Useful Shopping Hacks For Your Next Trip To Costco
We have such a love-hate relationship with Costco. On the one hand, it's the go-to place for incredible deals. But the warehouses can be so busy and finding the best deals is overwhelming.
Luckily, some Costco employees and insiders have shared the best tricks and secrets to making a Costco trip successful. From decoding the secret symbols on price tags to figuring out the best time to shop, these Costco hacks will save you time, money, and sanity.
You Can Get In Without A Membership
One of the main factors deterring people from shopping at Costco is the pricy membership fee. So what do you do if you want those sweet deals but you're not willing to shell out the annual fee? Easy. Ask somebody who has a Costco membership to get you a Costco gift card.
You don't need a membership to use it and you can still access the full store without any questions. Start adding "Costco gift cards" to your Christmas wishlist!
It's Not The End Of The World If You Miss A Sale
Costco has a lot of great sales all throughout the year, but if you miss a sale, it's not the end of the world. You can still get the best price on that item you had your eye on. Costco may not price match like some other retailers, but you can get a price cut within 30 days if an item you bought goes on sale later.
All you have to do is put in a simple request online. Costco has some pretty great customer service.
Tuesday And Wednesday Mornings Are The Best Time To Shop
Costco can be a busy place, especially on weekends, in the evenings, and right before holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. If you really want to have the time and the space to scope out the best deals, you're going to want to go to Costco when the store isn't so busy.
The quietest times to shop are Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. If you have a morning off work, or if you work evenings, head into Costco to do your weekly shopping.
Look For An Asterisk On The Price Tags
If you ever see an asterisk on a price sign while you were wandering the aisles of Costco, you might want to pay attention to it. That asterisk is the store's way of telling you that the item you're looking at won't be getting restocked. Whatever they have in stock is what's available, and when it's gone, it's gone.
The asterisks are usually found on seasonal items that won't be back for a little while.
The Gift Card Section Is A Hidden Gem
We already know that Costco gift cards can be a great way to get into the store, but these cards are so much more than they appear to be. You can get anything from gift cards for 2-for-1 movie passes to discounted admissions to local attractions.
Sometimes savings are even built into the Costco gift cards themselves. In the photo above, you can see that Costco was selling four $25 gift cards for just $79.99
Fill Up At The Costco Gas Bar Before Shopping
One thing Costco does right is gas prices. It seems like gas is getting more expensive every day, but you can generally count on Costco to get you the best price on gas in your area. Those long lines are daunting, but the price is worth it. Those Costco gas bars will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Make sure you fill up before you shop, though, so all of your ice cream and frozen goods don't melt in the back of your car.
Yes, You Can Take More Than One Sample
Costco employees assure us that you really can take as many samples as you want. You don't have to pretend to be a different person or say that you're getting it for your kid. You can just walk right up to that sample counter and ask for seconds. And thirds.
If you like the product so much, it might be worth the investment, but if you need a few more tastes to make up your mind, that's totally okay.
The Better Deals Are Down The Aisles
It may seem like you're getting the best deal when you pick an item up from the big stack of things being advertised in the front of the store, but the truth is that the best deals are usually placed further down the aisles.
You're going to have to do a bit of searching if you really want to snag that perfect bargain, but we promise, the hunt is worth it. You might even pick up some more free samples along the way.
Don't Bother Buying Brand Name Household Products
Yes, Costco has incredible deals on brand-name items, but their discount brand Kirkland is just as good, if not better. People swear that the Kirkland toilet paper is better than Cottonelle and half the price. Even the Kirkland batteries are made by Duracell.
In fact, many Kirkland products are actually made by the big-name companies you already know and love. For example, did you know that Kirkland coffee is produced by Starbucks?
They Move Items For A "Treasure Hunt"
Yes, that's the actual word Costco uses to talk about the fact that you can never find anything in there. They choose to move the stock around so much so that you have to scan a bunch of items just to find the peanut butter.
If you don't want to risk making impulse buys, ask an employee to direct you to where the item is now. You still might see some tempting things while you're getting help, though!
Never Buy Soda From Costco
One of the few things that are better to buy in a normal grocery store is soda. Soda is what most supermarkets call a "loss leader." That means they sell it way below cost just to draw people into the store.
Even though it's incredibly cheap, Costco is still not quite the deal that the regular grocery store is for all your soda needs. This isn't something you hear much!
Ask The Roadshows How Long They'll Be There
Roadshows will go in and out of Costco, and they all stay for different amounts of time. Lindt, Krispy Kreme, and even vendors who sell items like specialty bedsheets will set up roadshow displays that rarely last more than a few weeks.
Either stock up now, or ask how long they'll be in store so you don't miss the deals. Once they're gone, there's a chance they could be gone for good!
Costco Hot Dogs Are So Cheap To Attract Customers
Half the point of making a trip to Costco is to get the super cheap jumbo hot dog and soda combo for only $1.50. Costco doesn't exactly make a huge profit off the deal, but they know it gets customers in the doors.
For many people, having such a cheap meal on hand (especially if shopping with kids) helps justify the annual membership fees. Plus, eating while you're at the store means you'll be full and less likely to load up on impulse purchases.
Don't Even Think About Stealing
It might sound like it'd be hard to steal a 76-pack of dish detergent, but people still try to steal from Costco. Every store employs a couple of secret security officers, which is a pretty common practice in most stores these days.
Costco's security officers walk around in plain clothes "shopping" just like they were a normal member, but in reality, they're keeping an eye out for people stealing merchandise.
You Can Fill Your Prescription Without A Membership
There's no membership required to go in and fill a prescription at the Costco pharmacy. Just walk in and tell the greeter what you're doing, and you'll have no problem heading straight to the pharmacy department.
The Costco pharmacy also boasts lower dispensing fees than most other drugstores, so you'll be saving money in the long run. If you DO have a Costco membership, it's a real timesaver to get your shopping done while your prescriptions are filled.
Dry Goods And Frozen Foods Are The Best Deals
Costco is great for bulking up on fresh produce or meats, but they aren't exactly door-busting deals. The non-perishables and frozen foods are the best deals because, of course, they last the longest!
Hopefully, this makes you feel better about buying that 100-pack of Oreos or 1 kg bag of trail mix. As long as you have room to store it somewhere at home, it's usually a better deal to buy in bulk!
Decode The Price Tags
Just like many other retailers do with their price tags, there's a rhyme and reason behind the prices at Costco. If a price ends in .97, then it means the item is on clearance.
If the price tag ends in .00 or .88, then it means the manager cut the price for a special reason, like it could be the last one in stock, doesn't have a box, or has pieces missing.
You Don't Need A Membership To Buy Alcohol There In Some States
There are a few things you can buy at Costco without a membership. In a handful of states, Costco's Kirkland-branded alcohol is one of those. Costco hasn't provided an official list, but there are several internet message boards about the topic.
The states mentioned in these forums include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Vermont. However, you'll definitely want to contact your local Costco before making the trip.
Shop Online To Find The Strangest Items
Costco is known for stocking just about everything imaginable, and you can find even more weird things online. Go to Costco.com and take a look at some of the unexpected things you can get, such as a funeral casket, a $1,000 doomsday emergency-food kit, or even coupons for local car dealerships.
The best part? They'll ship these strange things to most of their locations in states across America. How's that for service?
Learn The Layout
Every Costco is a little different, and they tend to change around item placement every day, but there are some general rules to know. Food aisles and household goods are on opposite sides of the store.
The bakery, deli, and produce all are located at the back of the store. In the middle is all the clothing, snacks, books, and gift cards. Master this information and you'll be successful every time.
Why They Check Your Receipt When You Leave
While many Costco customers may assume that a store employee checks your receipt and cart upon leaving to make sure you didn't shoplift, that's not the case. As it turns out, there are two reasons that Costco checks your items and receipt at the exit. The first is that they want to make sure that they stay on top of their inventory, and the receipt correctly matches the number of items in your cart.
Also, Costco wants to make sure that you're not overcharged or undercharged at check-out.
What You See Is What You Get
It's common to ask a normal store if they "have any more in the back" but don't even bother if you're at Costco. They are a warehouse store, which means they're stocked like a warehouse... everything is right there on the shelves.
There's no back room at Costco hiding the best deals. They're all out on the floor for you to see. This also saves employees from having to make trips to the back all day.
