The 3 Kirkland Items I'll Never Buy Again

Image source: Getty Images Shopping at Costco is a great way to save money on groceries and the things you use around the house regularly, like toilet paper and tissues. You can enjoy even more savings when you choose Costco's signature Kirkland brand.Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026 This credit card is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. Buying the Kirkland version could save you 20% or more compared to the cost of the name-brand counterpart you're more familiar with. Plus, the Kirkland line is known to be high in quality, so you're usually not giving anything up in exchange for that savings. I recommend pairing a haul of Kirkland products with the right credit card for added cash back. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco.Now, I've been shopping at Costco for 18 years and have been buying Kirkland products for nearly that long, so I can tell you firsthand that it's worth giving them a try. But I can also admit that not every Kirkland purchase has worked out so well for me. Here are three Kirkland items I don't see myself buying again anytime soon.1. Kirkland Signature Paper TowelsI'm not ashamed to say that at this stage of life, I'm picky about my paper towels. Seeing as how I commonly go through multiple rolls a week, I need to prioritize absorbency over price. That's why I typically buy Bounty paper towels, even if Kirkland paper towels are cheaper.The Kirkland paper towels, simply put, don't get the job done in my book. And it's not worth aggravating myself given the frequency at which I have to clean up spills at home.2. Kirkland Signature Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse CakeIf you've ever set eyes on this bakery item, you might agree that it's visually stunning. But taste-wise, I find this cake to be way too sweet. And even my kids agree, which tells you something. That said, Costco sells a round chocolate cake in its bakery that's great for birthdays and is less sweet than the Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake. If you can only handle so much chocolate, I'd suggest giving that one a try instead. 3. Kirkland Rotisserie ChickenIt's hard to beat Kirkland's $4.99 price point for rotisserie chicken. And in the past, I've brought it home to serve to my husband and son (they're the only ones in my household who eat chicken to begin with). But since they're not fans, I'm not going to subject them to chicken that doesn't taste good to save a few dollars. And if you're wondering what the issue is, my son claims the Kirkland chicken tastes and smells weird. He's a fairly non-picky eater, unlike my other kids, so I'm inclined to take his word for it. My husband, too, says something is "off" about the Costco chicken, though like my son, he has a hard time describing the problem beyond that.An exception to the ruleI want to be clear that I've probably tried hundreds of Kirkland products during my Costco shopping, and very few fall into the "I won't buy this again" category. In other words, these three products are the exception, not the rule. And you should know that if you bring home a Kirkland product you don't end up happy with, you're not stuck. Costco stands behind all of its products, Kirkland or otherwise. If you buy something that doesn't meet your expectations, you can generally return it for a full refund. And that includes food you've already dug into.Let's say you try a slice of the Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake and realize there's no way you'll finish the rest because it's way too sweet. In that case, you can bring the cake back to Costco and get a refund for it. That won't work, though, if you decide you don't like the cake once you've consumed 80% of it. But generally, if you bring at least 50% of a food item back, you can get your money back.Of course, over time, Costco might change its Tuxedo cake recipe or method of preparing its chicken. It might also change its paper towels. So you don't need to write off these Kirkland items forever. But for now, I intend to steer clear.Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026 This credit card is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. 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. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money 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.