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10 Overpriced Kirkland Products Not Worth Your Money (Or Time)

From deli meat to chicken salad, these are the things Kirkland is missing the mark on.

sign and brand logo of costco
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
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Costco’s in-house brand, Kirkland, can help you unlock the true value of your membership with lower prices on popular bulk items. But how are you supposed to know which ones are actually good?

Let’s be honest: not every product is a winner. Luckily, we scoured Reddit to find out which overpriced Kirkland products just aren’t worth your hard-earned money.

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Kirkland Signature Caesar Salad

Courtesy of Instacart Caesar-Salad

The Kirkland Signature Caesar Salad has received a lot of hate online. People say the greens in the salad are often wet or soggy in texture, or the consistency of the chicken is off.

Complains one Redditor: “WAY too much lettuce, ingredients are basic and not flavorful. No spice packet. And the dressing is just plain bad. Don’t think I’ll get another one.”

Kirkland Signature Blue Dishwashing Liquid

Courtesy of Costco Blue Dishwashing Liquid

Kirkland’s signature blue dish soap is another skip. The formula is way more runny than other soaps, and it doesn’t seem to cleanse well.

According to one frustrated Reddit user, the dish soap “doesn't cut grease as well, and I end up using more of it per wash, so the ‘savings’ are moot.”

Kirkland Signature Sliced Turkey Breast 3-Pack

Courtesy of Costco Sliced Turkey Meat 3 Pack

Many people find Kirkland's pre-packaged deli meat to be a hard pass because of its weird texture and taste.

One concerned Redditor describes the turkey as “slimey” and says it “tastes gross.”

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Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean HE Laundry Detergent Pacs

Courtesy of Costco Laundry Detergent Pacs

Kirkland’s detergent pacs are not the internet’s favorite way to clean clothes. They even argue that these pods leave a detectable film on clothing, which kind of defeats the point of any savings.

“They don't dissolve well at all and keep staining my clothes blue!” shares one Redditor.

Kirkland Signature Batteries

Courtesy of Costco Double A Batteries

Kirkland brand batteries have a bad track record. One Redditor said, “They always leak for me or die quickly.”

If you’re stockpiling batteries, it may be better to go for the brand name instead.

Kirkland Signature Protein Bars

Courtesy of Costco Protein Bars

The brand’s signature protein bars are a definite no-go. At one point, the cookies and cream flavor was recalled, and the dense texture and chalkiness make them a chore to eat.

“Kirkland protein bars are inedible,” admits one Redditor. “I don’t understand who could possibly choke those down.”

Kirkland Signature Chicken Salad

Courtesy of Instacart Chicken Salad

Kirkland used to be known for crafting an incredibly tasty, high-quality, grab-and-go chicken salad—but not anymore.

Rants one Redditor: “Nowadays it tastes like somebody walked by and knocked a salt shaker into it. No flavor except straight salt.”

Kirkland Signature Moisture Conditioner

Courtesy of Costco Moisture Conditioner

Kirkland’s house conditioner used to be a highly-praised, underrated internet darling in the beauty world. In recent years, the formula has been switched up, and not for the good.

The newer product is drying, has zero slip, and has made some consumers’ hair feel heavier post-shower, making this new version one to pass on.

Kirkland Signature Facial Tissue

Courtesy of Costco Facial Tissue

Redditors think the quality of Kirkland tissue is fine. They even like the box designs. They just hate the box's functionality.

“Their small cube boxes of tissues annoy the living daylights out of me,” complains one user. “The tissue conga line constantly stops and you have to reach in and fix it.”

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Kirkland Signature Bar Soap

Courtesy of Costco Bar Soap

According to Costco shoppers on the internet, Kirkland’s Signature Bar Soap has never stood up to its competitors.

Says one Redditor, “I tried it once [because] it looked similar to [Dove] soap with lotion and it dried my skin out. My eczema flared,” while another flat out admitted they’ll never purchase it again.

Bottom line

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Most of the time, stocking up at a big box store like Costco or Sam’s Club can be a smart way to save money. But not all of the time.

Luckily, you don’t have to try every Kirkland Signature product to know which ones aren’t worth your time or money.

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Author Details

Meredith Schneider

Meredith Schneider is a writer, editor, and marketing professional with over a decade of experience across multiple industries. As a creative entrepreneur, she is always on the lookout for money-saving hacks to support her single-income household. Meredith is dedicated to finding high-quality products at affordable prices to elevate her life and those around her.