If you’ve ever wondered why some Costco items end in .88 while others end in .99 while others still end in some weird .97 — there’s a code. There’s always been a code. Costco employees know it, longtime members know it, and most shoppers walk right past the cheapest deals in the warehouse because they don’t.
Memorize these 8 endings and you’ll never overpay at Costco again.
Contents
The cheat sheet (save this)
| Last 2 digits | What it actually means |
|---|---|
| .99 | Full price (regular item, no markdown) |
| .97 | Manager-marked clearance — heavy sale, limited inventory |
| .49 / .59 / .69 | New product trial — cheaper-than-retail intro pricing |
| .00 | Clearance (sometimes overstock from buying team) |
| .07 | Clearance (online specifically, .97 in-store equivalent) |
| .88 | Manager markdown — returned, damaged, or floor-model item |
| .79 | Discontinued line item, last shelf inventory |
| * (asterisk on top right) | Item will NEVER be restocked — buy it now or never |
The “grab it” signals
.97 ending (or .07 online) — the clearance giveaway
This is the most reliable signal of a deep markdown at Costco. When you see a price tag ending in .97, the buying team has flagged the item for clearance. Inventory is being moved out, and the sale stays on until it’s gone — there’s no restocking once .97 shows up.
Real example from this week: Multiple members reported a Kirkland clothing item that started at $24.99, dropped to $17.97 last week, and is now $9.97. The .97 is the green light — once you see it, the item is on its way out, and the price will keep dropping until shelves are clear.
The online equivalent is .07 (because online displays don’t always render the price the same way). The Top 50 Costco Online .97 Markdown list we publish weekly is built off scraping these .97 and .07 SKUs.
.88 ending — the manager-marked deal
.88 is the truly insider price ending. It means a manager at that specific warehouse marked the item down — usually because:
– It was returned (and Costco doesn’t restock returns to full price)
– It was a floor model or display unit
– It has minor cosmetic damage (think dented can, ripped outer packaging)
– It’s nearing best-by date
The product itself is virtually always fine. Some of the best Costco scores longtime members brag about are .88 items — a $1,200 patio set marked $399.88 because the box was opened, a $35 olive oil at $12.88 because the bottle’s label was peeling.
The pro move: If you see .88 on something you’d want at full price, grab it immediately. There’s only ever 1-3 of these per warehouse and they don’t last past closing.
.49 / .59 / .69 endings — the new-product trial
These endings signal Costco is trialing a new product with intro pricing. The buying team is testing whether shoppers will move on the item — and if it sells well, it goes to permanent stock at a higher price (.99 ending).
Why this matters: Trial pricing is usually 10-20% below what the product will eventually retail at. If you see something interesting at .49, .59, or .69 ending — buy two. If it doesn’t sell, it disappears (you got it cheap). If it does sell, the next time you see it, it’ll be at full price (you got it cheap again).
The “skip it” signals
.99 ending — full price
Nothing wrong with .99 ending — it just means you’re paying the regular Costco price. No markdown, no clearance. If you need it, buy it. If you can wait, wait — most items eventually rotate to a markdown ending.
Asterisk (*) in the top right corner — never coming back
This is the one most members miss. A small asterisk in the top right of the price tag means Costco is not reordering that item. Ever.
Combined with a .97 or .88 ending, the asterisk is a “buy now or grieve later” signal. Veteran members swear by spotting this exact combo — when an asterisk + markdown pair shows up, those items typically get cleared off shelves within hours.
If it’s an item you love (favorite snack, a Kirkland clothing item that fits perfectly, etc.) and you spot the asterisk + .97/.88 combo — buy multiples. You won’t see it again.
The “decode then decide” signals
.79 ending
Less common than .97, .79 typically signals a discontinued line item that’s running through the last of its inventory. Often paired with the asterisk. Treat as .97-equivalent.
.00 ending
Sometimes clearance, sometimes overstock from the buying team rebalancing inventory. Less aggressive than .97 — could be a moderate markdown rather than a deep one. Worth grabbing if the underlying item is one you like.
The other tag detail you should look at: the date code
Look at the bottom right corner of any Costco price tag. There’s a small date — that’s when the price was last updated. Why it matters:
- If the date is 2-3+ weeks old AND the ending is
.97or.88— expect another markdown soon. Patience could save you another 20% - If the date is today’s AND the ending is
.97— the markdown just happened. The deal is fresh, inventory is full, you’ve got time - If you see a
.99price with a months-old date — it’s not getting marked down anytime soon
How to USE the codes (a real warehouse walkthrough)
Next time you walk Costco, train your eye to scan the last two digits of every tag, then the asterisk, then the date. With practice it takes 2 seconds per item.
Priority sweep:
1. Big-ticket aisles first (TV, appliances, patio, mattress) — .97, .88, asterisk = jackpot
2. Clothing aisle — .97 and .88 are routine and the savings can be 60-70%
3. Snacks/groceries — .49/.59/.69 for new trials, .97 for items being phased out
4. Bakery — rarely marked down (turnover is too fast), so .99 is the only thing you’ll see
5. Liquor/wine — almost never .97 (inventory rotation works differently), but worth checking
The bonus hack: how to know BEFORE you walk in
Costco’s online inventory tracker (in the app) shows current pricing per warehouse. But the codes work the same way online as in-store. Sort the Costco app’s Hot Buys section by price, scan for .97 or .07 endings — those are the deepest online markdowns, often deeper than what hits stores.
We also publish a Top 50 Costco Online .97 Markdown Deals list every Monday — it’s literally just every .97-ending SKU we found that week, ranked by depth of discount.
The bottom line
The codes aren’t a secret — they’re hiding in plain sight. Once you’ve memorized them, every Costco run becomes a treasure hunt instead of a routine. The .97 and .88 endings will save you the most money. The asterisk is the one you cannot ignore. And the .49/.59/.69 endings give you first crack at products that might become Costco classics.
Print this out. Tape it to your Costco card. Welcome to the inside game.
Want every weekly markdown list before your warehouse sells out? Subscribe to Costco Finds — we drop the .97 and .88 hits straight to your inbox.
Related on RetailShout:
– Top 50 Costco Online .97 Markdown Deals This Week
– Costco Clearance Finds (5/6): 10 Must-Buy Deals & Viral Treats
– What’s Trending at Costco This Week
