Costco Items That Are Overrated, According To Shoppers
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Shopping at Costco can be a pleasure, most of the time. While you can buy groceries in bulk, fill up your car with gas and even get a snack on your way out, there are some things at Costco that simply are too expensive or claim to have a higher quality than they actually do.
“Costco is popular among consumers for bulk shopping and quality products,” said Joanna Clark-Simpson, head of consumer research and consumer expert with the PissedConsumer.com review platform. “However, based on consumer reviews from our platform, there are several products at Costco that may not offer the value you expect.”
Here are four Costco items that are overrated, according to shoppers.
Microwaves
According to Clark-Simpson, some customers have reported issues with microwaves purchased from Costco, particularly related to damage occurring during delivery.
“The process of waiting for replacements or handling returns can be time-consuming, making the purchase of a microwave from Costco more frustrating and less convenient than expected,” explained Clark-Simpson.
One customer review for Costco microwaves stated,”This is the second microwave that I received as damage. The replacement [came] in damaged on the side. They sent a UPS label to return. I have yet [to] see a tracking number for the replacement.”
Seafood
As Clark-Simpson pointed out, shrimp, crab, lobster, and fish are some popular items among Costco shoppers, “though the quality of frozen seafood can sometimes be disappointing,” Clark-Simpson added.
A very unsatisfied Costco customer wrote that “I bought a tray of lobsters, but I couldn’t prepare them because they had human hair in them. I need a solution.”
Produce
There’s a certain unspoken, yet common knowledge that purchasing your fruits and vegetables at Costco is not a smart move unless you can use all the produce you bought very quickly.
A user on Reddit noted that when it comes to Costco items they have stopped purchasing: “Strawberries for me. I’ve stopped buying the fresh ones from Costco! [T]he huge box of strawberries [catches] mold in like [three to four] days.”
Membership Fees
The Costco membership fee, which Clark-Simpson highlighted is $65 or $130 a year, depending on the preferred membership type, can feel too high for some shoppers, especially when combined with rising food prices.
“While Costco offers bulk deals, some shoppers feel that the savings don’t always make up for the high membership price,” Clark-Simpson described.
“I pay over $110 a year for membership and pay their ridiculously high food prices,” wrote one very dissatisfied Costco customer. “They are out [of] control with constant price increases… They always treat you like you’re a criminal stealing when I [show] my card and receipt 50x in one visit.”
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