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A writer explains that certain Costco items aren’t worth buying in bulk. Read on to learn more.
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These days, I shop at Costco on a weekly basis, and it’s my go-to source for things like produce and dairy products. I’ve even been known to buy things like clothing and electronics at Costco.
But there are certain items I’ve purchased at Costco in the past that I have no intention of buying again. Here are three in particular.
1. Kirkland ibuprofen
Although it pains me to admit it, I’m someone who tends to turn to ibuprofen more often than I’d like to. First of all, I’m an allergy sufferer, and when conditions are brutal, I often need medicinal relief to ease a headache or a painfully scratchy throat. Plus, I have a really large, strong dog who tends to walk me rather than vice versa, which means I’m constantly straining and pulling muscles.
As such, ibuprofen is something I tend to need pretty often. And I used to buy it at Costco because the price seemed right.
The problem with Kirkland ibuprofen, though, is that it’s sold in quantities of 1,000 tablets. That’s the equivalent of 500 standard doses.
Meanwhile, I’ve found that Kirkland ibuprofen tends to come with an expiration date of roughly 12 to 18 months. Even with the higher end of that range, it’s not a lot of time to use up 500 doses. So in the past, I’ve wound up throwing a lot of those pills away. Going forward, it makes more sense for me to seek out sales at my regular supermarket or pharmacy and buy ibuprofen in smaller quantities.
2. Rotisserie chicken
You’ll often hear that Costco’s rotisserie chicken is one of the best meal deals you’ll find. But the reason I won’t buy it anymore is simple — my husband and son, who are the primary chicken eaters in my house, really don’t care for it. They’ve always preferred the rotisserie chicken I can get at my local supermarket, so even though it means a slightly higher credit card bill, I’d rather buy them a meal they’ll actually enjoy.
Plus, in recent weeks, Costco shoppers have been quick to point out that the rotisserie chicken has taken on a strange chemical taste. So I’m certainly not eager to force that on my family members.
3. Bakery bread
Since my daughters take sandwiches to school for lunch all the time, bread is something we go through a lot. But Costco’s fancier bakery bread tends to go to waste in my house.
That’s largely because my daughters prefer plain old white bread, and my son won’t touch bread with a 10-foot pole. Because bread is something I also eat sporadically, it doesn’t make sense to buy large quantities of the fancy stuff. If anything, I’m better off grabbing a small loaf from my local bakery when I have a hankering for something better than sandwich bread.
Shopping at Costco is generally an enjoyable, money-saving experience for me. And because I have an executive membership, I get to enjoy 2% cash back on any purchases I make. But I won’t be making plans to buy mass quantities of ibuprofen, rotisserie chicken, or delicious but unnecessary bakery bread anytime soon.
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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.
