It might help to know the alleged secret meaning behind the price tags at Costco if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck.
The big-box store shopping hack has been shared widely online and on forums like Reddit, but an Instagram reel by @amyinnewport brought it back into the spotlight late last year.
In the reel, Amy Parvaneh’s kid breaks down the supposed hidden meaning behind certain Costco price codes.
According to the video, here’s what it means when the price of the product ends with certain numbers:
- Prices that end with a .99 are the original price
- Prices that end with a .79 are a manufacturer’s discount only for Costco
- Prices that end with a .00 are on clearance, and the cheapest it’ll get
- Prices with an asterisk (*) at the end mean the item won’t be restocked and, therefore, is also on sale
@amyinnewport/Instagram
While Costco hasn’t replied to Daily Hive’s request to confirm these secret meanings, numerous outlets online have reported similar interpretations. They mostly source shopping experts and influencers who say they’ve cracked the code.
However, there are some differences between each Costco price tag guide.
In 2023, food site The Kitchn spoke with CostContessa editor Marie Clark, a Costco deals expert.
Clark goes down to the last decimal point, saying that standard pricing ends with a 9, meaning that tags ending in .79, .89, or .29 indicate regular prices.
She adds that sale items end in a double zero or seven. So, if a price ends in .00 or .97, it’s on clearance.
Another difference between hers and Parvaneh’s interpretation is that .88 signifies manager markdowns.
This TikToker says prices ending in .79, .89 and .39 mean the store has a “special deal and is testing out regional markets.”
@photogami The Secret Code of Costco’s Price Tags! Did you know that there’s a meaning behind the ending prices at costco? I’m hunting down sushi ingredients at Costco once again and will breakdown what all the numbers mean. Also I found the Grillo’s Pickles Utz potato chips and ritter sports chocolates, I’m pretty sure I have ADHD and included a review of it at the end as well #costco #costcofinds #costcohaul #utz #chips #chocolate #pickles #thesushiguy #costcosushi #thesushiguy ♬ original sound – The Sushi Guy
An article from The Globe and Mail last year also translated the prices differently. It reported that price tags that end in .00 or .88 signify low stock and, therefore, lower prices.
A post from MoneyGenius says a price ending in .97 means the product is on clearance, and .88 means it’s a manager’s discount.
Some of these interpretations have been corroborated or corrected by people who claim to have been Costco employees.
This infographic on Reddit from two years ago has two comments from alleged workers.
One said the infographic is correct, except for prices that end in .97.
“That’s not a ‘store manager special,’ that’s clearance. Our warehouse doesn’t decide what to mark down with a .97, corporate/buyers do,” they commented.
“If it ends in .00, that is warehouse-specific; the store management has decided to get rid of it as quickly as possible. But that also means that just because you see something priced at .00 in one Costco doesn’t mean you’ll see that same price at another Costco.”
An alleged 11-year Costco veteran employee agreed.
“.00 is manager deal. .97 is corporate or buyer markdown. 00 is furniture and big ticket items. Or last items in shelf. Most stores or all will not allow employees to buy .00 items unless it’s a special ok from the manager. Like produce or a food item,” they wrote.
“Price changes occur before open most times unless it’s an occasional manager markdown. I’ve seen meat and certain items get marked down and gone by the middle of the day.”
It’s also unclear if these so-called rules apply at Costco stores worldwide or if there are differences depending on the country. Daily Hive has asked for clarification on this, too.
Next time you’re at the big box retailer, examine the price tags closely to see if you can get a better deal on your next purchase.
This article was originally published on October 2, 2024. It has since been updated.