3 Mistakes You Risk Making When You Shop at Costco Online

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Shopping on Costco’s website may be convenient. But read on to see why it could be a bad idea. 

A Costco membership costs $60 a year for the basic version and $120 a year for the executive version. In exchange, you not only get access to a network of warehouse club stores, but you also get the option to do your Costco shopping online.

If you’re going to go the latter route, though, you’ll need to be careful. That’s because you might fall into these specific traps.

1. Paying more than you would at the store

Many people’s credit card bills are higher these days due to lingering inflation. So you may be eager to trim your costs as much as possible. In fact, part of your motivation to join Costco in the first place might stem from a desire to save money on things like groceries and household essentials. But if you buy those things at Costco online, you may not reap as much savings as expected.

Costco commonly offers lower prices in its warehouse club stores than it does online. And if you’re buying fresh groceries online, you can bank on paying more because you’re getting the convenience of a personal shopper who will deliver your items to your door.

You may decide to purchase Costco items online for the convenience of not having to leave your house. But in most cases, you’re paying more than you need to.

2. Buying food items you don’t want to eat

Many of Costco’s food items can be purchased online. The delicious muffins you can find in the bakery section of Costco, for example, are available online, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth without having to get in the car.

But when you buy food online at Costco, you pass up the chance to sample it at the store first. And that could lead to a situation where you end up buying something you don’t really enjoy.

Now to be fair, Costco doesn’t offer samples of every single food item it sells. But it does tend to sample new items as they hit the store. And popping a free cracker in your mouth before committing to a pack of 400 could spare you from buying a bulk item you don’t end up liking.

3. Purchasing furniture that isn’t as comfortable as it looks

You can purchase a wide range of furniture items at Costco online, from couches to dining room sets. But the best way to know if a given furniture piece is right for you is to try it out.

In the case of a couch, for example, you want to sit on it to make sure it’s comfy. You can’t do that online. And if you order furniture online from Costco, you might fall into the trap of buying something you don’t end up happy with.

The good news is that Costco has a generous return policy, so if you buy furniture you don’t like, you can bring it back for a refund — in theory. In practice, how are you going to haul a couch back to Costco that you’re not in love with (keeping in mind that by the time you come to that realization, you’ve most likely gotten rid of your old couch)?

Shopping at Costco online can certainly be a time-saver, especially if your nearest warehouse club store isn’t close to where you live. But take care to avoid these blunders in the course of your online shopping.

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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.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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