Costco members may be missing out on valuable savings by overlooking some of the warehouse retailer’s lesser-known perks, including potential clearance clues and members-only travel offers.
Costco has earned a devoted following for its bulk bargains, famously inexpensive food court and eye-catching deals. Yet saving money at the warehouse involves more than filling a cart with oversized toilet-paper packs and enough chicken to feed an army.
Experienced shoppers say certain details on Costco price tags may help identify clearance merchandise. Money-saving experts at FinanceBuzz also point out that several Costco membership benefits extend far beyond the warehouse itself.
Executive members, for instance, may shop during designated early-access hours and receive a two percent annual reward on qualifying purchases. For some members, that reward can help offset the higher cost of the upgraded membership.
There are other ways to get more value from a bulk purchase, too. Shoppers might split multipacks with a neighbor, freeze meat in individual portions or review Costco’s online promotions before visiting a warehouse.
However, buying in bulk is not automatically the cheapest option. Perishable food can quickly turn into a false economy if it spoils before your household has a chance to use it.
The US Food and Drug Administration recommends planning meals, checking existing supplies and taking care with bulk purchases of perishable items that could ultimately be wasted.
Here are ten strategies Costco members can use to potentially stretch their budgets further.
Costco members may be overlooking money-saving perks, including possible clearance clues and exclusive travel offers
1. Look for the mysterious asterisk on price tags
That small star printed on a Costco shelf tag may deserve a closer look.
Costco shoppers have long claimed that an asterisk in the corner of a price sign indicates the product is not expected to be reordered after the remaining inventory sells out.
If the symbol appears next to a household staple, it may be a signal to consider buying it before it vanishes from the warehouse. Even so, members should stock up only when the price and quantity are appropriate for their needs.
Costco has not issued a complete official guide confirming these rumored pricing codes. Shoppers should therefore view the asterisk as a possible indicator, not a guarantee.
2. Decode the price endings to hunt for markdowns
Regular Costco shoppers also pay close attention to the last digits shown on price labels, looking for hints that an item has been marked down.
According to widely shared shopper reports, prices ending in .97 often signal a markdown, while a .99 ending is generally linked with standard pricing.
Online discussions also commonly associate prices ending in .00 or .88 with manager markdowns. These patterns, however, are not an official, company-wide Costco pricing system.
The best approach is to treat these details as clues and use sound judgment. Compare the item with competing products, confirm the package size and purchase it only if it is genuinely useful to your household.
Even a clearance price is not a real bargain if the product ends up sitting unused in the back of a cupboard.
Bargain hunters often examine the final digits on Costco price tags (source: Reddit’s r/Costco group)
3. Check the Costco Savings offers before you shop
It is easy to assume Costco warehouse prices are already the lowest available. Still, members may be able to find extra savings through the retailer’s official Costco savings offers.
Costco.com features member-only promotions, including deals that apply online and selected offers that can be used in warehouses.
The retailer advises customers to check the validity dates on its savings flyers and look for the relevant online-shopping indicators before placing an order.
A quick look before a big shopping trip could help you time purchases of household essentials, electronics or other items that are already on your list.
Just resist the urge to buy something purely because it is discounted: spending $50 on an unnecessary item is still spending $50.
4. Make the most of Executive membership – but do the math
Costco’s Executive membership comes with an annual two percent reward on qualifying purchases at Costco, Costco.com and Costco Travel, subject to exclusions and a maximum reward of $1,250.
The upgrade costs an additional $65 a year on top of the standard $65 membership fee, according to Costco’s published membership information. That means members need to spend enough on eligible purchases for the reward to justify the extra fee.
For example, spending $3,250 on qualifying purchases would generate a $65 reward at two percent, enough to cover the upgrade cost before considering any other benefits.
Executive members also receive dedicated early shopping hours: currently 9am to 10am Monday through Friday and Sunday, and 9am to 9.30am on Saturday, according to Costco’s published benefits.
Those quieter hours could be especially useful for shoppers who want to avoid the busiest periods, although local arrangements should always be checked.
Costco’s Executive membership comes with an annual two percent reward on qualifying purchases at Costco, Costco.com and Costco Travel, subject to exclusions and a maximum reward of $1,250
5. Split bulk buys with friends or family
Buying a giant pack of snacks, cleaning products or pantry staples can make financial sense – but not if you live alone and have nowhere to store them.
One solution is to shop with a friend, relative or neighbor and divide the purchases afterwards.
This allows smaller households to benefit from bulk pricing without being left with 40 granola bars or a cupboard full of products they will not use for months.
Agree on the split before reaching the checkout, and compare the unit price with what you would pay elsewhere.
The savings are only real if both households actually want the products and the arrangement does not encourage unnecessary spending.
6. Freeze meat in portions before it goes off
Costco’s large packs of meat can be useful for meal planning, but buying more than you can eat in time can quickly wipe out the savings.
A vacuum sealer can help remove air from individual portions before freezing, although ordinary freezer-safe packaging can also work when used properly.
Separate the meat into meal-sized quantities as soon as you get home, label each package with its contents and date, and freeze anything you will not use promptly.
The FDA recommends consulting the FoodKeeper storage guide for advice on keeping food safely, while the US Department of Agriculture stresses that proper storage helps reduce food waste.
Freezing is not a reason to ignore storage guidance but planning portions ahead can make bulk shopping much more practical.
Buying a giant pack of snacks, cleaning products or pantry staples can make financial sense – but not if you live alone and have nowhere to store them. One solution is to shop with a friend, relative or neighbor and divide the purchases afterwards
7. Consider a chest freezer – if you will use it
For families who regularly buy frozen food, meat or batch-cooked meals, extra freezer space can make bulk shopping easier to manage.
It can also help households prepare meals in advance, freeze leftovers and keep ingredients on hand for busy evenings.
But a freezer is not automatically a money-saving purchase: factor in the upfront cost, electricity use and available space before buying one.
Keep an inventory of what is inside and rotate older items to the front so forgotten food does not languish at the bottom for months.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends planning meals and buying quantities that can be used before food spoils, rather than treating every bulk deal as an opportunity to stockpile.
8. Browse Costco Travel before booking a getaway
Costco membership can deliver benefits beyond groceries, with Costco Travel offering vacation packages, cruises, hotels and rental cars to eligible members.
The company’s travel team says its offerings are selected for value and quality, while some packages include extras such as resort credits or other benefits.
Executive members can also earn the two percent reward on qualifying Costco Travel purchases, subject to the program’s terms and exclusions.
Before booking, compare the full package price against booking directly with hotels, airlines or rental-car companies, taking account of taxes, inclusions and cancellation terms.
A package that includes breakfast, transfers or resort credit may offer better overall value than a cheaper headline price elsewhere – but it is worth checking the numbers.
Costco Next allows current members to shop directly with selected suppliers through Costco’s website
9. Explore Costco Next for deals from third-party brands
Costco Next is another benefit that can be easy to miss if you only browse the warehouse aisles.
The program allows current members to shop directly with selected suppliers through Costco’s website, with participating brands offering products at Costco-related prices.
The important distinction is that purchases are made through the supplier, which handles shipping, customer service and returns.
Costco also states that purchases through Costco Next do not qualify for the Executive membership’s two percent reward.
It is still worth checking the program when shopping for eligible products, but compare prices and read the supplier’s terms before committing.
10. Do not overlook the extras when buying tires
If you need new tires, Costco’s Tire Center may offer value beyond the initial purchase price.
The retailer says its tire installation package includes lifetime maintenance services for the life of the tires, including inflation-pressure checks, balancing, rotations and eligible flat repairs.
Costco also uses nitrogen inflation, and its tire program includes applicable warranties, although terms and availability vary by tire and vehicle.
Those extras could make a difference when comparing quotes, particularly if you plan to keep the tires for several years.
Check the final installed price against other tire retailers and make sure the model, warranty and maintenance terms are comparable before deciding.