5 Expensive Costco Items To Buy Online on Amazon Instead
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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When you go grocery shopping, particularly during times of higher prices, tariffs and inflation, you probably frequent the same handful of stores. And maybe you think they always offer the best bargains — or at least the best ones on certain items.
For many shoppers in the United States, Costco is a place to find bargains. If you’re a regular Costco shopper, you know the warehouse store offers low-cost items in larger sizes. However, have you done a cost comparison for Costco vs. Amazon recently?
When it comes to saving money, you may need to take another look at your Costco membership when compared to Amazon Prime membership. Whether you prefer to buy Kirkland brand toilet paper in bulk or just like the convenience of online shopping with fast delivery for household items, both come with pros and cons.
While some items at Costco are great deals that are hard to beat, that’s not the case with everything. Here are some items you may want to buy online at Amazon or a different store.
Diapers
If you’ve ever shopped at Costco, you know there are good deals to be had where diapers are concerned. However, you may want to look elsewhere for deeper discounts. At the very least, check the per-unit price of the diapers — some brands are cheaper on Amazon compared to Costco’s generic brand. Luvs sells a pack of 264 diapers on Amazon for $36.11 (or 14 cents per diaper) while the Kirkland Signature brand costs $34.99 for 192 diapers (or 18 cents per diaper).
Holiday Décor
This can be a bit tricky. Holiday decor isn’t typically available year-round in stores, so you may need to pick up decorations when you see them. However, customers have reported finding better deals online than at Costco. There is also the added element that Amazon will have random holiday decorations all year long, whereas Costco offers holiday decorations closer to the actual date of celebration.
Spices
You may be able to find a good deal on a huge tub or container of your favorite spice or seasoning at Costco. While it may seem like great value, most of us don’t need that huge amount, especially in a relatively short time.
According to CNBC, “Ground spices have a limited shelf life of about six months, after which they lose their potency.”
School and Office Supplies
Check out Amazon for good deals on supplies for the kids for school or your own home office. Many times, you can save money by skipping Costco for these items. For example, Costco members would pay $19.99 (plus a $3 2-day delivery fee if you order online) for 24 pads of Post-Its, however, Prime members would pay $17.70 for 24 pads.
Pet Food
You may be able to find good deals on pet food on Amazon. While it may not be as convenient as stopping by your local Costco on the way home, it could save you money. For example, a 35-pound bag of Costco’s Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon & Sweet Potato Formula Dog Food costs $49.99 ($1.43 per pound), whereas you can get a 30-pound bag of Amazon Brand’s Wag Adult Premium Nutrition Dry Dog Food with Chicken and Brown Rice for $34.84 ($1.16 per pound).
Chris Adam contributed to the reporting for this article.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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