5 Types of Popular Costco Items You Should Never Buy Full Price
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Jamie Stone
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Zuri Anderson
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Costco’s warehouse aisles are packed with deals, but savvy shoppers know that timing is everything.
While the retailer offers competitive everyday pricing, certain popular items go on sale so frequently that paying full price means leaving money on the table. Here are several types of items you should never buy full price at Costco.
Understanding Costco’s Pricing System
Costco uses a strategic pricing code that helps informed shoppers identify the best deals. According to The Krazy Coupon Lady, prices ending in .97 indicate clearance markdowns, while prices ending in .00 or .88 signal manager markdowns. Regular prices typically end in .99 or .79.
Additionally, Costco rotates manufacturer-sponsored promotions monthly, creating predictable discount cycles for many popular items.
Electronics: Wait for Quarterly Refreshes
Major electronics see the steepest discounts during Costco’s quarterly inventory refreshes in January, April, July and October. Consumer Reports notes that waiting for these clearance periods can save $200 to $500 on TVs and laptops as newer models arrive.
Kitchen appliances like air fryers, stand mixers and instant pots regularly go on sale with instant rebates of $20 to $50. These promotions typically run every six to eight weeks.
Clothing and Seasonal Items
Costco’s clothing selection operates on aggressive clearance cycles. Items that don’t sell within 30 to 60 days get marked down significantly. Wait until you see .97 prices on clothing, which can mean savings of 30% to 50% off the original warehouse price.
Patio furniture marked down in August and September can save shoppers $100 to $300 per set. Similarly, holiday decorations get clearance pricing immediately after each holiday passes.
Pantry Staples with Sale Cycles
While Kirkland items maintain consistent quality, many follow promotional schedules. Kirkland Signature coffee, nuts and snacks typically go on sale every eight to 12 weeks with savings of $3 to $7 per item.
Major brands like Cheerios, Tide and Bounty rotate through manufacturer-sponsored promotions offering $4 to $6 instant rebates. These deals appear in Costco’s monthly coupon book, available at the entrance or online for members.
Beauty and Personal Care
Premium skincare brands at Costco, including CeraVe, Neutrogena and Olay, regularly feature $5 to $10 instant savings. According to CNET, these promotions run monthly, making it easy to time purchases around discount periods.
Costco’s vitamin selection sees frequent manufacturer rebates of $5 to $15, typically refreshing monthly. Buying during rebate periods can reduce per-unit costs by 20% to 30%.
How To Track the Best Deals
Costco releases a new coupon book monthly, typically at month’s end. These instant savings stack with existing warehouse prices, creating the deepest discounts. The coupon book is available in-store or through the Costco app.
The final week of each month often brings aggressive markdowns as Costco clears inventory before new promotions begin. This timing creates overlap opportunities where clearance prices coincide with new coupon book savings.
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