People love Costco because they can find amazing deals on thousands of items for everyday needs, the prices stay relatively stable, and the return policies are fair, if not generous. What most shoppers don’t realize is that the retailer’s price tags contain hidden information beyond an item’s cost. The secret? It’s in the numbers.
We scoured Reddit posts authored by current and former Costco employees, in addition to content from personal finance creators such as @ecommjess and @financeunfolded, to crack the retailer’s price tag code. Keeping just a few of these tips in mind can help you understand when to jump on a deal, when to wait, and when an item is saying “farewell” forever.
1. Full-Priced Items Always End in .99
If a price tag ends in .99, you’re looking at a full-priced item. The price tag means that this is the best deal Costco was able to get from the supplier, and there haven’t been any further markdowns. You’re still getting a great deal compared to other supermarkets with less leveraging power, but as far as Costco goes, you aren’t seeing added savings on top of the already-low price.
2. Other 9s Are Discounted by Manufacturers
Products ending in .49, .59, .69, and so on (up to .89) represent special offers from manufacturers. This is done for a variety of reasons, from trial runs on new items to attempts to boost low sales. It’s not guaranteed that these products will stay at that price — they could go up if sales do well and the manufacturer sees a need for more, or they could drop even lower if they don’t fly off the shelves. If it’s a product you’re interested in, it’s a good idea to grab it now, in case the price goes up later.
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3. 8s Mean Manager Discounts
You’re likely to see full-priced items sold at a discount if you can wait to make your purchase. Costco managers will mark certain products down for faster sales before they replenish their inventory, and these decisions are reflected right on the price tag. You’ll sometimes see price tags ending in an 8, which means an item has been reduced for quick sale.
4. .00 Also Means Low Stock for Quick Sale
You’ll also notice price tags ending in .00, which signals that a product has been marked down to get it off the shelves fast. Tags that end in an 8 or .00 generally represent discounts on a local level, which are, again, determined by management to get products out of the store as quickly as possible. If you spot tags ending in these numbers, those items are nearly out of stock and probably won’t be there if you come back for them later.
5. Great Deals End in a 7
If you see a tag ending in the number 7, such as .97, you’re looking at a fantastic offer that won’t last long. These tags represent clearance or markdown items that didn’t sell well, and management wants them off the shelves to make space for something fresh. These discounts may include perishable goods that are about to expire or overstocked items.
6. Check the Upper Right Corner for an Asterisk
An asterisk on a price tag, regardless of the number, means the item number is pending delete in the system, according to a Costco employee’s Reddit post. This happens for a few reasons — either an item is being discontinued, they’re changing the packaging (the most common cause), or it’s only available seasonally. The item won’t be restocked in its current form, however, so if it’s something you really love, you may want to ask a manager for clarification.
7. Don’t Overlook the Bottom Corner
Already-fluent Costco tag readers will want to keep this tip in mind — look for the date listed on the tag. You’ll see it in the bottom right corner, and it will tell you in an instant when the price was last changed. If it’s been weeks without any movement, the item may be set for a price drop soon.
