Additional Coverage:
- Costco’s latest prices for two beloved products has everyone asking the same question (marketrealist.com)
Shell Shock: Costco’s Holiday Seafood Prices Leave Shoppers Crabby
Local shoppers are reeling from the sticker shock of Costco’s latest holiday seafood offerings, with many questioning the affordability of once-beloved items amidst current economic pressures.
Costco, a retailer famed for its viral food finds and iconic staples, has inadvertently sparked a social media frenzy – and not in the way they might have hoped. Their special Thanksgiving selection of lobster and crab has, according to numerous online reactions, failed to entice members.
The uproar began with a viral Instagram reel from @Costcohotfinds, showcasing the warehouse giant’s special seafood deals, which included Red King Crabs and wild cold water lobster tails. However, it wasn’t the glistening seafood that caught viewers’ eyes, but rather the eye-popping price tags. A 10-pound box of wild-caught red king crab legs and claws was advertised for a staggering $329.99.
“Lolololol is Costco kidding with those prices?” exclaimed one user, @cd828, echoing the sentiment of many who felt the products were no longer within reach for the average consumer.
The reel detailed three items: the aforementioned 10-pound crab box, smaller two-to-three-pound packs of the same for $34.99, and two-pound packs of cold water lobster tails priced at $26.99. While presented as tempting deals, the online community thought otherwise.
When @Costcohotfinds’ caption suggested “🦞🧈 and don’t forget the butter!”, another viewer, @thegoodcarter, quipped, “It’s either the tails or the butter. I can’t afford both.”
Many shoppers took a nostalgic turn, recalling pre-pandemic prices. “@eastside43227 lamented, “I remember before COVID, it was $239.99 for 10lbs of king. Now you can’t even find them.
It went from king to golden to none😢.” Another user, @williamrench, claimed, “Those were $200 a few years ago.”
Indeed, reports indicate that Costco’s seafood prices have been on a steady climb since the pandemic’s onset, fueled by inflation. Tasting Table noted that a 10-pound box of crab legs and claws, which cost around $250 in December 2020, surged to $380 the following year and peaked at $440 in 2023.
This historical context led some to defend the current prices. “@schriners_4 commented, “That’s a good deal. For the people complaining about the price and economy, etc., then don’t buy them.
Plain and simple. More for the people who want to buy them.”
However, price wasn’t the only concern for some customers. “I got those last weekend.
They were not very good. Been a fan of their crab legs in the past, so was surprised at the small amount of meat and the flavor,” shared @rgilbert420.
Another user, @jayallday925, added, “Those king crab legs are pathetic. Miss the days of the rolling seafood stations at Costco with giant king crab legs.”
This seafood struggle comes on the heels of Costco facing criticism for its $200 Thanksgiving meal, with some shoppers suggesting better alternatives were available at competitors like Walmart and Whole Foods. It seems that for many, even the allure of Costco’s holiday specials might not be enough to justify the current cost.