Costco, the world’s third-largest retailer, after Amazon and Walmart, is not just a place for saving money and carefully purchasing daily groceries and goods. Members choose Costco for the desirable shopping experience it offers. However, not every purchase made at Costco turns out satisfying, and there are times when buyers might regret their decisions.
Known for offering cost-effective and quality products, Costco often lures consumers to fill their carts with a variety of items once they see the price tags. The shelves are stocked with eye-catching products, ranging from huge containers of salted pretzel rolls to designer chicken coops, and essential items sold at discounted prices, easily triggering consumers’ desire to stockpile.
Nevertheless, because Costco primarily sells items in bulk packaging, it can lead to unnecessary waste and sometimes cause anxiety. Therefore, careful consideration is needed when purchasing certain items at Costco, as some products, despite being cheaper per unit at Costco, might be more suitable for purchase at a local supermarket.
It’s important to think twice before shopping at Costco, as not everything there is worth it.
Delish, a food website, has compiled a list of six types of products that shoppers may regret bringing home.
From 2-pound bags of yeast to giant bags of sugar, Costco is a great place to buy bulk baking ingredients affordably. However, for most families, the quantity of these ingredients is simply too much.
“Unless you’re running a business, that much flour or baking powder will go bad before you can use it all,” said Camille Lowder, a digital food creator/editor at delish.
The shelf life of flour ranges from three to eight months, depending on the type of flour and how it is stored.
While Costco provides everything you need for your kitchen, it doesn’t mean you have to own everything all at once. Samantha MacAvoy, senior editor at delish, suggests thinking before purchasing: “Does Costco offer some deals? Of course. Do you really need to buy three Dutch ovens, two frying pans, and a large stockpot all at once? Probably not.”
Many of Costco’s multipack bundles mix various flavors of food in one box, and there’s almost always one flavor that’s less enjoyable than the others. If you’re considering buying multipacks of chips or drinks, even if only one or two flavors are unpopular, it’s worth reconsidering before adding them to your cart.
“You may think you’re getting a bargain, but those unpopular flavors that no one at home likes will only accumulate,” said Lowder. “You might be better off going to stores that don’t mix various flavors together and purchasing those flavors you know your family will enjoy.”
A pack of 72 Eggo frozen waffles sounds nice, but properly storing them is a whole different story. Frozen foods should only be kept in the freezer, which is typically smaller than the food pantry and might not accommodate Costco-sized items.
While Costco offers significant discounts on nuts, it also brings about a problem.
“They easily spoil at room temperature,” said Rachel Crocetti, content strategy director at delish. “Unless you really love nuts (or have a lot of storage space in your fridge), you’re likely not going to finish the large Costco pack of nuts before they go bad. And they’ll spoil quickly.”
Spices come at a high price, making bulk purchases at Costco tempting. However, their shelf life is much shorter than many people realize.
“Unless you cook for a family of ten regularly, you’ll likely have that Costco jar of spices go bad before you finish it,” MacAvoy said. “I had a jar of Costco brand Kirkland cinnamon in my pantry for years, and it eventually smelled like dust.”
Make sure to reconsider your purchases and quantities when shopping at Costco to avoid post-purchase regrets and food waste.