Costco, often seen as a place to buy bulk toilet paper or a $1.50 hot dog combo, has become a treasure trove for many savvy members and shopping experts. While most people have traditional views of this warehouse store, seasoned members have been unlocking hidden gems and luxury items there for quite some time.
Combining the real-life shopping experiences of readers from The Wall Street Journal and advanced strategies from various consumer media, we have put together this comprehensive “Costco Savvy Shopper’s Guide” for you.
Recently, The Wall Street Journal has received private shopping experiences from hundreds of readers, which have overturned people’s traditional impressions of this chain store.
Aim for luxury items and high-priced jewelry:
Costco leverages its strong bulk purchasing bargaining power to secure huge discounts. Readers have found 3-carat diamond rings at Costco, with jewelers even mistaking them for coming from Tiffany & Co. Others have purchased gold bars or top Bordeaux wines such as Château Giscours here.
For large families and lifestyle upgrades:
In addition to pianos and saunas, buying a car through Costco’s Costco Auto Program often offers prices that other dealerships find hard to match; some readers have even bought fig trees for their yards here.
Treasure hunting mentality and local specialty stores:
Up to 40% of each Costco store’s merchandise is unique to that location. Readers advise going with an open mind (and a generous budget) – you may have originally come for toilet paper or a rotisserie chicken, but end up taking home a trampoline or a wooden cabin (referring to the backyard cabin kit).
While visiting the Hawaii stores (especially the busiest one on Oahu), you can also get Japanese rice crackers and Hawaiian fruit at extremely affordable prices.
Worry-free return policy:
Costco’s legendary flexible return policy allows readers to return items like televisions used for many years, coats worn for many years, or used beach chairs without any hassle.
In addition to experiences from The Wall Street Journal readers, combined with the compilation of various financial and consumer media, seasoned Costco shoppers have a few major “hidden tactics” such as:
Ending in .99:
Regular retail price.
Ending in .97:
Company-wide clearance price, indicating the product will not be restocked, so you should grab it when you see it.
Ending in .00/.88:
Manager’s special price, often for display samples, returned items put back on shelves, or products needing to be cleared out, offering significant discounts.
A “*” in the top right corner:
Indicates the product is being discontinued (death star); if paired with .97 ending, it means it’s the final chance to buy.
Many members overlook the official Costco Next platform. Members can place orders directly with Anker, Dyson, Travelpro, and other partner brands through this platform, enjoying exclusive Costco discounts and direct delivery from the manufacturers, with a wider range of products than physical stores.
Best shopping times:
Tuesday to Thursday mornings have the fewest crowds and are also the easiest times to find clearance discounts.
30-day price protection:
If the price of a purchased item drops within 30 days, you can apply for a price adjustment by presenting the receipt.
Calculating rewards for premium members:
Executive members enjoy 2% cashback, and if you spend over $3,250 at Costco in a year (an average of about $271 per month), the extra membership fee will fully pay for itself.
Avoiding overspending:
If you only need to buy a few daily essentials that day, resist using a large shopping cart (only buy what you need); or use the “reverse budget deduction method,” input your budget in a calculator on your phone and subtract as you add each item to prevent impulse buying.
Quick ordering at the food court:
Order an 18-inch pizza as soon as you enter the store, so when you finish shopping and check out, your order will be ready, saving you the 15 to 20-minute wait time at the food court.
Bulk storage techniques:
Buying bulk meats or cheeses is often risky due to the risk of expiry and waste. Regular customers will portion them and use a vacuum sealer to freeze them, extending their freshness by several months, truly realizing the cost-saving benefits of wholesale prices.