Although global consumers have been continuously praising the warehouse-style retail giant Costco, like any supermarket, there are products that may not appeal to everyone. When wandering through the vast aisles of Costco, facing a plethora of products ranging from groceries to furniture, how can consumers determine which items are worth buying and which ones are better off avoided?
Due to inflation driving up prices worldwide, people are increasingly feeling the pressure of daily living expenses. Many turn to Costco in hopes of finding necessary items at affordable prices. While most other supermarkets typically carry around 30,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs), Costco stores offer only about 4,000 types of products. This is part of Costco’s strategy of streamlining the sales of high-quality products: by limiting the variety of items for sale, Costco can negotiate lower prices with suppliers.
Tina Chow, a content creator from Canada, operates the social media account “Costco Lovers Canada,” which has attracted a large following. Her videos about Costco products have garnered millions of views online, and there are always new products for her to share and review. Ms. Chow was interviewed by Yahoo Canada, where she shared her professional advice on which products are worth buying and which ones to avoid on your next Costco trip.
According to Ms. Chow, one of the key items she purchases at Costco is non-prescription drugs, especially those from the store’s own brand, Kirkland Signature. These products are usually more affordable compared to similar well-known brands.
While Costco is known for its low-priced products, the store also offers a variety of high-end items. For example, a Burberry women’s trench coat (Kensington Heritage) is priced at $2,400 on the Costco website, compared to the original price of $3,290 on the Burberry website.
However, Costco’s selection of branded items may be limited, so you may not always find the specific brand you are looking for.
Costco is a great place to shop for personal care items, such as razor blades, at prices much lower than competitors. Currently, Costco sells the Gillette Fusion5 razor blades (pack of 18) for $65, while Walmart sells them for $109.
Costco offers a variety of well-known skincare brands, including Clarins, the celebrity-favorite La Mer, and Korean beauty products available for online purchase.
Costco’s flexible return policy allows customers to try skincare products; if they find that a product is not suitable for their skin, they can return it.
The rotisserie chicken at Costco is a star product, being both economical and healthy, with versatile ways to enjoy it, making it an ideal meal choice. Despite inflation, the price of this rotisserie chicken has remained constant.
“I specifically drive to Costco to buy their rotisserie chicken because it’s a better deal, bigger in size, and juicier,” Ms. Chow said.
Rummo pasta from Italy is a popular item among customers, and when this product was first introduced at Costco, people went “crazy” for it.
The Costco website currently limits customers to purchasing two packs at a time, highlighting the popularity of this product.
Another option is Wellth protein spiral pasta (rotini), which is gluten-free, halal-certified, non-GMO, and vegan. This product comes in three flavors: original, spinach, and beetroot.
“I don’t handle tire-related matters at Costco; I prefer going to local specialized shops because I know it can save me some money,” Ms. Chow said.
She also acknowledged that the wait times for tire repair or replacement appointments at Costco can be quite long.
Additionally, Costco’s tire center customer service page indicates that tire orders typically take about 5 to 10 business days to arrive from the purchase date. For car owners in urgent need of tire repair or replacement, this means a lengthy wait.
The page also states that Costco only provides installation services for tires purchased in-store, which may inconvenience consumers who wish to install tires not bought at Costco.
While bulk purchasing is a key feature of Costco, in some cases, stockpiling specific products in large quantities may not be wise, such as sunscreen.
According to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sunscreen typically has a shelf life of three years and should not be used after expiration.
One downside of bulk shopping is the quantity of the products. Not every household is suitable for the large packaging of prepackaged salads or various agricultural products. Sometimes, despite seeming cost-effective, it may lead to food waste when unable to consume everything.
Ms. Chow suggests that based on the actual needs of the household, rather than waiting to shop at Costco, it may be more reasonable to buy salads as needed at local grocery stores.
Ms. Chow also mentioned that butter is among the items she usually avoids purchasing at Costco, due to the excessively large quantities in a single purchase. However, if you have a large family or bake frequently, Costco may indeed be an economically sound choice.