3 Costco Products You Should Avoid Buying — and Their Better Alternatives
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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Who doesn’t love shopping at Costco? The mega-warehouse and grocery retailer is known for big savings, big stores and buying in bulk for everything from toilet paper to potato chips. Just because it is bigger, however, does not always mean that it is better when buying at Costco.
Sometimes, Costco products are not what you need to be adding to your grocery list (even if the delicious rotisserie chicken is only $4.99), and there are some other items that you can opt for instead. Here are three Costco products that you should avoid buying and the better alternatives to consider.
Canned Goods
Buying canned goods in bulk from Costco may seem cost-effective, but the price per can is often not as cheap as your local grocery store, according to Carl Jacobs, CEO of Apicbase and host of “The Food Service Growth Show.”
“Believe it or not, canned goods at local stores can be 20% to 30% less expensive and are often on sale,” shared Jacobs, who recommended “purchasing canned goods in smaller quantities from your local grocery store, especially when they are on sale. This way, you can also take advantage of lower prices and lower the risk of stockpiling items that may expire before use.”
Breakfast Cereals
Jacobs also pointed out that buying brand-name breakfast cereals in bulk from Costco don’t always give you the best value, especially if you’re considering unit prices and freshness.
“Costco offers Magic Spoon cereal in certain regions,” Jacobs highlighted. “But you can find similar cereals at local grocery stores, such as Walmart, priced competitively.”
In Jacob’s opinion, the best alternative is to compare the unit prices at local grocery stores and purchase cereals in lower quantities because this ensures freshness and reduces the risk of the product going stale before consumption.
“This will help you save more and give you a better breakfast experience,” added Jacobs.
Spices
“Buying spices in bulk at Costco may seem like a good deal, but it’s not the smartest purchase for most households,” stated Jacobs. This is because spices lose their potency over time, and unless you’re running a restaurant or cooking for a large family every day, you’re likely to end up with stale, flavorless seasonings before you can use them up.
As an example, Jacobs illustrated how “Kirkland Signature Granulated Garlic, which costs around $9.99, might seem like a good deal, but after a few months, garlic powder starts to lose its strength, making your dishes taste dull.”
“A better alternative is to buy smaller quantities of spices from a grocery store or specialty spice shop where you can get fresher batches more quickly,” Jacobs suggested. “Stores like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods sell high-quality spices in smaller jars, ensuring you get the best flavor without waste. Although the price per ounce may be a little higher, you’ll end up saving a lot more by avoiding the need to throw out stale, ineffective spices.”
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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