you do get what you pay for.
21. Sunscreen
If you live in a tropical climate (like Florida), you’ll need sunscreen 12 months a year.
But if you live in a more temperate climate where seasons change every three months, avoid getting your sunscreen at Costco. Best Life notes that sunscreen has an expiration date, and people living in temperate climates likely won’t use it all before it expires.
22. Hearing Aids
Some Costco locations offer medical services, including services for hearing aids. If you can, however, go elsewhere for your auditory needs.
According to HearingUp, Costco notoriously has a low number of repeat customers for this service because the quality of the hearing aids leaves much to be desired. Combine this with poor customer service, and you’re left with a product that, in the long run, isn’t worth getting. Spend the extra money going to an otolaryngologist, and get the hearing aids that are right for your needs.
23. Diapers
You have a new baby! Congratulations! Now it’s time to get some diapers for the kid.
Whatever you do, though, don’t get the diapers at Costco. According to Cheapism, the smallest box available at the retailer has nearly 200 diapers — and unless you have a set of twins (or more…), there’s a good chance your little critter will outgrow the diapers before you’ve finished using them all. (If you’ve already bought a box of diapers from Costco, and your rugrat has outgrown them before you could use them all, donate the remaining diapers to a homeless or domestic violence shelter.)
24. Televisions
For some unknown reason, Americans have developed the habit of buying a new television every season. If you’re one of those Americans, don’t get your TV at Costco.
According to SlashGear, the big-box giant doesn’t offer as much of a selection as other retailers, and their televisions are not as competitively priced. Put simply, you can’t charge Costco prices while offering Walmart brands.
25. Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medicines
If you’re someone who suffers from a lot of pain or is prone to sickness, it can be tempting to purchase OTC medications (such as Advil) in bulk at Costco.
But according to AOL, this is a terrible idea. OTC medications do have an expiration date, and it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be using it all by the time the meds expire. What’s more, having too much OTC medication around the house can lead to a very dangerous situation in your home, especially if you have vulnerable family members (such as the mentally compromised, elderly, or minor children).
