Costco is one of the largest retailers on the planet. Here’s one writer’s opinion as to what’s worth buying, and what’s best left on the shelf.
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According to Costco, nearly 128 million people are members. I suspect that each of those 128 million would disagree with at least one of my picks. And that’s the great thing about warehouse stores; they carry so many interesting products that each of us can choose favorites.
The following list represents three items I make a point to pick up anytime I make the seven mile trip to my nearest Costco, and three items I avoid like half the women I know who avoid gluten.
Love, love, love
These Costco products were a hit.
1. Kirkland 13-Gallon Trash Bags
Two humans and two dogs reside in our household. Two of each. That’s all. And yet, the number of 13-gallon trash bags we go through in a week is shockingly high. How do we manage to produce so much rubbish? I’m clueless.
When two people fill up that many trash bags, they’re bound to notice how those bags are made and to slowly develop preferences. For example, I like a scented bag, while my husband insists on a drawstring model. We both prefer a bag that expands to twice its size, like Violet Beauregarde during her trip to the Wonka Chocolate Factory.
The Kirkland 13-gallon trash bag delivers. It comes in a scented (and unscented) version, has drawstrings strong enough to keep raccoons at bay, and holds a ton of trash. In fact, if our kitchen trash can wasn’t so small, I’m convinced we could get an entire week of garbage in there. And at $0.10 each, they don’t drain my bank account.
2. Frozen Fruit
I’m not sure about all Costco stores, but our Costco’s frozen fruit selection can be a little hit and miss. And truthfully, I’m not sure I’m getting a better price than I would at our neighborhood grocery store. However, as people who enjoy a morning fruit smoothie, it’s convenient to load up on frozen fruit while we’re in the store anyway.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Sometimes, after the kids are grown and living on their own, Mom and Dad revert back to their 12-year-old selves. If we operated purely on instinct, we’d eat cookies and ice cream for breakfast. And that’s precisely why we’ve come up with a strict morning routine in which one of us walks into the kitchen and blends something healthy.
3. Delici Desserts Belgian Chocolate Mousse
About a year ago, I was strolling down a refrigerated aisle, minding my own business, when I came across a product I’d never seen before. Lined up in two neat rows and wrapped up in a colorful box were six small glasses, each filled with layers of chocolate — some dark, some light.
After my first bite (I don’t want to be overly-dramatic here), the skies opened, the angels sang, and I knew I was in love. They are wildly delicious.
The bad news is that our Costco rarely has them in stock. I walk that aisle each time I visit the store, slowly passing the spot where I last saw them, looking to all the world like a jilted lover, staring longingly at my ex-partner’s apartment window. Actually, the good news is, our Costco rarely has them in stock. As mentioned, 12-year-old me sometimes says goofy things like, “You know, Belgian chocolate mousse would taste so much better than that bowl of veggie soup.”
Why, oh why?
And these Costco products were a miss.
1. Dessert Italiano Tiramisu Cups
I know this choice is likely to raise someone’s ire, particularly based on a Costco Reddit thread I ran across recently. Some folks love these Dessert Italiano Tiramisu Cups. Here’s why that makes me mad: One day, as I looked for my beloved Delici Desserts Belgian Chocolate Mousse, I finally had to admit to myself that there were none in stock. In their place were these tiramisu cups. Similar packaging and the same single-cup glasses. I normally like tiramisu, so I thought they’d make a decent substitute.
They did not.
First of all, there was a thick layer of cocoa powder on top. It was like dipping a spoon into a can of cocoa (which I highly discourage you from doing). The mascarpone cream was okay, but instead of ladyfingers as the base, the manufacturers used sponge cake. At the bottom was a type of coffee jelly. The texture was so off-putting that I tried to foist the remainder of jars off on unsuspecting family members. No one took them.
2. Fresh fruit
Every. Single. Time. I buy fresh fruit at Costco, I end up regretting the purchase. Even if we’re having a barbecue or family is coming to town, it seems like half of whatever I buy goes to waste. Simply put, we never eat nearly as much as I think we’ll eat, but because I’m afraid we’ll run out of food, I overbuy. I am constantly filling bags with fruits and vegetables and handing them off to people like party favors as they walk out the front door.
Unless I had a herd of children or was into canning fruit, fresh fruit from Costco is a hard no for me. There are plenty of ways to buy smaller quantities of fresh fruit at a good price.
3. Freshpet dog food
For over a year, my dogs have eaten Freshpet. It’s that pet food you find in small refrigerators at Walmart, Target, PetSmart, grocery stores, and other retailers. Since my dogs seem to believe it’s human food, they’re “willing” to eat it (I’m telling you, these are two finicky pups).
I was pretty excited to learn that Costco was carrying Freshpet. In fact, I made a special trip to pick up a bag or two. Here’s my problem: The price is not low enough to justify a special trip. Since I normally order groceries from a store about one mile from my home, and because they’re happy to deliver Freshpet along with my grocery order, I’m money and time ahead buying it from them. Pets are expensive enough without adding another expense.
Even as I write this, I can hear my mother’s voice in my head saying, “Different strokes for different folks.” Even if your choices for best and worst from Costco are entirely different, it’s nice to have the options we have.
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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Dana George has positions in Target and Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
