ou can shop at Costco for years and still miss some of its best tricks. From tiny clues on price signs to benefits hiding inside your membership, these are worth knowing before your next warehouse run.
1. That 97-Cent Price Ending Is Worth a Second Look
Most Costco shoppers look at the big number on the sign and keep moving. The last two digits can sometimes tell you more.
A price ending in .97 is widely used as a markdown signal at Costco. Longtime employees, shoppers and Costco-focused publications have consistently documented it, although Costco does not publish an official price-code guide.
If something you’ve been watching suddenly changes from $19.99 to $14.97, that’s your cue to pay attention.
What to know: A .97 price means markdown—not necessarily the lowest price the item will ever reach.
2. The Tiny Asterisk May Be More Important Than the Sale Price
Look in the upper-right corner of a Costco price sign.
See a tiny asterisk (*)?
Costco shoppers call it the Death Star, and it generally means Costco isn’t planning to restock that particular item at that warehouse once the remaining inventory is gone.
That doesn’t always mean the product is disappearing forever. Seasonal products return, packaging changes and products sometimes come back under new item numbers.
What to know: If it’s a favorite and you see the star, waiting until next week can be a gamble.
3. A Price Ending in .00 Can Be an Even Bigger Clearance Clue
Here’s the price ending fewer shoppers seem to watch.
Prices ending in .00 are commonly associated with warehouse-level or manager markdowns used to move remaining inventory. Because those reductions may be local, the same product can still be selling for considerably more at another Costco.
This is where some of Costco’s strangest clearance finds show up.
What to know: .00 deserves attention, especially when there’s only a handful of the item left.
Sneak Peek: Those local markdowns lead directly to another Costco secret—two warehouses in the same area don’t necessarily charge the same price.
4. The Costco 15 Minutes Away Could Have a Different Price
Many shoppers assume Costco pricing is universal.
It isn’t.
Costco officially says the same product can have different prices at different warehouses because of inventory, supplier costs and even local competition.
That becomes particularly useful with furniture, appliances, seasonal merchandise and clearance items.
If you’re near two Costco locations and you’re considering a larger purchase, checking both can occasionally pay off.
What to know: “I saw it for $49.97 at Costco” doesn’t necessarily mean your Costco will have it for $49.97.
5. You Can Check Costco Inventory Before Leaving Home
Remember calling Costco and asking someone to check an item number?
You may not have to anymore.
Costco’s digital warehouse tools can now show local pricing and availability, along with the item’s number, department and photo. Costco says inventory and pricing information may run up to roughly 30 minutes behind actual warehouse conditions.
It’s particularly useful when social media suddenly makes a Costco product impossible to find.
What to know: Check before making a special trip—and if stock is low, don’t assume it’ll still be there hours later.
6. Costco.com May Quietly Cost More Than Walking Into the Warehouse
This catches even experienced Costco members.
A product on Costco.com does not necessarily have the same price as that product inside the warehouse.
Costco says online pricing can differ because of shipping costs and warehouse-only promotions.
Same-Day delivery goes a step further: Costco explicitly says Same-Day item prices are marked up above local warehouse prices to cover delivery service costs.
What to know: Before ordering an expensive item—or a big Same-Day grocery order—compare it with the warehouse price.
A few dollars here and there becomes real money on a $200 cart.
7. Don’t Stop Watching the Price After You Buy Something
Most shoppers obsess over getting the lowest price before purchasing.
Costco gives you another reason to watch it afterward.
For qualifying Costco.com purchases, members can request a price adjustment when the item’s price drops within 30 days. Costco’s current policy includes some conditions for time-limited promotions, so don’t wait until a sale has already ended to check.
For warehouse purchases, check with the membership/returns desk regarding an adjustment.
What to know: Save the date of a large purchase and check its price again over the next few weeks.
Sneak Peek: The next one may surprise longtime members most. Your regular membership may already give you access to an entirely different Costco.
8. Your Membership Gets You Into Costco Business Center Too
The name makes it sound like you need to own a restaurant or business.
You don’t.
Costco says any Costco member can shop at Costco Business Center using the membership card they already have.
And this isn’t simply a quieter version of the regular warehouse.
Costco says more than 70% of Business Center merchandise is different from what’s carried in traditional Costco warehouses.
You’ll find restaurant-size food, drinks, individually packaged snacks, meat, commercial supplies and plenty of products you’ve probably never seen during a normal Costco run.
What to know: If there’s a Business Center anywhere near you, think of it as unlocking a second Costco with the membership you’re already paying for.
9. Business Centers Open Much Earlier Than Regular Costco Warehouses
Here’s another reason experienced members love them.
Costco currently lists Business Center opening times as early as 7 a.m., while traditional Gold Star shopping commonly begins later.
That makes Business Centers particularly handy when you need bulk snacks, drinks or party supplies without dealing with the middle-of-the-day warehouse rush.
Hours can vary by location, so check yours first.
What to know: Your least stressful Costco trip might not be at your regular Costco at all.
10. Executive Members Now Have a Crowd-Avoidance Benefit
If you’ve been an Executive member for years, this benefit is relatively new.
Executive members currently get dedicated early shopping access:
Monday–Friday: 9–10 a.m.
Saturday: 9–9:30 a.m.
Sunday: 9–10 a.m.
Costco added the benefit in 2025, and it remains part of the Executive membership package.
For anyone who hates battling Saturday Costco traffic, that half hour or hour can be surprisingly valuable.
What to know: If you’re already paying for Executive membership, make sure you’re actually using the early-access window.
11. Executive Members Also Get a Monthly $10 Same-Day Credit
This perk is easy to overlook because most people still associate Executive membership primarily with the annual 2% reward.
Costco currently gives Executive members a $10 monthly credit toward an eligible Same-Day Costco order of $150 or more.
That’s potentially $120 in credits over a year if you regularly use the service and meet the requirements.
There’s an important catch: Same-Day products themselves are marked up versus warehouse pricing.
What to know: It’s a useful benefit, but compare the delivered price rather than assuming the $10 credit automatically makes delivery cheaper.
Sneak Peek: The next Costco “aisle” isn’t really an aisle at all—and sometimes it can knock 20% or more off something you were going to buy anyway.
12. Costco’s Gift Cards Can Work Like Instant Discounts
Don’t think of Costco’s discounted gift cards only as presents.
Think of them as prepaid discounts.
At the time of writing, Costco is selling numerous $100 restaurant gift-card packages for $79.99, while some $100 cards are priced as low as $74.99.
If you were already going to spend $100 at that restaurant, buying the Costco card first can effectively cut 20% to 25% from the bill.
Availability and brands rotate, so check before dining out, traveling or booking entertainment.
What to know: Browse Costco’s gift cards for places you’re already planning to visit—not just when you need to buy someone a gift.
13. The Gas Station May Be Open Long Before Costco Is
You don’t always have to wait for the warehouse doors to open to fill up.
Costco gas stations operate on separate schedules, and many open significantly earlier than regular warehouse shopping.
For example, current Costco warehouse listings show gas stations opening at 6 a.m. at locations where regular Gold Star warehouse shopping doesn’t start until later in the morning.
Hours vary, so check your warehouse listing.
What to know: An early-morning Costco gas run can mean getting in and out long before the warehouse crowd arrives.
14. You Don’t Need a Costco Membership to Buy a Prescription
Here’s one worth telling your non-Costco friends.
Costco explicitly states that you do not need to be a Costco member to purchase Costco Pharmacy prescriptions, either online or at its warehouse pharmacies.
That doesn’t automatically mean Costco will have the lowest price for every prescription, but it means nonmembers can compare its prescription pricing without buying a $65 membership first.
What to know: Costco Pharmacy isn’t exclusively a members-only benefit when it comes to prescriptions.
That’s a very different rule from normal warehouse shopping.
15. Costco Has Been Saving Your Receipts for You
That crumpled Costco receipt you accidentally tossed six months ago?
It may not matter.
After verifying your membership online, Costco lets members view up to two years of in-warehouse purchase receipts through their Costco.com account. New purchases can take up to 24 hours to appear.
Go to Orders & Purchases and choose the In-Warehouse tab.
This is incredibly useful when you’re checking when you bought something, looking at an old price or trying to find proof of purchase.
What to know: Stop treating every Costco receipt like an irreplaceable document.
Bonus Secret Worth Asking Your Costco Bakery About
This one isn’t guaranteed, which is exactly why I wouldn’t put it among the official Costco rules above.
Some Costco bakery departments have reportedly sold members unbaked frozen bakery products in bulk, including cookie dough and croissants.
Availability varies significantly by warehouse, and this isn’t a universal U.S. Costco policy.
But that’s what makes it worth asking.
If you regularly buy Costco croissants or cookies for holidays and parties, a quick conversation with the bakery counter could uncover an option you’ve walked past for years.
The worst answer you’ll get is no.
