When it comes to great deals on bulk items, Costco is among the best stores for the job. The beloved membership-based warehouse chain is home to some seriously fantastic priced on high-quality items—but this isn’t the case for everything on store shelves. Even superfans will tell you that some Costco products just don’t meet the mark in the quality department.
In fact, when one Costco shopper asked Reddit about which items are “not a good deal” or are “not good quality,” the comments section was filled with warnings. From batteries to chicken breasts, here are a few Costco products shoppers say you’re better off leaving out of your cart.
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1. Kirkland Batteries
If you are looking to stock up on your supply of batteries, Costco members advise against the Kirkland ones. There have been several issues with leaks, short lifespan, and more, leading shoppers to realize they're not worth it.
"I have found Kirkland batteries in the past handful of years not to last very long," wrote a member.
"Many fresh ones are dead when replaced in whatever electronic I need replacing in, too."
"They are the worst I have ever bought," noted another.
"You leave them in too long, and they leak and corrode. They are worse than inexpensive Amazon batteries."
2. Blueberry Muffins
The bakery section at Costco is one of the most beloved things about the store amongst customers, as they're consistently churning out freshly baked goods that can be used for all different kinds of events. However, some items from the bakery aren't very popular, especially the muffins.
"Costco is cutting corners on quality left and right," observed an angry shopper. "The blueberry muffins have changed [in] quality."
"The muffins are tasteless and super boring," commented another.
"The blueberry ones are the worst."
3. Kirkland Toilet Paper
Toilet paper is one of those items where you don't want to skimp on quality if you don't have to. While getting Costco's Kirkland brand toilet paper in bulk may seem like a good deal, shoppers advise against it, as it doesn't seem to hold up very well.
"Kirkland toilet paper is god awful," wrote a Reddit user.
"The Kirkland toilet paper is definitely not the same formula as 5 years ago," added another.
Several users wrote that the toilet paper was too thin, left behind debris, and that it was a better idea to buy name-brand instead.
4. Kirkland Chicken Breasts
One would think that getting a basic item like fresh chicken breasts from a place like Costco would be great, but as it turns out, several customers had complaints about the store's poultry quality.
"[The] chicken breasts are not the best and expensive," wrote a Costco customer.
"They're all gigantic Frankenstein chickens and [they're] woody," added another.
Another shopper who said they "never" buy the chicken from Costco wrote, "I don't think it's good quality chicken."
5. Strawberries
Costco produce has been a controversial topic for a while now, as due to the bulk nature of their items, customers have found that fresh fruits and vegetables don't last as long as smaller packages at other stores would. Under a Reddit post about Costco items not to buy, several shoppers shared negative comments about their strawberries specifically.
"[Their] strawberries seem to grow mold on the way home," wrote a shopper.
"We don't get the produce anymore because it goes so ridiculously bad, which sucks because Costco used to have the best strawberries," added another.
6. Bananas
Like their strawberries, Costco's bananas are another produce item that has disappointed their members several times. Bananas are typically a very accessible piece of produce, but at the massive retailer, it isn't a guarantee you'll be able to find great or ripe ones.
"They have better Bananas at Walmart," commented a shopper.
Another customer wrote that the store is often full of "green bananas that never ripen, despite them being the cheapest product in the store."
