9 Groceries Costco Customers Say Aren't Worth It - Tasting Table

Costco has hundreds of U.S. warehouse locations and large, active membership bases that regularly buy grocery items. Customer feedback from Reddit threads and Costco reviews was used to identify products that trigger strong negative reactions. Several items are described as not worth the money, including products whose quality has declined over time. Some complaints are severe enough that customers compare certain foods to chemicals, dog food, motor oil, and battery acid. One example is Crazy Cuizine Mandarin Orange Chicken, which is positioned as restaurant quality at home. Customers say it used to taste better but now falls short, with some noting reduced quality and others expressing disappointment compared with alternatives like Trader Joe’s or Panda Express.

"There are nearly 650 Costco stores in the U.S. (at the time of writing), and each of them has its own eager and engaged membership base. In fact, every month, hundreds of thousands of shoppers flock to the warehouse retailer to stock up on their favorite products. So, if anyone is an expert on what to buy and what to skip, it's them."

"For this list, we wanted to know more about the grocery items that Costco customers have tried and tested and, in their opinion, aren't worth the money. So, we scanned Reddit threads and Costco's own reviews to find out the products that prompt really strong feelings from customers (like, really, really strong ones), and we weren't disappointed."

"We won't give away too many details, but here's an idea of some of the things these items have been compared to: Chemicals, dog food, motor oil, and battery acid. Yes, for real. Let's dive in."

"Many people are disappointed in the Crazy Cuisine Mandarin Orange Chicken, which claims to offer "restaurant quality at home," because once upon a time, it actually was pretty tasty. "Anyone remember these being incredibly delicious a few years ago?" wrote one Redditor. "It's still good, but the quality has definitely decreased over the years.""

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