I’m a Shopping Expert: 4 Kirkland Essentials I Stopped Buying at Costco
Written by
Heather Altamirano
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Costco’s private label Kirkland is one of the many reasons shoppers are loyal to the warehouse giant. From food to clothing to household basics, Kirkland has all your needs covered. While the brand has a reputation for unbeatable value and a nice quality, even trusted names can miss the mark sometimes. Not all Kirkland items are worth your money and belong in your cart.
To help navigate through the plethora of products, shopping experts reveal which Kirkland products should stay on the shelves and why.
Batteries
- Price: $16.99
Batteries help power our everyday lives, and while the Kirkland brand has a rating of 4.2 stars out of 5, there has been one big problem with the household essential-they leak.
“Unfortunately, the Kirkland brand has been reported to leak, so I steer clear,” said Bobby Ghoshal, CEO of Dupe.com, an AI-powered website that helps shoppers find lower prices “Saving a few bucks on batteries isn’t worth the cost of my electronics if there is a leak.”
Baby Wipes
- Price: $23.99
Baby wipes are obviously a must-have for diaper changes. They can also be used for removing makeup, stain removal and cleaning. But they’re not a good buy, according to Melanie Musson, retail finance expert and insurance expert at Quote.com.
“Kirkland baby wipes are drier than name-brand wipes,” she said. “Once I realized how nice it was to use wetter wipes, I stopped buying the Costco brand,” Musson explained.
Nitrile Exam Gloves
- Price: $18.99
Nitrile exam gloves are handy for everything from painting to handling food to cleaning to working around patients. While the Kirkland brand might be a good deal, Costco reviewers said they’re not of good quality and Musson agreed.
“You can’t beat the price of these disposable gloves, but unless you’re using them every day, they become brittle well before you finish them,” she said. “I found that for the infrequent use, it’s better to buy smaller quantities more often.”
Ice Cream
- Price: $15.88
The Kirkland Signature super premium vanilla ice cream is made with top-notch ingredients that shoppers appreciate and love, but the high cost is an issue. A 128-oz tub typically costs around $14 to $18 for a two-half-gallon pack at Costco or Instacart, though prices vary slightly by location and retailer.
“Kirkland ice cream is delicious, but it’s very expensive,” Musson said. “I found that I can buy ice cream I like just as much from the grocery store for close to half the price.”
Not every Kirkland item is a must-buy, but smart shopping at Costco can rack up the savings. The membership-only club offers plenty of discounts, but knowing when to pass is what helps keep more money in your pocket.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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