Costco is a great stop for savvy shoppers trying to save money on groceries or picking up home goods or clothes at affordable prices.
But not everyone is enamored of the warehouse retailer, and some former fans have decided that Costco isn’t what they want anymore.
So, what made folks fall out of love with Costco? Here are a few of the top reasons — can you relate?
Earn 2% cash rewards at grocery stores and Costco
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) is a powerful rewards card that allows you to earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — including on groceries, even at warehouse stores like Costco.
New cardholders can also earn a one-time cash rewards bonus — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months!
If you’re looking for a powerful rewards card that offers an extended intro APR period, look no further, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card checks that box too!
This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.
The best part? There's no annual fee.
Click here to apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card now.
Prices are up, and quality is down
Over the last few years, it's been hard to fight inflated grocery prices, but some Costco members don’t think the higher prices at Costco don’t necessarily mean you’re getting a great product.
One Redditor lamented that even though prices have gone up, they’ve found that the quality of things like food and household goods has gone down. “[P]roduce [and] meats are no longer the same quality,” they wrote. “And I can buy the same at local ethnic supermarkets cheaper value for the same quality, or better quality for the same price.”
Their favorite items have disappeared
Costco has a variety of items but limited shelf space for bulk purchases. So it can be frustrating “when I find something I want to keep purchasing only to see it no longer offered,” one Redditor said.
Some Redditors lamented the loss of drinks, clothing items, or frozen products they can no longer get from Costco to restock in their freezers.
Costco doesn’t offer scan-and-go
Shoppers have found Costco’s app to be less than stellar when it comes to shopping and long for a few options that similar retailers offer.
One of the options Reddit shoppers said they wished they had was scan-and-go in the app, giving users the choice to scan items in the store as they shop to get an easy checkout.
Meanwhile, retailers like Sam’s Club and BJ’s do offer a scan-and-go option that Redditors like to use.
Stop overpaying when you shop online at Costco
Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.
Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.
Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1
They can’t eat at the food court without a membership
Costco used to allow non-members to stop by for lunch or grab a quick bite from the ever-popular food court.
Unfortunately, the retailer is cracking down on non-members snagging the $1.50 hot-dog-and-drink deal or a slice of pizza, so some Redditors have decided to skip the food court rather than shell out the cash for a membership.
“I don’t think non-members would be willing to pay for a membership just to keep getting a $1.50 hotdog/drink combo,” one Redditor said.
Costco is too crowded
Costco is a popular destination for shoppers, but that also means it could be a little too crowded for some folks.
One Redditor called their local Costco a “miserable experience every time” and said they preferred their local Sam’s Club because it’s easier to shop there, and customers can get in and out quicker.
Trending Stories
There are too many third-party vendors
You might wander the aisles only to have someone step up and try and sell you a new cell phone contract or home upgrade.
It may not be a big deal if it only happens once or twice, but some Redditors are annoyed by constantly being approached by third-party vendors when they’re not interested in those services.
Costco discontinued the combo pizza
Costco has taken some items off its food court menu over the years, but none may be as missed as the combo pizza.
The pizza, packed with pepperoni, sausage, and veggies, was such a fan favorite that a Redditor who joked about its return as an April Fool’s prank was met with sadness and disdain from other posters who wanted it to be true.
It’s hard to store bulk items
Costco’s bulk buys may seem like a great option for saving a few extra bucks on the grocery bill, but then you have to find a place to store mountains of toilet paper and soda when you bring them home.
Some Redditors have lamented that they don’t shop at Costco anymore because they don’t have the room to store bulk items in their homes, like toilet paper and items that don’t fit in the pantry.
It’s not always good for singles
Costco is a great advantage when you’re buying items to feed a family of four, but it can be harder when you’re buying items just for yourself.
It may be fine if you’re buying non-perishables, but some Redditors said they can get similar deals at other stores when they’re shopping just for themselves.
Get a protection plan on all your appliances
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.
Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.
For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.
Parking isn’t great
Costco shoppers at different locations seem to have the same complaint: the parking lot.
Some shoppers complain about dangerous conditions for pedestrians or the time it takes to get into the lot and find a spot. “Why are Costco lots notoriously bad across the board?” one Redditor asked.
It doesn’t have a variety of options
Check the aisles on your next visit, and you may notice that Costco doesn’t have the same product variety for different items as your local grocery stores. There just aren’t many options for staples like pasta sauce, yogurt, and drinks.
One Redditor simply said, “The variety isn’t there.”
They can get better deals somewhere else
You may be loyal to Costco, but compare the costs on your next visit with other stores to see if you get items for less money per unit.
Some Redditors even suggested switching to other retailers like Sam’s Club, where they found better deals than at their local Costco.
Bottom line
Costco may have some great options, but there are also reasons to ditch it if you aren’t in love with the retailer anymore.
It’s a good idea to check your budget and do some comparison shopping to find out if you actually save money at Costco or if the membership cost is even worth it.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.