Are Costco's bargain-priced products and services really all that?
Maybe so, maybe no.
We've gotten to the bottom of the warehouse stores cheapest offerings, and broken down
whether or not they're worth putting on your Costco list and picking up the next time you're
there.
There are a ton of different kinds of olive oil on the market, and one of the most popular
olive oils around is sold by Costco under its Kirkland label.
Not only is Kirkland Signature extra virgin olive oil priced fairly low, but it also gets
rave reviews for its taste.
In fact, there is actual scientific evidence corroborating Kirkland Signature's oil quality:
A 2010 report released by the University of California-Davis found that Kirkland oil was
the only one of 19 extra virgin olive oils tested that met taste standards set by the
International Olive Council and United States Department of Agriculture.
What's more, Kirkland organic extra virgin olive oil even got a shout-out from celebrity
chef Samin Nosrat, who declared it to be her favorite olive oil for everyday use.
Have a party to organize?
Wondering how you're going to feed a few dozen cake-loving kids without breaking the bank?
Costco has you covered.
Yes, their cakes are basic and yes, they only come in two flavors.
None of your trendy elderflower/lemon, champagne/strawberry, or passionfruit/guava flavor combos at Costco,
here you get chocolate or vanilla, straight up.
But, what these cakes lack in flavor variety, they make up in size, weighing in at a whopping
9.5 pounds.
Costco is sure to note that the industry standard is only 6 pounds, so it really is a monster
cake that you can always buy plain and dress up any way you'd like.
Two pounds of that is filling, vanilla cheesecake for the vanilla cake, and chocolate truffle
mousse for the chocolate.
Needless to say, when it comes to cost, Costco blows competitors out of the water.
One average half sheet cake from Costco is about the same price as a quarter sheet cake
from Walmart.
You might not think of making a special trip to Costco just to check out their cheese selection,
but maybe you should, especially if you stay away from the more unusual types while you're
at a more traditional grocery store.
Cheese can be expensive, after all, but Costco has you covered, with everything from sampler
packs to some seriously delicious parmesan crisps.
Should you wish to branch out and explore different types of cheese, you can do that,
too; they carry a wide variety and it won't break the bank.
Bonus?
Even if you're forced to buy in bulk to get a deal, most cheese is easy to freeze.
And there's good news for cheese-loving brides: Costco also sells a bargain-priced 24-pound
wedding cake made entirely of cheese, too.
At $440 it is a pretty great deal for a whole wedding cake.
Go ahead, be different!
One thing Costco is justifiably famous for is its $4.99 rotisserie chicken.
Ummm, not such a big deal, you say?
You may have seen rotisserie chickens for sale for $5 and under elsewhere, but at Costco,
you're getting at least 3 pounds of chicken, while those other retailers' birds tend to
come in at 2 pounds or less.
Costco CFO Richard Galanti was interviewed by The Seattle Times in 2015, and he admittted
that the chicken sales have been driving a lot of foot traffic.
87 million chickens were sold in 2017, and what's the likelihood that any of those chicken
shoppers walked out without buying anything else?
Exactly.
"Three words for you: treat yo self."
When it comes to name brands, Costco does typically beat the prices at your local discount
Boozemart.
Where the real bargains are to be found, though, is with Costco's Kirkland Signature-branded
wines and spirits and, as it turns out, these may be pretty darn good.
Tastings, the website of the Beverage Testing Institute, has rated 17 different Kirkland
Signature wines and five different spirits as Gold Medal Exceptional at 90+ points.
What's more, Vice interviewed a number of bartenders who all claimed a secret (or not-so-secret)
passion for Costco-branded booze, one even advising the readers to, quote, "...take off
your pants and pour yourself a tall glass" of the stuff.
Umm, okay, but please close the curtains before you do the pants thing, okay?
We don't need to see those Costco Kirkland undies on display.
Actual, real-deal maple syrup tends to cost quite a lot, and it's Costco to the rescue.
When Consumer Reports tested eight different brands of dark maple syrup, they chose Kirkland
Signature organic maple syrup to be among their top picks, despite the fact that it
was significantly lower-priced than the other brands.
But how does this syrup taste, you might ask?
Consumer Reports describes it like this:
"Clean [and] complex...with caramelized, slight vanilla, woody flavors, roasted/toasted notes
and a hint of molasses."
So there you go.
It's good stuff, and just what your pancakes, waffles, and ice cream call for.
Load up, enjoy, and don't worry about the price tag.
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