15 Sam's Club Bulk Items That Just Aren't Worth the Money

Wholesale retail chains like Sam's Club are great places to score household items and food products at reasonable rates, effectively helping you combat inflation. Though many members are looking to get the most out of their Sam's Club Membership, some items just aren't worth grabbing in bulk, no matter the price or quality.

Skip these 15 items during your next shopping trip to Sam's Club.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: Varies

Unless you are excellent at meal planning regularly or have a large family, buying produce in bulk isn't always the best idea. Plans can pop up unexpectedly and some of that produce will probably go to waste.

With all that in mind, it makes sense that produce is one of the most returned items at Sam's Club.

Price: $4.58/lb

While most items at Sam's Club do perform well against other stores in pricing, ground beef is not one of them.

While each warehouse location charges slightly different prices in their deli section, ground beef at Sam's Club averages $4.18 per pound, while BJ's and Costco average $3.99.

Price: $16.96

If you're on your way to a vacation that will require more sunscreen than usual — or committed to a life of daily sunscreen use — then stocking up at Sam's Club can seem like a great option.

The problem is most sunscreen comes in packages of two and three with the same expiration date, making it difficult for one person to use them all up before then.

Price: $4.52

Very rarely will you find cottage cheese for nine cents per ounce out in the wild, but at Sam's Club, you can grab a whopping 48-ounce tub for under $5.

However, it can be difficult to use all of the cottage cheese by the expiration date, so purchasing smaller tubs might make more sense for most people.

Price: $12.98

If you happen upon a multi-pack of America's favorite soup, you might be inclined to stock up on it, but make sure you do some price comparison first.

Walmart regularly has sales on canned goods like Campbell's soups making them come out to less per can than Sam's Club. Right now, you can grab the same-sized can of soup at Dillon's for $1.

Price: $20.24 (on sale from $26.24)

While this protein shake averages over four stars on the Sam's Club website, many customers have returned this item in particular, and protein drinks in general are one of the top products returned to the warehouse.

Unless you know you trust the brand, flavor, and texture of this specific protein drink, this is one to skip before committing to a bulk purchase.

Price: $17.98

While 72 cents per pound sounds incredible, getting through this much grain in a reasonable amount of time is almost impossible without a large family or a rice-heavy diet.

Walmart's jasmine rice comes in a slightly smaller 20-pound bag that is currently 5.3 cents per pound, and a much smaller two-pound bag is an affordable 11 cents per pound at Target.

Price: $7.98

While the price of five cents per ounce sounds low, loyal customers of this product are displeased with the decreasing quality of this aloe vera hand soap.

One customer laments: "The last [two] bottles I bought, they are definitely watering down the product now" while another admits, "The quality isn't that good."

Price: $7.48

19 cents per ounce seems like a great deal for bulk seasoned salt, but you must be committed to using a spice this size frequently if you want to finish it before it is no longer potent.

To make things worse, this isn't even a deal, as you can grab a similar seasoned salt in a much smaller vessel for 18.5 cents per ounce at Walmart.

Price: Varying

It's ideal to stock up on gift cards when you have the funds. Plus, some retailers like Sam's Club host discounts on multipacks from the same brands. But buying things in bulk that you won't use until later in the year — or possibly even forget about — is usually a bad idea.

Price: $5.98

As handy and versatile as white vinegar can be, you absolutely don't need two gallons of this stuff lying around, especially for as little as is normally used — not to mention the storage space something this size would require.

Price: $39.76

Unless you have a special event or an entire office to feed, then an enormous box of 84 frozen, flaky croissant sandwiches isn't practical. While 47 cents per croissant is a fantastic deal for your wallet, the freezer space to store these would be difficult for most households.

Opt for fresh packs elsewhere, and leave these for specific occasions.

Price: $24.98

Buying batteries in bulk seems like a good idea, but batteries can overheat, freeze, or leak contaminants if they're not stored properly or if they expire.

Instead, buy smaller packs when needed to ensure you get more fresh batteries with a better shelf life.

Price: $6.24

This tzatziki dip has received quite a bit of hate from customers for its jelly-like texture and long ingredients list.

"It's so bad!" balks one shopper. "And it comes by the quart so you're left with so much of it."

Price: Varies

While lotion is a fantastic bulk purchase if you're stocking up for multiple people or purchasing it as a gift, buying giant vats of popular lotions like CeraVe, Vaseline, and Jergen's doesn't make sense for just one or two people.

Once opened, the shelf life of lotion is between six and 12 months, so giant bottles may very well end up in the trash, turning this into a wasteful purchase.

Most bulk purchases will save you money on essentials in the long run. However, it is just as important to keep the expiration date and contents of your item in mind.

Just as you wouldn't want bleach left in a thin plastic tub for too long, some items are better purchased and stored in smaller quantities.