When it’s good, don’t change it.
That’s a thought every shopper has had when a beloved product gets “improved” and ends up worse.
Habits are hard to break. Once we get used to a specific taste, structure, or quality —even the feeling we associate with a product — it’s difficult to adjust when that product changes.
On the other hand, tastes are different, and while one consumer might hate the new product, others might think it’s great.
That’s one of the reasons it’s so hard to be in the retail business. It’s not easy to answer to everybody’s needs, tastes, and wallets.
Currently it’s especially hard, because retailers are dealing with inflationary pressure amid post-pandemic recovery. Small stores and large chains alike face a lot of challenges, including labor shortages and rising interest rates.
Related: Costco quietly limits customer purchases of a beloved product
Costco (COST) is the third-biggest retailer in the United States, based on 2023 worldwide sales of $234.2 billion. It’s behind Amazon (AMZN) with $359.9 billion and Walmart (WMT) with $635.0 billion, according to Capital One Shopping.
Over the past few years, its popularity has surged, driven by products and sales that have gone viral on social media platforms like TikTok.
However, of the roughly 4,000 products Costco typically offers, not all are beloved by shoppers.
Customers share their least-favorite Costco products.
Image source: Tim Boyle/Getty Images
Seven Costco products consumers absolutely hate, according to Reddit
When people are moved by something either in a bad or good way, they often take the time to comment and make sure their opinions are heard.
Some consumers are taking their experiences to Reddit, and either recommending or warning against certain Costco products.
One Reddit user recently asked what seemed to be a key question, as it quickly gained traction, receiving nearly 8,000 comments.
The post reads: “We all obviously love Costco, but what’s one item you will never buy again from there?”
Related: Costco members reject high-end food product
Based on the top-rated replies, here are the most disliked Costco products, in reverse order:
Roli Roti beef broth that has “close to zero flavor,” according to one user. The muffins. One user said the older ones were great, but the newer versions are “kind of bland.”Pad Thai that one user described as “like someone describing it over a string-and-cup telephone while drunk and craving Mexican food.”Chicken breasts, which some users call “woody.”Kirkland toilet paper. One user noted it is “extreme[ly] dusty,” leaving “so much lint in the bathroom.” Desserts. Users mostly complained about the size of them, as a lot of it goes to waste.The 12-pack of hot sauces, which, according to one user, “taste the same and have food coloring in them.”
The comment about the hot sauces resonated with many users, earning 4,400 upvotes, followed by desserts (3,600 likes) and Kirkland toilet paper (3,100 upvotes).
Costco’s marketing strategy and recent milestones
While a traditional supermarket typically stocks more than 30,000 items, Costco’s strategy emphasizes minimalism, which allows it to buy and sell products in large quantities, enabling high inventory turnover and cost savings for members, writes Damotech.
The strategy seems to be working as the retail giant recently revealed second-quarter net sales of $62.53 billion up by 9.1% year over year.
More retail:
Costco announces massive new partnership — and it’s right on timeT-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customersWalmart CEO has a harsh warning for customers
Among recent developments, Costco introduced a new payment option, adding Affirm as a pay-over-time option for some buys.
“Split large purchases into smaller payments. Choose a monthly payment option from Affirm for your online orders of $500 or more,” reads the announcement on the website.
Year to date, Costco stock is up 12.61%, trading at $1,024.50 per share.
Related: Walmart issues urgent message about the alarming cost of food
