Costco Shoppers Share The Top 5 Regrettable Purchases At The Store: Toilet Paper, Produce, & More

When it comes to stocking up on household essentials and groceries, Costco is often the go-to destination for many. Known for its bulk buying options and competitive prices, the wholesale giant attracts shoppers looking to save a few bucks on quality items. However, not all bulk buys are created equal. In fact, some items at Costco have garnered a reputation for being less than satisfactory.

From lackluster quality to disappointing flavors, and even issues with durability, some Costco items just don’t meet the mark. And if there’s one way to find out what products to avoid, it’s checking to see what shoppers are saying online—which is why we turned to Reddit to gather some insight on the worst-rated items at Costco. Here are a few items you may be better off leaving out of your cart, according to superfans.

1. Kirkland Brand Toilet Paper

Costco is oftentimes a good spot to pick up household essentials in bulk and save a few bucks. However, savings can't always be justified if the quality is lacking. According to some shoppers on Reddit, you're better off spending a bit more money on name brand toilet paper than stocking up on Kirkland's variety.

"Kirkland brand toilet paper is TERRIBLE," says one comment on a post , adding, "(I do, however, buy Charmin TP there.)" Many chimed in to agree, pointing out that the quality has declined and the toilet paper is now "linty." We'll stick to name brands, then!

2. Bananas and other produce

This is one of the top complaints you'll find in nearly every discussion about Costco products online; their produce just doesn't last. Bananas are frequently cited as one of the worst culprits. As one person on Reddit pointed out, this may be mainly because, "I can't eat such large quantities before they go bad." However, many shoppers find the produce to be generally low in quality and shelf life.

"We just went to Costco on Sunday and our potatoes, brocolli, raspberries and zucchini were all spoiled within 2 days of getting home," says one Reddit post . "Pretty disappointed in their produce quality. I always look out for their stuff to go quickly but this was exceedingly fast."

Are Kevin's the worst tasting frozen meals in Costco? by u/gigibuffoon in Costco

3. Kevin's Frozen Foods

Costco has a wide variety of delicious frozen foods . But not all of the options you'll find on shelves are fantastic. Some shoppers take issue with Kevin's brand frozen foods, in particular. In a Reddit post titled "Are Kevin's the worst tasting frozen meals in Costco?" one user complained: "I've bought a couple of different varieties of the Kevin's frozen meals and I swear to God, they all feel exactly the same... kinda dry meat with absolutely no seasoning except a bunch of cream and/or salt. After the first couple of times, I figured they're gonna pull them from the shelves but I see that they keep bringing out more varieties."

4. Chicken Pot Pie

Costco is known for their massive take-and-bake foods. These are great for picking up, throwing up in the oven, and serving to your family as an easy dinner—or adding to a spread for a party. Unfortunately, though, some people find that they don't always taste great. Such may be the case with Costco's chicken pot pie, which is too salty for some.

"The salt content too much for me to handle," wrote one shopper on Reddit . Another agreed: "I was so disappointed with how salty it is, and I am a salt lover. It's otherwise a great pot pie, but basically inedible for more than a bite or two because of the salt."

A fellow Costco member found this to be a wider issue among meals, saying, "Yeah unfortunately a lot of the ready-to-cook meals are waaaaay oversalted. We had to throw out the ravioli lasagna bake it was so salty." Say it ain't so!

5. Dishwasher Pods

Similar to toilet paper, Kirkland dishwasher pods may be one frugal option you're better off passing up if you want good quality. "I've had so many bad experiences with the Kirkland dishwasher pods that I won't give them any more chances," laments one Redditor.

"They did such a lousy job I switched back to Cascade Platinum, which works well," agreed another comment. Noted!