21 Beloved Costco Products That You’ll Never See On The Shelves Again

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Costco would’ve been the perfect place to go shopping in the past. Why’s that? Well, the wholesaler used to offer cups of chocolate and vanilla soft-serve to its customers. But Eat This, Not that! notes that the chocolate flavor was discontinued in 2018 in favor of the acai bowl.

Remember when Costco sold Kirkland Signature Light Beer? A pack of 48 cans would have only set you back by $22, according to MoneyWise. That’s not even 50 cents for each drink! Anyway, it was a product that had both lovers and haters, before the chain eventually dropped it in 2018.

It goes without saying that certain burgers can be pretty unhealthy. Mind you, Kirkland Signature Turkey Burgers were just 200 calories a pop. So of course dieting consumers fell in love with them. Yet that didn’t stop Costco from pulling the product in the end. Not even a Change.org petition could sway the decision!

For over a decade, Costco put out an annual cookbook that commemorated Thanksgiving. And people couldn’t get enough of them. But the chain eventually decided to dump the books in favor of a new idea. Simply put, a feature in the Costco Connection publication took its place: “Farm to Table.” It’s just not the same, is it?

Are you a fan of gelato? If so, you would’ve loved trips to Costco a few years ago. The wholesaler’s food court sold three scoops of the stuff for $1.50, according to MoneyWise. Quarts were under $5 as well. Yet the company opted to remove it from the menu in 2015. What a bummer!

Up until September 2020, Costco sold Chaokoh coconut milk to its customers. Why did the item disappear? Well, PETA brought forward accusations that suggested the milk was coming from “monkey labor.” The Thai business behind the drink rejected the claims, but that didn’t stop the chain from dumping it. You can’t blame them, right?

Kirkland Signature Body Soap was a very popular product at Costco. But there was just one problem: it had an unusually strong smell. In the end, the shops discontinued the soap for that reason. One Reddit user reacted badly, writing, “Seriously, I nearly broke out in tears when I couldn’t find it.” We feel their pain.

How about this for a good deal! There was a time when Costco’s food court offered consumers two large calzones for under $7. And they tasted great, too. But these delicious dishes were dropped some years ago because they weren’t profitable enough for the company.

During their pomp, the Kirkland Signature Five-Pocket Jeans were the go-to option for plenty of Costco customers. They weren’t referred to as “dad jeans” for nothing! Anyway, the chain surprisingly dumped them in 2016 – later bringing the pants back with a new design. That ultimately caused a backlash, though, and now they’re gone for good.

Before 2011 Costco had a huge variety of fish on its shelves. Yes, you could buy anything from bluefin tuna to Atlantic cod. But that all came to an end thanks to Greenpeace. The organization encouraged Costco to take up a new approach that would help endangered sea creatures. It’s still in effect today, with certain salmon products discontinued in 2019.

If you’re a lover of cheese, then Costco has you well covered. Then again, one product in particular made a real impact prior to being pulled. We’re referring to Kirkland Signature French Comté. This item was absolutely delicious, and its powerful taste left you wanting more. So it’s too bad that the wholesaler doesn’t stock it today.

While Roundup might’ve been beloved in the past, that quickly changed in 2019 when Costco discontinued the weed-killer. What factors led to this decision? Well, the chain faced legal trouble for the product’s alleged cancerous effects, and a Change.org campaign to dump it reached over 90,000 signatures. Makes sense, wouldn’t you say?

Can you name anything more mouth-watering than a chocolate-dipped ice cream bar? We certainly can’t! The food court at Costco used to sell these beauties for just $1.50, according to Eat This, Not That! But in 2013 the product was pulled. Rumors suggest that dairy and almond costs got out of hand at that time.

Finding a truly delicious protein bar isn’t as easy as you’d think. Yet Costco seemingly had the answer with the Kirkland Signature Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars. These things were genuinely moreish – beating other brands with ease. Sadly, though, you can’t get them anymore.

Wondering where Costco’s half-sheet cakes have gone? To answer that, the wholesaler shared an announcement with USA Today in July 2020. It said, “Currently we’re not selling [the product] at any U.S. locations and as of right now, we have no immediate plans to bring [it] back. We’re focusing on our smaller chocolate cakes that seem to be resonating with our members.”

The Kirkland Signature Trek Mix was quite the product when Costco sold it. For just under $8, you could get your hands on a bag full of tasty goodness. It contained stuff like chocolate chips, almonds, cranberries and pumpkin seeds. Sounds ideal, right? But the item isn’t around today – several alternatives have taken its place.

Want an idea of how beloved certain Costco items can become? Well, get a load of this. The wholesaler caused quite the stir when Kirkland Signature’s frozen four-cheese ravioli products were discontinued. Customers were so unhappy that they took to Facebook to ask for them back. And one user even volunteered to finance their return himself!

In truth, some of you might’ve been unaware that Costco’s food court sold BBQ beef brisket sandwiches in the past. That’s because you could only get them in certain shops. But take it from us: this hulking tower of meat, barbecue sauce and coleslaw was absolutely delicious. It eventually made way for healthy options on the menu, though.

To say that Costco’s All-American Chocolate Cake was big would be an understatement. MoneyWise notes that this monster – which cost under $17 – clocked the scales at 7 pounds and contained close to 13,000 calories. No, that’s not a typo: it was massive! People naturally noticed when the chain discontinued it in 2019 – especially because no reasons were given as to why.

If you like buying your cheese in bulk, Costco once had the perfect product for you. The Kirkland Signature American Cheese items used to be sold in packs weighing five pounds. That’s 120 slices! You’d be set for a while. They also tasted great. Sadly, though, the shops stopped selling it in favor of Kraft Singles.

We don’t know about you, but we’re struggling to name a more delicious item at Costco’s food court than the discontinued Polish dog. These incredible items were hard to beat in their day. Yet that didn’t stop the wholesaler from pulling them in 2018 for healthier alternatives. People were furious, and a “SaveThePolishDog” hashtag emerged to try and save the product. Alas, it didn’t work.

We know. Why did Costco choose to get rid of these products when some more questionable items can still be found on the shelves? Yep, if you’re not clued up on what’s hot and what’s not, read on to avoid making any purchases you’ll probably regret.

Costco’s laundry detergent can be sold in massive quantities, but shopping specialist Rebecca Gramuglia explained to GOBankingRates why that’s not always a good thing. “Before you’re tempted to buy a year’s supply of detergent from Costco,” she said, “be warned that it typically loses some of its effectiveness after six months. Instead, get a normal-sized container of your favorite detergent at Walmart for a great price.”

Despite the fact that Costco has a good spice selection, they should apparently be avoided. The condiments are sold in massive containers there, you see, and according to Discover Lifestyle, they supposedly start to lose their potency quite quickly after being opened.

When discussing the Signateur gas grill on the Costco subreddit, one user wrote, “Do not buy this grill if you like to get a sear/char on your meats. I’ve had this [product] for a little less than a month, and I’m terribly disappointed by the lack of heat it applies to the food. It doesn’t get hot enough to sear a steak without cooking the meat all the way.”

Toothpaste is essential if you want to maintain your oral health, but Costco apparently isn’t the best place to get it. Discover Lifestyle noted that five boxes together would set you back by just under $10. Interestingly, though, the website claimed that consumers would be able to find better offers elsewhere.

The Kirkland brand has its own light beer range, but some customers have been less than impressed with the beverage. A user on the Beer Advocate website even went as far to say, “[It] tastes worse than pretty much any light or ice beer I’ve ever had.”

On the subject of cans, shopping expert Rebecca Gramuglia told GOBankingRates, “Because Costco sells brand-name items, it’s cheaper to buy canned goods at your local supermarket. Pay less by purchasing generic options rather than name-brand products. More often than not, the difference is just the price tag, and generic products are just as tasty or reliable as notable, name brands.”

Soap and shampoo can set you back by a quite a bit over the year – especially if you go for famous brands. So, Costco could seem like the ideal place to stock up and save a bit of cash. According to Discover Lifestyle, however, customers have said that different shops had better offers on than the wholesaler.

For those of you who love a spot of baking, you should probably resist the urge to stock up on the products you need at Costco. That’s because even though items such as flour, dried yeast and baking powder can be bought in large quantities, you probably won’t finish them before they go off, according to the Eat This, Not That! website.

Costco might seem like the ideal place to buy soda in bulk. Discover Lifestyle noted that 35 cans of Dr. Pepper could be purchased for under $10, for instance. But Reader’s Digest, on the other hand, revealed that other stores had better offers on individual products – meaning you’d get them for less.

Rice is another product that people generally like to buy in large amounts. But Costco might not be the best place to stock up. Indeed, a YouTuber named Flo Lum stated that she’d splashed out $40 on a 25-pound container of Jasmine rice at the warehouse. That was apparently $26 more than what the nearby street vendor had charged.

No kitchen would be complete without some mustard or ketchup on the shelf. However, Stephanie Nelson – who’s better known as The Coupon Mom – believes that Costco’s sauce bottles are far too large. She told GOBankingRates, “Unless you’re entertaining, pay a lower cost overall by buying sale-priced condiments at the supermarket, with coupons that are frequently available on these items.”

Anyone browsing around Costco for ground coffee may be tempted by a big bag of Kirkland’s own brand. But Discover Lifestyle has offered a few words of caution: apparently, the contents become less tasty when the seal’s broken.

In terms of taste, Costco’s milk can’t be faulted. Unfortunately, though, customers can only purchase the dairy product in bulk, and Business Insider reports that two-gallon jugs are the minimum.

When it comes to tortilla chips, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better offer than the one at Costco. Indeed, Business Insider claims that you can grab a 5-pound pack of Las Fortunitas Tortilla Chips for less than $6. But the quantity is also a detriment, as people will probably struggle to eat them all before they go stale.

You can buy a number of different books at Costco, though consumer analyst for DealNews.com Julie Ramhold offered an alternative. She told GOBankingRates, “Costco stores can have an okay selection, but you’ll be able to find exactly what you want at Amazon. Even better, opt to support a local indie bookstore - you tend to receive better customer service and you’re supporting [a] local [business], so it’s a win-win.”

Name-brand clothes can cost a pretty penny at specialist stores on the high street. But you should err on the side of caution if you see any of those garments in Costco. According to Business Insider, there’s a possibility that they won’t be in perfect condition, you see.

Much like other items, Costco has been known to sell sunscreen in large quantities. Discover Lifestyle reports that the wholesaler offered a pack of three lotions for just $15.99 at one point. Yet due to the use-by date, it’s unlikely that you’ll finish the bottles before needing to throw them out.

Naturally, finding a good-quality pack of decently priced razors can be quite challenging. In Costco’s case, a box of 14 is valued at $23 – or $1.64 for every razor. Walmart has that figure beat, with GOBankingRates reporting that 12 Gillette-branded shavers cost just over $12 there. And that comes to just $1.05 individually.

Ex-CouponSherpa savings expert Kendal Perez believes that you’d be better off avoiding Costco if you’re looking to buy a frozen turkey. Instead, she cited a better deal. Perez told GOBankingRates, “I purchased a 14-pound Kroger brand turkey from King Soopers for 69 cents per pound, compared to Costco’s price of 99 cents per pound for Butterball frozen turkeys.”

While buying lots of fresh food from Costco might seem like a good idea at first, consumer analyst Julie Ramhold advised against it. She informed GOBankingRates, “Unless you’re going to be able to eat it all fairly soon, you run the risk of it going bad. Maybe skip the bulk buy and opt for your local grocery store instead to buy only what you need.”