Customer Gripes Over 7 Costco Products Currently Causing Unrest Among Shoppers
Costco, the popular wholesale retailer, is no stranger to customer complaints and legal challenges regarding the quality of some of its products. Here's a roundup of the items that have been under the microscope.
1. **Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue**: Many Costco customers have voiced their dissatisfaction with the quality of Kirkland's toilet paper. Complaints range from the tissue being dusty and ineffective to lint and poor performance. As a result, some shoppers have switched to other brands like Charmin.
2. **Kirkland Signature Chicken Thighs**: Bulk packs of chicken thighs have been criticized for being excessively fatty and tasting "gamey." Some customers prefer buying fresh chicken from other stores instead.
3. **Kirkland Signature Batteries**: These batteries have been called into question for leaking and corroding quickly, leading some to consider them inferior to other budget options.
4. **Kirkland Athletic Wear**: Costco is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Lululemon over allegations of design and trademark infringement. Lululemon claims that Costco's Kirkland brand has copied popular designs such as Scuba hoodies, Define jackets, and ABC pants. The lawsuit argues that these copies cause consumer confusion and infringe on Lululemon's intellectual property.
5. **Fresh Cucumbers**: Multiple shoppers have expressed disappointment with the fresh cucumbers from Costco, stating they spoil almost immediately.
6. **Japanese-Style Kewpie Mayonnaise**: Although the mayonnaise is available in many regular grocery stores, some shoppers claim that the Costco version does not taste as good as the original Japanese version.
7. **Michelin Guardian+ Beam Wiper Blades**: These wiper blades, sold at Costco, have been criticized for their short lifespan and poor performance compared to other brands like Bosch. One shopper reported that the blades squeak and get streaky very quickly.
8. **Kirkland Signature Burnt Ends Beef Brisket**: Shoppers have described this product as terrible and inedible.
In response to these complaints, Costco has made changes to some of its products, such as the Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue, which has seen a new formula. However, it seems that the retail giant still has some areas to improve upon to meet the expectations of its customers.
[1] https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2020/08/costco-kirkland-signature-products-that-are-worth-the-money/index.htm [2] https://www.businessinsider.com/lululemon-sues-costco-over-kirkland-athletic-wear-2021-6 [3] https://www.cnet.com/news/costco-recalls-anker-kenu-samsung-products-due-to-fire-risk/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-court-documents-show-lululemon-faces-costco-over-alleged-trademark-infringement-2021-06-16/
- Costco customers have also shared concerns about the quality of some of their food-and-drink items, particularly the Kirkland Signature Japanese-Style Kewpie Mayonnaise, which has been claimed to not taste as good as the original Japanese version.
- To further enhance their lifestyle offerings, Costco may consider focusing on improving the quality of home-and-garden products, such as their Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue, which has faced criticism for poor performance.
