Making a Costco run is so much more than running an errand. It’s a fully immersive experience, from the samples (duh!) to the fun lunch options to the treasure-hunt layout that ensures you’ll find all kinds of new items you didn’t even know you needed. But no matter how many times you’ve walked up and down those aisles, you could be leaving money on the table if you haven’t gotten the inside scoop. But that’s all about to change because we’ve spoken to retail experts to find out the biggest Costco secrets you probably don’t know.
RELATED: Costco Shoppers Are Abandoning These Kirkland Products: “Worst Things I’ve Ever Tasted.”
1. Buy and use gift cards strategically.
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We usually buy gift cards to give others for holidays and birthdays, but shopping experts recommend stocking up on gift cards at Costco for your own personal shopping.
“Many Costco’s will offer discounted gift cards—for example, you could purchase a $100 restaurant gift card for $85,” says Sarah Jankowski, director of user growth and integrated marketing at Shopkick.
“I purchase gift cards for grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, streaming services, and retail stores that I frequent often,” adds treasury and insurance expertChristian Strange. “Using these gift cards saves me 3 to 5 percent compared to paying full price.”
2. Learn the hidden price tag codes.
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True Costco insiders know how to shop smarter by decoding the hidden clues on price tags.
“Price tags featuring an asterisk represent clearance items that have been marked down to their lowest price and won’t be restocked, while prices ending in 97 suggest a manager markdown that likely won’t be offered for any less, meaning it’s a good deal,” shares money-saving expertAndrea Woroch.
E-commerce expert Kevin Shahnazari, founder and CEO of Finlywealth, adds that those ending in 00 or 88 indicate manager specials, “which are typically the best buys on items in bulk.”
3. Cross-check prices on the website.
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Believe it or not, sometimes the exact same item that you find in-store is cheaper online.
“They frequently offer an additional $3 to $5 off select Kirkland products like coffee, nuts, or snacks items,” says Sarib Rehman, CEO of Flipcost.
4. Download the Costco app.
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Costco members could be leaving money on the table if they’re not utilizing the store’s mobile app.
“I’ve found coupons for $3 off olive oil, $2 off bacon, and $5 off salsa—all Kirkland brand,” Rehman says. “Download the app, add offers to your card, and the discount will automatically be applied at checkout.”
5. Time when you shop seasonal bulk buys.
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You’re already saving when you buy in bulk, but you can do even better if you shop at certain times.
“Holiday weekends and the end of the season are usually the best times of year for sales, according to our analysis for Costco,” shares Larry Flores, a personal finance expert and finance consultant for Get Name Necklace. “During these times, when buying in bulk, the consumer will save an extra 15 to 25 percent off on the already low prices for in-season bulk products.”
6. Consider the Costco Anywhere Visa.
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If you shop at Costco frequently, consider getting the Costco Anywhere Visa to maximize savings.
“They give you 4 percent cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 each year, then 1 percent after that,” Bjornstad explains. “You’ll also get 3 percent on restaurants and eligible travel, 2 percent on all other purchases from Costco, and 1 percent on all other purchases.”
“The rewards and rebates I earn yearly offset a large portion of my annual membership fee,” Strange adds
7. Upgrade to the Executive membership.
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A basic Costco membership is $65 annually, while an Executive membership is $130—but economics expertAllie Echeverria says the latter is well worth it because you get an annual two-percent reward and additional service discounts.
“I always get a minimum of $60 back, so the upgraded membership pays for itself. My basic grocery shopping usually gets me to $120 back annually, covering my whole membership cost,” she notes.
8. Take advantage of the pharmacy.
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Have a prescription you get regularly filled? Consider doing so at Costco. “You’ll typically pay a lower price for your prescriptions,” says Jankowski.
Over-the-counter meds are also a great deal, according to financial coach and planner Kristin Bjornstad: “You can save up to 80 percent on popular medications when you buy them at Costco.”
9. Fill up at the gas station.
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If your Costco has a gas station, a membership may definitely be worth it.
“As I’m writing this, gas is 20+ cents cheaper per gallon at Costco than other gas stations,” Bjornstad told Best Life (editor’s disclosure: this was in Aug. 2024). “That is a significant difference. If you live close enough to a Costco and drive regularly, the gas savings alone might make the Costco membership fully worth it for you! If you’re a multi-vehicle family, it definitely will.”