One of the risks of selling at a discount is that the warehouse company will source goods at the lowest possible price. They may receive low-quality products as a result of the process. This is why certain goods and items should never be buy at Costco.
The farm produces and perishable food items.
Most farm produce has a short life span, and if it is not consumed early enough, it gets spoilt. It is not advisable to purchase such items in large quantities. There are also food items that are perishable, such as vegetables. If such food items were purchased in bulk, they would rot.
Things to avoid buy at Costco
1.Food seasonings.
Seasonings are not advisable to be bought in bulk. This again doesn’t mean that the products are substandard but buying in a quantity that you won’t be needing is equal to a waste of resources because most of them would have expired when you will need them.
Body care and Hygiene items.
Body care items such as soap, toothpaste, and the likes can fall into two categories of danger; the first is of being substandard while the second is the items losing their effectiveness as the day passes by. To make sure your body care items stay useful is by buying the ones you can finish early.
Baking powder and flour.
They both share a similar shelf life of one year before use at all but once you start using them you would have exposed them to a temperature that would gradually be speeding up their expiry or decomposition.
Wheels and Tires.
One of the major disadvantages of stores not selling specialized products is the opportunity to thoroughly scrutinize the standard of what they are selling. Tires and wheels are good examples of products that you should avoid buying at Costco. If you take the time to do a comparative analysis between Costco’s price and that of other specialized stores you will discover that you are not enjoying the best deal possible as you might even be overpaying for a good that might not be top-notch.
Medicinal Drugs.
These kinds of drugs are supposed to be bought according to prescriptions by doctors and hence it’s not wise to buy in bulk except if you want to go and resell. Some ailments and illnesses can be treated quickly with a short dosage which might not even warrant the huge purchase. Buying them at a local pharmacy is a better alternative.
Electronic Items
Electronics on sale at Costco always appear to be a good deal until you notice flaws in some of the electronics. One of the most common flaws is missing functions, so before you buy those items at a seemingly low price, take another look at them.
School and Office Supplies
Even though these kinds of items do not expire, Costco may not be the ideal place to look for discounts on school and office supplies because they are quite expensive. There are other available stores where you can get a bargain for your money.
Oil
Oils can last for a long time if they aren’t opened, but once they are, their shelf life is limited. Regular cooks who use a little oil at a time should avoid buy oil, especially olive oil at Costco. Chances are that when you are ready to use the whole quantity that you bought they might no longer be useful.
Tips to avoid unprofitable goods at Costco
Compare the prices of the items you want to buy at other stores or using relevant apps.
Do well to check for people’s comments about items at Costco.
Avoid buying perishable food, condiments, and seasonings at Costco. Go to a grocery store instead to purchase these items.
If you are not a retailer and you don’t have a large crowd to take care of, avoid buying in bulk. You can schedule yourself to buy what you will need for a week or two in most cases
Know the brand of the goods you intend to purchase. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with any item before purchasing it. If you can’t identify the original, you won’t be able to spot a fake.
Make a list of the items you intend to purchase. Costco’s aisles are usually set up in such a way that you will be enticed. You will find great deals on a variety of items. A list with the exact quantity that you want will assist you in purchasing a moderate quantity.
Conclusion.
Costco has always been striving to stay true to its goal of selling goods at discounted prices to its partnering members. However, in a bid to uphold this, they source goods at a relatively cheap price, which could mean that some of the goods might not be standard enough and might even have a short shelf life, while purchasing in large quantities would mean that they have to sell. This is why it is good to shop wisely while trying to save some money for yourself as a shopper.
Why are customers discouraged from purchasing Kirkland’s products at Costco?Answer: The sizes of the goods are one of the reasons and for toiletries, the products are not quality-enough. Why are vegetables and fruits to be avoided at Costco?Answer: They are perishable because they are sold in large quantities. They would waste eventually so its better to get the quantity you need at a groceries
