Costco, one of the largest retailers in the U.S and a wholesale club, is known for low prices on bulk purchases. It is believed that by buying much larger quantities, you’ll pay less per unit than if you purchase one item only. This might be a smart strategy for you to save some money, but sometimes you’ll notice there is no discount when buying in bulk. Or even worse, you realize it’s more expensive to buy something in large amounts.
Have you ever experienced buying a “Family Size” box of cookies or macaroni and cheese only to realize it costs much more per ounce than buying a smaller container? When this kind of thing happens, you feel deceived and disappointed.
Costco generally offers some great deals, but sometimes you’ll have to pay more for certain items. Others are low-priced but are expected to expire before you can actually finish them. And there is also the category of those items that carry an affordable price but fall short in terms of quality.
So here we are to help you. We’ve made some research and discovered some products you might want to skip when shopping at Costco. This being said, keep reading this article to find out about them!
1. Laundry detergent
You might love Costco for its lower prices when it comes to laundry detergent, fabric softener, dish soap and other cleaning supplies. Truth to be told, the same cleaning agents are more pricey at Target, Walmart or Amazon.
BUT, keep in mind that these products have an expiration date. Unopened cleaning supplies have a shelf life of 9 to 12 months. Once opened, you should use them within 6 months. Keeping laundry powder in conditions of high humidity will even shorten its shelf life.
So buying detergent in bulk is your way to go if you have 2 or more kids and a gym membership. But if you do your laundry once or twice a week, you’ll waste your money.
2. Diapers
Depending on the age of the baby, parents use between 8 and 12 diapers per day (this applies only for kids up to 1 year). As a parent or a grandparent, you most probably buy diapers from a supermarket. If you used to do your groceries at Costco, then you might want to do a price comparison research. To lend you a helping hand, we made a list with other retailers that offer comparable or better prices on diapers:
- One package of Kirkland Brand Diapers (Size 1-2) at Costco: $35.99 for 192 (18 cents per diaper)
- One package of Up & Up Brand Diapers (Size 1 or 2) at Target: $3.79 for 37 (13 cents per diaper)
- Parent’s Choice Diapers (Size 1) at Walmart: $16.47 per package for 168 (9.8 cents per diaper).
Amazon also offers better prices on diapers. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can buy diapers in bulk and get a 20% discount without having to leave your house.
