4 Costco Products That Could Be Huge Disappointments

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Costco has some great products, but not everything purchased there is going to delight you. Check out some products that could end up being duds. 

Costco has many great products that are checking-account-friendly and that have devoted fans. But, not every product at the big box store is worth getting out your credit card for. In fact, there are some things sold at Costco that could be huge disappointments.

Here are a few products that have tons of detractors that you may wish to avoid buying.

1. Sonoma Gourmet Kale Pesto With White Cheddar sauce

Although it is not a Kirkland brand item, this sauce is sold at Costco stores — but many buyers come to wish it wasn’t. In fact, this sauce seems to have few fans and tons of negative reviews both on Reddit and Instagram.

“Flavorless,” “watery,” “so bad,” and “straight in the trash,” are just some of the comments shared about this unbeloved sauce with some users indicating they had to toss or donate the second jar as the sauce is sold in a two-pack. One Reddit user even said they returned it, despite never returning food, because the product was so bad it was “personal.”

The other Sonoma Gourmet sauces don’t fare much better either, with the alfredo especially having a lot of haters.

2. Kirkland UltraClean Free & Clear Premium Laundry Detergent

Kirkland’s UltraClean Free & Clear Premium Laundry Detergent seems like it should be a great option for people with sensitive skin, since it claims to be hypoallergenic and it comes at a good price. The problem is, many people have reported having a reaction to the detergent, indicating it caused them to break out in a rash.

Kirkland brand laundry detergents in general don’t have as many fans as other house-brand products, with many Reddit users objecting to the smell of Costco’s detergents.

3. Kirkland batteries

Kirkland batteries are manufactured by Duracell, but that doesn’t mean you can count on them to work well for you. A huge number of people complain about issues with the batteries, including the fact that they regularly leak and are of generally poor quality. The last thing you need is your battery-powered items to be ruined as a result of this common flaw.

4. Costco milk jugs

Costco’s milk jugs are another item without many fans. In this case, it’s not the milk but the container that is an issue, as the jugs are difficult to hold and pour so they routinely end up spilling everywhere. The problem has become such a big issue that Costco is looking into a redesign to fix it.

What should you do if you end up with a dud from Costco?

The good news is, if you find yourself with these or any other products from Costco that you really dislike, you have options.

Costco has a very generous return policy, so you can usually get your money back rather than being out the cash for something you can’t use. In fact, with limited exceptions, Costco’s 100% satisfaction guarantee means you can return almost anything at any time.

So, while you should still read reviews and be a smart buyer, you don’t have to be afraid to try a new food or household product. This is one of the big benefits of Costco membership, and you should take advantage of it if you buy something that turns out to be bad.

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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.Christy Bieber 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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