I’m halfway through a late-night scroll when I land on one of the most heated Costco threads I’ve ever seen. Someone asked, “We all love Costco, but what’s one item you’ll never buy there again?” The replies? Brutal. From food recalls to packaging nightmares, shoppers were not holding back.
Naturally, I had to dive in. What I found wasn’t just one bad product, so I pulled together six of the most complained-about Costco items, and what they reveal might just change how you shop. Some of these caught me off guard, and they might surprise you too.
Kirkland Milk Jugs
In 2008, Costco introduced square-shaped milk jugs designed to reduce packaging waste and improve pallet efficiency. The boxy containers slash shipping costs and eliminate the need for crates, saving millions annually. But consumers have voiced frustration for years about awkward pouring and frequent spills.
Online forums like Reddit and ConsumerAffairs are littered with complaints calling the jugs “disasters” for families with kids. Despite the eco-upside, the design fails a basic usability test. This case highlights a modern retail paradox: sustainability and user-friendliness don’t always go hand in hand. A green solution can still leave a sour taste when it makes daily routines harder.
Avocados
Costco’s Peruvian avocados, meant to fill seasonal gaps in Mexican and Californian supply, have developed a bad reputation. Shoppers complain they go from rock-hard to rotten in under 24 hours, offering little usable window. The produce watchdog site Eat Like No One Else has tracked this issue since 2020, echoing widespread discontent.
Many customers now actively avoid these avocados, calling them “time bombs.” When perishables behave unpredictably, buying more doesn’t just waste money, it erodes trust. The idea that global sourcing ensures year-round freshness often collapses under the weight of consumer experience.
Kirkland Toilet Paper
Once a darling of frugal households, Kirkland Signature toilet paper has recently come under fire. Since a supplier switch around 2023, customers have reported issues like excessive lint, tearing, and even plumbing damage. Forums like CostcoInsider and Facebook groups have tracked the backlash, with some shoppers saying the difference was “immediately noticeable.”
Ironically, loyalty to the brand only amplified the outrage. The switch shows how small tweaks in manufacturing can unravel years of consumer goodwill. When household staples change, even slightly, customers notice. In Costco’s case, what was once a quiet win in customer loyalty turned into a PR misstep.
Kevin’s Natural Foods
With health-conscious eating on the rise, Kevin’s Natural Foods seemed like a perfect Costco match: paleo- and keto-friendly meals made fast. But online reviews paint a different picture, rubbery chicken, bland sauces, and what some call “microwaved hospital food.”
As one Redditor put it: “Anything Kevin’s. It’s all the same piece of garbage, tasteless meat with a bag of trash to throw on top of it.” Another echoed the sentiment: “If Kevin is on the outside, disappointment is on the inside.” Even health-focused shoppers want flavor. Kevin’s failure shows that trendy diets won’t save a product if the food itself doesn’t deliver.
Kirkland Sparkling Water
You’d think sparkling water would be a safe bet, especially from Costco. But Kirkland’s version has left thousands of shoppers feeling let down. Entire cases show up flat straight from the shelf. Some blame leaky seals, others think it’s a storage issue. Either way, it’s hard to enjoy a seltzer with no sparkle. Even Consumer Reports flagged the inconsistency as a red flag.
In trying to match LaCroix’s vibe at a bargain, Kirkland may have missed the one thing fizzy drink fans actually care about: the fizz. Because if you can’t count on bubbles, what’s the point?
Fresh Produce
Costco’s big produce packs seem like a great deal, until you’re tossing out half of it by Friday. Shoppers constantly complain about moldy strawberries, lettuce that wilts in a day, and bananas that go from green to garbage without ever turning yellow.
For smaller households, it’s a struggle to keep up. One study even found that up to 20% of bulk produce ends up in the trash. Sure, you can return it, but the hassle adds up. Turns out, buying in bulk doesn’t always save money when your fridge (and schedule) can’t keep up with the pace of spoilage.
When Recalls Shake Trust
It’s one thing to return a soggy salad. It’s another when the food in your fridge could actually make you sick. From salmonella in hard-boiled eggs to metal bits in beef sticks, some Costco recalls have raised serious red flags. A few were even labeled Class I by the FDA, that’s the highest risk level.
Shoppers don’t just lose money, they lose trust. When a brand built on reliability starts to slip, it hits differently. People stop seeing a good deal and start wondering what else might be hiding behind the label.
How One Product Can Tarnish the Brand
All it takes is one bad bite. Mold on a snack stick, spoiled milk, or a fizzless soda, and suddenly you’re questioning everything in the cart. These slip-ups don’t stay small. They show up in TikToks, angry Reddit threads, and screenshots that go viral.
In today’s world, a single mistake can echo across the entire brand. That’s the tricky part for Costco: one misstep doesn’t just hurt one product. It makes people rethink the whole shopping experience.
When Big-Box Dreams Break Down
Costco sells the dream of buying smart; more for less, without cutting corners. But when packaging frustrates, flavor disappoints, or safety comes into question, that dream gets harder to believe. These stories aren’t just isolated gripes. They’re signs that scale alone isn’t enough.
Shoppers want more than bulk, they want brands that listen, improve, and live up to their promises. Costco isn’t just competing with prices. It’s competing with memory, expectation, and word of mouth. And in that arena, one mistake can echo louder than ten wins.
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