Working at Costco comes with some pretty sweet perks. Employees get solid pay, bonuses, and even free memberships for their loved ones. But here’s something you might not expect: these same workers have a mental list of items they actively avoid buying from their own store. After dealing with returns, listening to complaints, and watching products sit on shelves, they’ve figured out what’s actually worth your money and what’s just taking up space in your cart. These insider opinions are worth paying attention to, especially if you want to avoid the massive weekend return lines.
Those giant strawberries aren’t what they seem
When you spot those monster-sized strawberries at Costco, your first instinct might be to grab a container. They look impressive, and the price seems right compared to other stores. One shopper even posted a photo showing three strawberries matching the height of a water bottle. But Costco employees have a different take on these oversized berries. According to workers who’ve shared their experiences, strawberries are one of the few produce items that actually get returned regularly. The problem isn’t always about quality, but rather about the sheer quantity you’re forced to buy.
Fresh strawberries only last about two days on your kitchen counter before they start going downhill. Even in the fridge, you’re racing against time to eat them all before they turn mushy. The containers at Costco are massive, and unless you’re planning to make jam or freeze them immediately, you’ll probably end up tossing a good portion. Sure, you can get creative with strawberry nice cream or throw them in salads, but most people don’t have time for that kind of meal planning. The cheaper price tag doesn’t mean much when half the container ends up in the trash.
Bananas that refuse to ripen properly
Bananas seem like a safe bet at any grocery store. They’re cheap, versatile, and perfect for everything from smoothies to banana bread. But the bananas at Costco have earned a reputation among both employees and shoppers for being stubborn. One worker admitted that while most produce at the warehouse is solid, the bananas are a different story. At least half the time, these green bunches will stay green for weeks, never quite reaching that perfect yellow stage when they’re actually good to eat.
Shoppers have tried every trick in the book to get these bananas to ripen, from the paper bag method to adding apples for extra ethylene gas. Nothing seems to work consistently. These bananas just sit there, mocking you from your counter, refusing to turn yellow. Eventually, most people give up and throw them away, which defeats the purpose of buying in bulk to save money. The issue might be related to how they’re stored or when they’re picked, but whatever the reason, it’s frustrating enough that employees themselves skip this item when shopping for their own groceries.
Baked goods come in ridiculous packaging sizes
The bakery section at Costco is tempting. You’ll find everything from croissants to cookies to fancy pastries that look like they belong in a European café. The prices are reasonable, and the quality is usually pretty good. So why do employees avoid buying baked goods from their own store? It all comes down to packaging. Workers have pointed out that the containers are unnecessarily large, even for the bulk quantities inside. An employee from Iowa mentioned that the packaging was simply too big for their needs, while another from Pennsylvania complained about the excessive storage space required.
Think about it: when you buy a 12-count pack of croissants, you need to eat them within a few days before they go stale. That’s fine if you’re feeding a family or hosting brunch, but for smaller households, it’s a waste. Many shoppers try freezing their baked goods to extend their life, but not everything freezes well. Cookies with icing turn into a mushy mess, and even items that do freeze require you to plan ahead and remember to thaw them. The combination of excessive packaging and bulk quantities makes this section more trouble than it’s worth for Costco employees shopping on their own time.
Soda deals aren’t actually the best available
Costco’s beverage section looks like a great place to stock up on soda. The multi-packs come with mix-and-match options, and the per-can price seems lower than what you’d pay at a convenience store. One shopper even considered buying enough soda from Costco to serve 250 wedding guests. But an anonymous employee revealed something interesting: you can usually find better deals on soda at regular supermarkets. This might sound backwards since Costco is supposed to be the discount warehouse, but there’s a method behind this madness.
Regular grocery stores use soda as a loss leader to get customers through the door. They’ll run promotions and deep discounts on popular brands, sometimes selling below cost just to increase foot traffic. These stores also place candy and soda at checkout lanes to encourage impulse purchases. If you’re paying attention to weekly ads and have the discipline to only buy what’s on sale, you’ll likely save more money than buying bulk at Costco. The warehouse’s soda prices are consistent but not spectacular, while supermarkets cycle through aggressive promotions that beat Costco’s everyday pricing.
Bulk meat packages exceed most household needs
The meat section at Costco is impressive. You’ll find thick-cut steaks, massive packs of chicken breasts, and enough ground beef to feed a small army. The quality is generally good, and the per-pound price beats most competitors. But even Costco employees question whether these giant packages make sense for average households. A California-based worker admitted they skip the large meat packages because it’s simply more than their family can use. Unless you’re running a restaurant or hosting frequent barbecues, you’re probably buying more than you need.
The bigger problem is storage and food safety. When you bring meat home from Costco, it needs to go in the freezer immediately if you’re not using it right away. You should shop for meat last and get it home within 30 minutes, or use a cooler if you live farther away. Once home, you need to divide the meat into portions and freeze it quickly. This takes time and freezer space that many people don’t have. The bulk deals look great until you realize your freezer is already packed with other frozen goods, and you don’t have room for a five-pound pack of pork chops.
Mayonnaise jars are absurdly oversized
Americans love mayonnaise. We put it on sandwiches, mix it into salads, and use it as a base for countless sauces. So when Costco offers gallon-sized jars at reasonable prices, it might seem like a no-brainer. But a Minnesota-based employee told reporters they actively avoid these oversized mayo containers. The problem isn’t the product itself, but rather the impractical size. Even the most dedicated mayo fan would need serious time to work through a gallon before it goes bad.
Unopened mayo can sit in your pantry until the expiration date without issues. But once you crack that seal, the clock starts ticking. You need to refrigerate it and use it within two to three months. Now picture trying to fit a gallon-sized mayo jar in your already crowded fridge. It becomes a game of refrigerator Tetris, rearranging everything else to accommodate this massive container. Other shoppers have noticed similar sizing issues with yogurt buckets and olive oil drums. These products might save money per ounce, but they create storage headaches and often lead to waste when you can’t finish them in time.
The chicken bake packs too many calories
The Costco food court is legendary, and the chicken bake has a devoted following. For less than four bucks, you get a massive portion stuffed with chicken, bacon, cheese, and Caesar dressing, all wrapped in crispy dough and topped with Parmesan. The serving size is big enough to feed two people, which makes it seem like an incredible value. But Christina Polovina, a California-based manager who’s worked at Costco for over a decade, named it as the worst thing you can buy from the food court.
Her reasoning is straightforward: the chicken bake contains over 1,000 calories in a single serving. That’s more than half of what many people should eat in an entire day, all packed into one food court item. Polovina mentioned it’s fine as an occasional treat if you’re into that kind of thing, but definitely not something to eat regularly. When someone who’s seen the inner workings of Costco for years specifically calls out an item, it’s worth taking note. The chicken bake might taste good and seem like a deal, but you’re getting way more than you bargained for in terms of sheer caloric content.
Electronics might not offer the best value
Costco sells everything from laptops to televisions to cameras, often at prices that seem competitive. The warehouse’s return policy is famously generous, which gives shoppers confidence when making big-ticket purchases. But employees have noticed that electronics don’t always represent the best deal, especially when you factor in seasonal sales and online pricing. While Costco’s everyday prices are decent, they rarely beat the deep discounts you’ll find during Black Friday, Prime Day, or back-to-school sales at dedicated electronics retailers.
The other issue is selection. Costco typically carries a limited range of models, focusing on mid-range options that appeal to the broadest audience. If you’re looking for the latest flagship phone or a specialized camera with specific features, you’ll probably need to shop elsewhere anyway. The warehouse model works great for bulk groceries and household items, but electronics require more research and comparison shopping. Employees who’ve watched pricing trends over time know that patience and smart shopping at dedicated electronics stores often leads to better deals than buying from Costco’s limited inventory at slightly above rock-bottom prices.
Books make more sense from other retailers
The book section at Costco features bestsellers and popular titles at discounted prices. You’ll find everything from cookbooks to thrillers to coffee table books about travel destinations. The prices are usually a few dollars cheaper than full retail, which seems like a good reason to toss a book or two in your cart while shopping for groceries. However, employees tend to skip this section when shopping for themselves, and the reasoning comes down to selection and pricing compared to online options.
Costco only stocks titles that appeal to a mass audience, which means you’re not going to find niche topics or older publications. Online retailers offer millions of titles, often at prices that match or beat Costco’s discounts, especially when you factor in free shipping or digital versions. Used book stores and library sales provide even better deals if you don’t need the latest hardcover release. The limited selection at Costco means you’re choosing from whatever happens to be available that week, rather than finding exactly what you want to read. For employees who know the retail landscape, books are better purchased from specialized retailers with deeper inventories and comparable pricing.
Costco employees see the full picture of what works and what doesn’t in their store. They process returns, hear customer complaints, and watch shopping patterns day after day. When these workers consistently avoid certain items in their own shopping carts, it’s worth listening. The warehouse offers great value on many products, but bigger isn’t always better when it comes to strawberries that spoil quickly, bananas that won’t ripen, or packaging that takes over your entire kitchen. Sometimes the best deal is simply buying what you’ll actually use from a store that specializes in that particular item.
