Costco is one of the most well-known merchants in the United States because of its amazing prices and high-quality products. If you love Costco, there are some things you need to know. As with any other store, this one also has its little secrets. These lesser-known tips can help you buy what you need at extremely low prices.

Now, when we say secret, you should know that they are not completely unknown or unheard of. You can’t miss them; they are always in the store. All you have to do is pay close attention to the prices. You will be able to recognize normal pricing and special offers if you know how to read Costco price codes.

We know that you love to get all of those deals from bulk buying, but be ready, because after you find out about the price codes and “the secret sales,” you will have access to even more bargains.

Stay with us and find out all about these secret tips you can use to buy items at incredible prices.

1. If it ends in .97 be sure it’s a clearance

So, you go to Costco, enter the store, and start looking around. Prices everywhere. Some are okay, while others make you think twice before buying that item. But if you spot a price ending in .97 do you know what that means?

If you see an item that has the price code .97 there is a high chance that the item is on clearance. It might be because it’s seasonal, or maybe the manager wants to get rid of it quickly because it sells slowly. No matter the reason, the only thing that matters is that you can purchase what you need for a lower price.

One thing to remember is that since the store manager is the one who sets the prices, there is a high chance these discounts are on a store-by-store basis. This means that even if you find an item for a lesser price in one Costco, you might not find it in another one.

Another thing you should consider is checking out the date that is written on the price tag. If the item has been sitting for a while now and no one has bought it, the price might go even lower. So, if buying that item is not an emergency, don’t buy it immediately and check again a week later.

Do you want the greatest prices? Find out how on the following page!

2. If the price code ends in 9, you might have a good deal

If you go to Costco and find an item that has 9 as the last digit of its price, you need to be careful. A price code like this can be a little tricky. There is a chance that the item is just a regular one and has its regular price, or it might have a discounted price from the manufacturer (this means that Costco is not really sure about this product because it might be new and they don’t know how people will react to it).

Now what you should do is watch the price carefully and see if the said item will sell at the going rate, if it is not a good fit and not many people will buy it, or if the price will be adjusted. Yes, we know that this is challenging and might seem like a gamble, but in the end, if you have time, this might help you get a new item for an accessible price.

Again, you should always check the date, as this can give you some important clues about what Costco might intend to do with this product. If it’s been there for a few weeks already and it seems like people are not thrilled with it, the price might go even lower. On the other hand, if it hasn’t been that long and it seems like the item is selling, the price might go up. So, better pick it up now if you want it.

Continue reading to learn the most important Costco purchasing advice.

3. Look out for asterisks

You are shopping at Costco, look at the price tag and spot a little asterisk in the upper right corner of the sign. What does it mean? Well, if you see this marking, it is a signal that the item will not be restocked. So, in simpler words, it means that the item is limited. You can only buy it now. Go and search for it later, and there is a high chance you will not find it anymore.

You might have heard about this tip before, but it is a good one to consider, especially when it comes to staple items that you need and want to stock up on immediately.

Now, keep in mind that the asterisk doesn’t tell you if the item is discounted or not. It just tells you that the product is limited, and if you are thinking about buying it next week, you better think twice and buy it now if you really want it. This is a now-or-never situation. If the item is already sold out, all you can do is go immediately and check out another Costco. They might still have it. You will never know without checking.

Visit the next page and learn how to tell if an item is the last model left just by looking at the price code!

4. Price code ending in .88 What does it mean?

If you see a price tag that has a price ending in .88, things are simple. This price code can mean only three things: the item might be one of the last models left, it might be a floor model, or it is a return.

It is very likely to come across products with .88 on the price tag around the walls of the store or at the end of the aisle. If you find an item like this that you like and want, make sure to buy it right away since it might be the last one in the store. If you leave it there and walk around wondering if you should buy it or not, the product might not be there anymore when you come back to pick it up.

You might have found a fantastic deal, but be careful and examine the item thoroughly. It might be a return, and because of that, you should check it for potential faults before buying. If everything seems alright, just go for it. After all, it is the last item. People surely have a reason for buying them.

5. The tag ends in .99

If the price code ends in. 99, well, there is not much to say. It is just the regular price of the product. This is the full price, so nothing special here. But even if there is no discount, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy the product.

Usually, Costco has much better prices than other retailers, so if it is something that you need right now, go ahead and buy it. Or, you can go, check out the prices in other stores, and if you consider the Costco price to be the best, return and buy whatever you need.

Just remember that at Cosco, you will only buy in bulk. You can’t just pick up a bottle of soda and go to the checkout with it. Do groceries at this store only when you want to buy more and stock up for a longer period of time.

Do you like shopping on Amazon? If your answer is yes, you should know that there might be some fake products out there. Hopefully, they are easy to spot. To find out more, check out the following article: 7 Ways To Spot Fake Amazon Products