After some rigorous testing and comparison shopping, Consumer Reports recently came up with a list of things you should buy [1] and not buy at Costco. The consumer experts basically reviewed and rated a number of Costco-brand products, and those that were lacking in quality and price were ranked the lowest. Contrary to popular opinion, not every item at bulk-shopping stores is a deal, and you'd be surprised at how many strange things you can buy [2]. Here are some Costco items you should buy and avoid:

Best deals

• Bacon
• Car battery
• Coffeemaker
• Ice cream
• Laundry detergent

Things to avoid

• Gas grill
• Gel dishwasher detergent
• Facial tissue
• Mattress
• Toilet paper