Costco is the place for many shoppers looking for deals and bulk quantities. While compliments tend to outweigh complaints, current and former employees at Costco say there are still some items that aren’t worth the money. Because they’re the ones dealing with returns and customer frustration firsthand, workers tend to notice patterns shoppers don’t.
Here are seven items Costco employees say you’re better off skipping.
Baked Goods
From bagels to milk tea puffs, Costco’s bakery has no shortage of flaky, doughy goodness. The downside is you really need to commit to these baked goods, so you either eat copious amounts or let them turn stale and trash them. There is the solution of freezing them, but you’ll have to make enough space in the freezer, because these babies are big. A Costco worker from Iowa told Business Insider that the “packaging is just too big” on the store’s bakery items.
Dyson Vacuums
Costco employees know a rip-off when they see one, and one product that gets constantly sent back to the store is the Dyson Vacuum. “Every single day, we get at least one Dyson back because they don’t work. Every. Day,” a Costco employee said on Reddit.
If you do return them, Costco doesn’t allow exchanges. “You can return the item and rebuy a new one,” the employee added.
Soda
Unless you are buying for a big party, avoid the 36 cans of soda at Costco and stick to fighting your thirst at the supermarket. There are two main reasons why buying soda from Costco is not the best idea. First, while it’s safe to drink soda around nine months after expiration, it will lose carbonation and flavor after six to nine months.
The other reason has to do with value. Unlike the majority of the retailer’s items that are great values, soda isn’t. Soda is one of the items that grocery stores regularly mark down.
Avocados
Employees warn avocados can be iffy depending on the origin. “Be careful buying the bag of avocados. Best are the ones from Mexico,” one Redditor said. “AVOID buying the ones from New Zealand. They never ripen (get dark green), and inside, they are rotten.”
Primo Water Cooler
Costco workers say the Primo Water Cooler is another item that shoppers have to bring back to the store. “Same brand lived ten years but this latest model is returned twice in three months,” one employee said on Reddit. “Omg mine just died yesterday after 14 months 😭,” a shopper confirmed.
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Fresh Produce
If there’s one thing that seems like a good idea to buy at bulk, it would be the fresh produce, but employees and shoppers agree it’s Costco’s pain point.
“People don’t often return produce items like they would a small appliance or clothes. But the answer would be strawberries,” shared a Costco employee on Reddit. Bananas are not great as well. “At least half the time, they don’t ripen,” another added.
Keurig Coffee Machine
Priced at around $200, Keurig Coffee Machines are another item that ends up back at the store due to defects. “The employees who took back my Keurig Supreme Plus said they nearly always end up returned before the year mark,” one customer shared on Reddit. “Those little Keurig machines were definitely the item I saw the most when I worked refunds,” an employee agreed.
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- Costco Shopping Secrets That Help You Beat the Crowds and Save More — Here’s how warehouse pros save time and money during their shopping trips, including a money-saving tip about Costco’s app.
