3 Surprising Things About Costco's Kirkland Products
New to Costco? Here are some things to know about its signature brand.
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If you're new to shopping at Costco, you may find yourself wondering why you keep seeing the Kirkland label on so many products. Kirkland is Costco's signature brand, and buying the Kirkland version of whatever it is you're getting will often mean getting to spend less.
If you're a seasoned Costco shopper, you may be familiar with a host of Kirkland products. But here are some things that may surprise you.
1. They cover a huge array of categories
It's not just baked goods and snack items you'll find the Kirkland name on. The Kirkland brand probably covers more product categories than you imagined, from vitamins to batteries to baby wipes.
You'll even find the Kirkland name on sneakers and apparel, as well as pet beds and supplies. Kirkland also makes its own signature sangria, though it's not available in Costco stores that don't sell alcohol.
2. They're generally super high in quality
Store brands are often thought to be lower in quality than well-known brands. But not Kirkland.
Now look, I'll admit that as a newer Costco shopper, at first I wasn't always so eager to give Kirkland products a chance. But these days, I'll buy just about anything with the Kirkland label, from spices to over-the-counter medication. And with few exceptions, I've never had an issue with quality.
You should also know that Costco makes a point to stand behind all of the products it sells -- particularly its signature brand. So if you bring home a Kirkland product that doesn't meet your needs, you can generally get your money back in full if you return it.
If you're still not convinced, go to Costco.com and look at Kirkland product reviews. Kirkland's Signature Coffee Organic Pacific Bold K-Cup Pods, for example, have a 4.9-star customer rating across almost 1,500 reviews. Starbucks' Veranda Blend Blonde Roast K-Cups only have a 4.7-star rating across roughly the same number of reviews.
3. Some items aren't worth buying
You can probably tell that I'm a fan of Kirkland products in general. But there have been a few Kirkland items that have let me down in the past -- namely, paper products.
I'm at a stage in my life where I take my paper towels seriously. And the Kirkland ones just don't do the same job of soaking up spills as Bounty.
Along these lines, Kirkland toilet paper reminds me of the stuff you find in office buildings, or in the bathroom at the mall. While it serves its needed purpose, it's just not very high in quality. So while you could save money by purchasing Kirkland paper products, to me, some items aren't worth the savings.
However, the only way for you to really know if a Kirkland product works for you is by trial and error. And again, if you buy Kirkland items you aren't happy with, you have some recourse.
The more often you shop at Costco, the more familiar you may become with the store's signature brand. It definitely pays to give Kirkland products a try, but don't hesitate to bring items back to customer service if your purchases don't work out as expected.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
