These overrated Kirkland items are a hard pass for The Price Makers!
Costco is renowned for its savings deals and wide range of products, a veritable wonderland for bargain hunters and families looking to stock up. But the Kirkland Signature brand constantly gets our special attention, and for good reason. For decades, this in-house label has built a powerful reputation, offering quality that is often directly comparable to leading national brands, and frequently at a significant fraction of the cost. It’s a brand built on trust and value.
However, that hard-earned trust can sometimes lead us astray, causing us to fill our oversized carts on autopilot. That being said, with some Kirkland goods, you’re better off going to another store if you want to save on everyday essentials. Being a smart shopper means knowing when a deal isn’t really a deal. Your local grocery store, or even competitors like Walmart and Target, may have a better price on the name-brand version, especially when sales and coupons are factored in. And hey… we get it! There’s no shame in skipping a “bargain” that doesn’t serve you.
It’s incredibly easy to be lured by the sheer volume of product and the seemingly unbeatable low prices that define the Costco shopping experience. But it’s also vitally important to consider the hidden factors: the actual quality of the product, the potential for food waste if you can’t use it all, and whether or not you really need that item in the first place. A giant tub of something you dislike is not a bargain, no matter how low the price.
From the pantry to the laundry room, some products under the Kirkland banner seem to be missing the mark regarding either their value proposition or their fundamental quality. It’s a classic case of getting what you pay for, or sometimes, even less. So, on that note, let’s dive into the details. Here are 9 overrated Kirkland items that are not worth the hype, the cart space, or your hard-earned cash at Costco.
Overrated Kirkland item: Plastic Wrap
A good buy on plastic wrap, especially a massive roll that promises to last for years, may seem like a huge win for any kitchen. But that victory is short-lived if using the product turns out to be more frustrating than helpful. While the plastic wrap offered by Kirkland is undeniably affordable, it has some significant design and usability problems that make it a poor value in our eyes.
The primary issue, echoed by countless shoppers online, is that it gets stuck quite a bit inside its own box. The dispenser design is simply not up to par. This means you often have to wrestle with it, take the entire heavy roll out of the box, find the edge, extend it yourself, and then try to cut it off cleanly. This can be very time-consuming and, quite frankly, intensely annoying when you’re in the middle of prepping food.
It might sound like we’re splitting hairs over a simple kitchen staple, but when a product fails at its basic function, it’s a problem. We hear the Kroger brand is much better and easier to use, as are established names like Glad or Saran Wrap. One shopper said the Kirkland Signature Plastic Wrap is also hard to cut, as the built-in cutter strip seems to dull quickly or is poorly positioned, which just adds another layer of frustration to the whole ordeal. Sometimes, paying a little more for a product that works seamlessly is the real bargain.
Overrated Kirkland item: Chocolate Chips
For any home baker, the quality of your ingredients is paramount. A truly great chocolate chip, one with a rich, complex taste and the perfect amount of meltiness, can make a monumental difference in the final taste of your homemade baked goods. This is precisely why you should politely pass on the Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chips during your next Costco run.
Unfortunately, they don’t even come close to meeting the expectations of discerning bakers. Many shoppers claim they have a weak, one-dimensional chocolate flavor that tastes disappointingly artificial, lacking the depth of real cocoa. Furthermore, a common and critical complaint is that the chips don’t melt properly when baking brownies or cookies. They tend to hold their shape, resulting in a waxy, firm texture rather than the gooey, decadent pockets of melted chocolate every baker desires.
So, this is one of those times we think it’s far better to spend a little extra on trusted brands like Nestle Toll House for reliability or Ghirardelli for a truly gourmet quality. The difference in taste and texture is worth every penny. Underscoring these issues, one shopper even said that the Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chips have an “oddly fruity odor and taste,” which is a major red flag for a product that should taste purely of rich cocoa.
Overrated Kirkland item: Detergent
The sheer size of a Kirkland Signature laundry detergent jug is impressive, and the cost per load seems unbeatable. However, unless you’re doing endless loads of laundry for a very large family, you should probably avoid buying detergent in such massive bulk quantities. According to cleaning experts, liquid detergents only possess their peak cleaning power for about six months to a year after opening, as the active enzymes and surfactants begin to break down and lose effectiveness.
Also, savvy shoppers know that other stores tend to have more frequent and aggressive coupons and deals for name-brand detergent than this warehouse club. By stacking a manufacturer’s coupon with a store sale at a regular grocery or drug store, it’s often possible to get a better deal on brands like Tide or Persil. One diligent shopper found a detergent deal that equaled $0.03 per load compared to Kirkland’s already low $0.115 per load. This proves that a smaller bottle at a steeper discount can be the smarter buy.
The laundry aisle isn’t the only place to be wary. The Kirkland Signature Gel dishwashing detergent is also a minor miss, as it has a poor overall score in Consumer Reports testing. Many users complain about it leaving a cloudy film and residue on glassware, forcing them to re-wash dishes, which completely negates the convenience and savings.
Overrated Kirkland item: Frozen Vegetables
Having a bag of frozen veggies in the freezer can be a significant timesaver and a nutritional lifesaver when you’re cooking in the kitchen on a busy weeknight. But depending on which brand you buy, they can also be a huge hit or a mushy miss. In the case of Kirkland’s Normandy-style vegetable blend and other offerings, many customers report they’re definitely a miss.
One reader told us that the produce inside the bag seemed consistently low quality, and many batches she tried were unpleasantly mushy and waterlogged when cooked, regardless of the preparation method. She also stated that the flavors were bland and the textures were generally off-putting, a far cry from the crisp-tender ideal. It’s a common sentiment that many folks prefer the consistency and flavor of frozen vegetables from established brands like Green Giant or Birds Eye, which seem to have a better flash-freezing process that preserves the integrity of the vegetables.
Overrated Kirkland item: Protein Bars
Protein bars can get notoriously expensive, and they can take a massive bite out of your monthly budget if you consume them regularly for post-workout fuel or as a meal replacement. So we completely get why the well-priced, multi-pack boxes of Kirkland protein bars can be so tempting. But trust us… they’re not worth the supposed savings for most people.
In this case, the Kirkland brand has a very limited choice of flavors, typically just a couple of chocolate-based options. According to many consumers, the taste is just “off.” Complaints frequently mention a chalky texture and a strong, lingering artificial sweetener aftertaste that many find unpleasant. You’ll find a much better selection of brands and flavors at a store like Publix or even online, just at undiscounted prices. But if you eat protein bars regularly, paying more for one that you actually enjoy eating is absolutely worth it.
Dozens of Reddit users agree that Kirkland Signature Protein Bars are not worth it, with threads popping up regularly to critique them. The texture is a common point of contention. One shopper even said that they’ve bought dozens of boxes of these bars over the years and now have to microwave them for about 10 seconds before eating. Why? Because otherwise, they’re so hard and dense that they’re practically inedible and a challenge to your dental work. That’s a hassle no one needs from a convenience food.
Overrated Kirkland item: Paper Towels
If you used to be a loyal fan of Kirkland paper towels but haven’t purchased them in a while, you should know that many long-time buyers feel the quality has changed for the worse. And if you’re a fan of premium, highly absorbent paper towels that can tackle big spills, the Kirkland Signature variety may not be up to your standards anymore. It seems to be a classic case of “shrinkflation” in quality, not just quantity.
Most shoppers who have noticed the decline say that they’re now thinner and flimsier than they used to be, which means they’ll allow moisture and grease to soak through to your hands and countertops fast. This leads to using more towels per cleanup, negating the bulk savings. They also mentioned a frustrating amount of lint residue being left behind after wiping down surfaces, especially glass and mirrors, with Kirkland paper towels.
Ultimately, it’s a false economy if you have to use two or three sheets to do the job of one premium towel. We recommend saving yourself the hassle and spending a bit more for the reliable absorbency and durability of a brand like Brawny or Bounty. When it comes to cleaning up tough messes, you want a tool that works, not one that falls apart.
Overrated Kirkland item: Salad Dressing
Buying your salad dressing in bulk can be a clever move to save some extra cash, but only if you eat a lot of salads and, more importantly, you love the dressing. Unfortunately, according to one shopping expert we follow, Kirkland salad dressings miss the mark… by a lot! The consensus seems to be that Kirkland salad dressing, as a whole, isn’t all that great in the flavor department.
Many find that there’s not much vibrant taste to be enjoyed, with flavors often described as bland or generic. If you ever pause to look at the ingredient label, you might see why. They’re often packed with preservatives, additives, gums, and high-fructose corn syrup, probably to extend the shelf life and keep costs down. This can result in a less-than-fresh taste compared to other brands.
Our readers and other online communities say you may have much better success with the salad dressings at Aldi. Apparently, their Specially Selected and Simply Nature lines are much higher quality, often with cleaner ingredient lists, and offer a better price-to-quality ratio than the Kirkland salad dressings at Costco. Plus, buying a giant bottle of dressing you’re not thrilled with is a recipe for “flavor fatigue” and, eventually, waste.
Overrated Kirkland item: Vitamins
Costly routine purchases like daily vitamins need to be worth it, not just in price but in efficacy. Still, according to a lifestyle expert and frequent Costco shopper, the warehouse club’s house brand vitamins simply don’t measure up when you look closely. It’s an area where quality really matters for your health.
And upon further investigation, we discovered that Kirkland Signature Vitamins often contain lower quality, less bioavailable ingredients than some name brands after comparing labels. For example, they might use a form of a mineral or vitamin that the body has a harder time absorbing, making them less effective. Also, a concerning number of people have complained of experiencing nausea and stomach pains when they took them, which is a dealbreaker for a daily supplement.
That’s why it might be better for your health and peace of mind to spend a bit more on a respected vitamin brand that is third-party tested and uses high-quality ingredients. There’s another specific issue to be aware of: one consumer told us that they bought the Costco adult gummy vitamins and found them melted and stuck together in one big, unusable chunk inside the bottle. A few other customers chimed in with the exact same frustrating experience, rendering their purchase useless.
So if you regularly take vitamins and prefer the gummy versions for their taste and convenience, we strongly recommend skipping this overrated Kirkland item and going with THIS option from Amazon instead. It’s better to get a product you can actually use.
Overrated Kirkland item: Rice
Here’s a hot tip you might not have known if you don’t have one nearby: You can almost always find better deals for rice at ethnic supermarkets. For pantry staples like jasmine, basmati, or other long-grain rice, these stores are specialists. You’ll likely see a 25-pound bag of high-quality rice for around 15 bucks at your neighborhood Asian or Indian grocery store. That’s roughly 35% less than the typical Costco price of $40 for a similar-sized bag of their jasmine rice.
In addition to the significant price discrepancy, there’s another reason to be cautious about buying rice in such massive quantities. Rice and other whole grains contain natural oils that adhere to the grain, especially in brown rice where the bran layer is intact. Over time, these oils can oxidize and cause the grain to go rancid much faster than you might think. This results in an unpleasant, chemical-like smell and taste, forcing you to throw the rest of the bag out. Unless you have a large family that consumes rice daily, a smaller bag from another store is both cheaper and safer.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, the next time you navigate the sprawling aisles of Costco, think carefully before automatically reaching for any of the Kirkland Signature items we mentioned in this post. The key to truly maximizing your savings is to be a discerning and informed shopper. Even though many products from this beloved brand offer fantastic quality and unbeatable savings, some items simply aren’t worth it due to issues with quality, taste, or practicality.
And due to the signature bulk-size quantities the warehouse club is known for, a bad purchase is a really big bad purchase. You could not only waste money but also a significant amount of product if you don’t end up liking the item. A small bottle of bad salad dressing is an annoyance; a gigantic one is a pantry-clogging monument to a poor shopping decision.
That being said, everyone has their own opinion, and shopping is deeply personal. Tastes, household sizes, and budgets vary wildly. Someone else may have a more favorable opinion of what one person doesn’t want or think is worth grabbing. They may even go so far as to say that the Kirkland protein bars are a must-have for their routine when they shop at Costco, and that’s perfectly fine! The goal isn’t to be “right,” but to be thoughtful.
So, what are your thoughts on the matter? We love hearing from our community of savvy shoppers. What are the MUST-BUY Kirkland staples on your list that we’d be crazy to miss? And which overrated Kirkland items do you think we should all stay away from? Are there any on our list that you’d defend? Please feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
And if you liked this article on overrated Kirkland items and enjoy saving money with smart tips, we highly recommend you also read: 6 Best Grocery Delivery Services to Use RIGHT NOW!
