Costco has one of the most loyal customer bases in retail, but not every shopper is feeling the love lately.
Across Reddit discussions about the warehouse club, some shoppers say the Costco experience has become too crowded, too time-consuming, or simply not as good a deal as it used to be. While plenty of members still defend the chain’s low prices, Kirkland Signature products, and famous food court deals, others say the math (and the hassle) no longer works for them.
The complaints are anecdotal, not a scientific survey. Costco remains enormously popular, and the company reported a 92.3% renewal rate in the U.S. and Canada at the end of fiscal 2025. Still, the online frustration points to a real tension for some members: Costco may be a great value, but only if shoppers feel the trip is worth the effort.
Some shoppers say Costco has become too crowded
One of the most common complaints is not about the products at all. It is about the shopping experience.
In one Reddit thread, a shopper said they still liked Costco’s products but hated actually shopping there, writing that the experience can be “one of the worsts” because warehouses are overcrowded and understaffed.
Another Reddit user described the Costco trip as something they now dread, saying crowded stores, packed parking lots, and jammed aisles had made the errand feel like a chore.
That is a familiar complaint for many Costco shoppers. The store’s popularity is part of the problem: good deals draw big crowds, and big crowds can make it harder to move through aisles, find parking, get through checkout, or quickly grab the few items on a shopping list.
Others say the bulk-buying math has changed
Some frustrated members say the value proposition has also become less obvious.
In a Reddit thread titled “Costco is getting to the point where it’s not worth it,” one shopper complained that prices were going up while quality was going down. They said buying in bulk was no longer worth it for some items, especially when smaller packages at local stores could offer similar per-pound prices without the risk of waste.
That is a key issue for smaller households. Costco can be a strong deal for families, frequent hosts, or people with storage space. But for shoppers living alone, couples, or households with limited freezer or pantry space, bulk packages can be harder to justify.
If the food expires, the produce goes bad, or the total bill encourages impulse buying, the savings can start to feel less clear.
Tire center complaints are pushing some shoppers away
Costco’s tire centers also came up in shopper complaints.
In one Reddit discussion, a user said they “might be done with Costco Tire” after a frustrating repair and customer service experience. In the comments, another shopper was more blunt, saying they were “definitely done with Costco for tires” and describing the service as slow and “just not worth it.”
Costco Tire can still be a good option for many members, especially when pricing, warranties, and promotions line up. But the Reddit complaints show that some shoppers separate the tire center experience from the rest of Costco. They may still like the warehouse, while deciding to buy tires somewhere else.
Membership changes may make shoppers recalculate
The frustration also comes as Costco has made several membership-related changes.
Costco increased its annual membership fees effective September 1, 2024. Gold Star memberships rose from $60 to $65, while Executive memberships rose from $120 to $130. The company also increased the maximum annual 2% Executive Membership reward from $1,000 to $1,250.
Costco has also rolled out membership scanners at warehouse entrances. According to Costco’s customer service page, once the scanners are deployed at a location, members must scan a physical or digital membership card before entering. Guests must be accompanied by a valid member.
For Costco, those changes help protect the value of paid memberships. For some shoppers, though, they may add to the feeling that a Costco trip now requires more planning, more patience, and more commitment.
Costco still has plenty of loyal fans
None of this means Costco shoppers are leaving in droves.
The company’s renewal rates remain high, and many members still say the warehouse is worth it for gas, rotisserie chicken, pantry staples, paper goods, prescriptions, travel, appliances, and Kirkland Signature products.
Some Reddit users also pushed back on the complaints, pointing out that crowds vary by location and time of day. Many shoppers say Costco is much easier to handle on weekday mornings, near closing time, or with a strict list.
But for the members who are frustrated, the complaint is not always that Costco is bad. It is that the total experience no longer feels easy enough, cheap enough, or convenient enough to justify the membership.
For those shoppers, the question is no longer whether Costco has deals. It is whether getting those deals is still worth the trip.
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