Costco is making a controversial change to one of its popular baked goods, and customers are not happy, to say the least. Earlier this week, a shopper noticed a sign at his local store detailing upcoming changes to Costco’s muffins.

The bakery is making its muffins smaller and eliminating the ability to combine flavors. Previously, customers could combine two 35-ounce six-packs of the larger muffins for $9.99. Now the warehouse will sell a single 31-ounce eight-pack of one flavor for $6.99.

Kirkland’s Bakery under scrutiny at r/Costco

After the buyer shared a photo of the notice on Reddit, fans began to express their dissatisfaction with the changes, particularly the price increase. One customer calculated the price per ounce for each container and stated that “the new ones are 58% more expensive.”

Another commented that the muffins were now smaller and more expensive, expressing frustration. Someone else sarcastically remarked that at the new price they might as well make their own muffins.

Another user estimated that the new muffins were about 70% the size of the old ones, making the downsizing even more noticeable.

Beyond the price, many customers complained that the new muffins didn’t taste as good as the old, larger ones.

One person described it as “so dry” compared to the previous version, which they said was juicy and tasty. They also mentioned that the new muffins had a strange aftertaste, like they were left out too long.

New muffins, fewer fans

Another customer shared that he was initially excited about the 8-pack because his household couldn’t finish the 12 muffins before they spoiled, but ultimately he found the new muffins to be “objectively worse.”

One particularly nostalgic person shared that the change was particularly disturbing because she shared the muffins with her grandmother before she died. Another user mentioned that his family couldn’t agree on a single flavor, so they always mixed and froze the muffins. They added that they would probably stop buying them now.

Someone else criticized the muffins as dry and grainy and said their family had been buying the old muffins for over 25 years but would never buy the new ones again, calling them “horrible.”

Fans were also disappointed to learn that the ability to mix and match flavors was no longer available. One person wanted a variety pack, said they didn’t want eight muffins of the same flavor and said a split pack, say 4+4, would have been much better.

Costco Muffins: Customer Reactions

The controversy surrounding Costco’s recent muffin changes has sparked widespread discussion among customers online, with many sharing their frustrations and personal experiences.

A former member who previously worked as a gourmet chef pointed out that Costco prices aren’t always as competitive as they seem. Breaking down Costco’s tiered pricing into smaller increments, such as price per ounce, often reveals that the warehouse giant isn’t as affordable as it seems. “My local grocery store, Winco Foodsbeats Costco in a price-per-ounce comparison. “Costco is NOT a bargain,” they stressed, adding that big packaging can sometimes disguise the true cost.

In addition to muffins, other baked goods are also being put to the test. One shopper reported that Kirkland sandwich rolls once sold for $3.69 for 18 large rolls, but have since shrunk in size and quantity. The package now contains 12 rolls for $3.29, which they calculated as a higher cost per ounce. They also suggested additional services such as a bread slicer, which has become a new necessity since German retailers like Aldi and Lidl began offering them in their U.S. locations.

For many, the changes at Costco reflect a larger discussion about the value of membership. One customer summed up his loyalty by mentioning the gas station. “I stop by Costco weekly to get gas and check the sales while I’m there. But if they ever gave up the gas station or raised prices compared to other gas stations, I would give up on Costco altogether.”