I’ve worked at Costco for two decades… here are 10 items you need to buy before they leave for good
A longtime Costco employee has revealed the best items and deals she scooped up at the store this year.
Veronica Thatcher has worked for the department store chain for almost twenty years revealed to Business Insider her best purchases of 2024.
1. The Snapware Pyrex 18-Piece Glass Food Storage Set
The 18-piece Pyrex set comes with nine airtight containers, perfect for keeping leftover food fresh.
Because the glass containers come in different sizes, they are useful for storing all kinds of foods, from fresh fruit to pasta and soup.
They are also leak-proof and microwave safe.
2. The Shark Detect cordless stick vacuum cleaner
Thatcher also recommends the Shark Detect cordless stick vacuum as “one of the best cleaning tools I’ve ever owned.”
The vacuum cleaner is convenient both because it is cordless and because it weighs only 6 kilos, making it easy to move around the house.
The vacuum cleaner has four different deep cleaning modes, each with a crevice tool and a combination brush roll for hard-to-reach places.
Charging also takes up to an hour, useful for a full spring cleaning.
3. Delicious chicken nuggets from Dino Buddies
“We always keep the Yummy Dino Buddies chicken nuggets in our freezer,” Thatcher wrote in Business Insider.
Thatcher recommends cooking the chicken nuggets in an air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or microwaving them for about a minute and a half.
4. Mobile phone subscription
Costco warehouses often feature kiosks from various mobile service providers.
The kiosks usually offer deals on new mobile plans and upgrades from the likes of T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T.
Some Costco customers may also qualify for member-only benefits.
“I got a $200 Costco store card when I added a new phone line to my plan,” Thatcher explained of her purchase.
5. The Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken
The longtime Costco employee also swears by the chain’s own-brand rotisserie chicken.
The 3-pound chicken in a bag is cooked fresh every day in the warehouses and sells for just $5, making it a much-loved deal among the Costco faithful.
“I like to serve it with a side dish or shred the whole thing to use in meals like enchiladas or chicken salad,” Thatcher wrote.
6. Arlo Essential XL Wireless HD Camera
Arlo home security cameras have become increasingly popular, alongside rivals such as Ring doorbells.
“The Arlo Essential XL wireless camera bundle has been a good investment when it comes to feeling safe and comfortable in our home,” Thatcher said of her purchase.
‘This system is easy to install and features live HD video and color night vision. I also like that I can access the camera from my smartphone,” she explains.
The bundle sold at Costco includes three cameras and a four-month secure Arlo subscription.
7. The Kirkland Signature Organic K-Cup Pods
Costco sells their Kirkland Signature K-cup coffee pods in boxes of 120.
This not only ensures good value for money, but also reduces the chance that you will run out of coffee in the morning.
“The store has flavors like breakfast mix and top roast, but my family’s staple is the Kirkland Signature organic Pacific Bold pods,” Thatcher wrote.
8. New car tires
Costco’s tire center is one of the lesser-known benefits, but those who use it have good things to say about the service.
Costco sells tires at wholesale prices from top brands, such as Michelin and Firestone.
The service also includes installation and tire pressure checks for members.
9. Fresh produce
“Costco is the only place I buy my products,” Thatcher wrote.
‘Whether I buy berries, oranges, bananas or even mangoes, the produce always seems to be of high quality and sold at wholesale prices.’
Thatcher also recommended buying fresh produce in bulk for those with large families, who will likely run out of wholesale before the produce hits the market.
10. Annual eye exam
Costco’s optical center offers eye exams through several insurance companies, but is also available for a fee of about $70 even if your insurance doesn’t cover it.
Anyone can get an eye exam at Costco, but you must be a member to purchase glasses and contact lenses.