Ever noticed those tiny numbers and symbols on Costco price tags and wondered what they actually mean? Those cryptic codes aren’t random. They’re telling you exactly when to buy, when to wait, and most importantly, when your chance to snag a deal has officially run out. Here’s the thing: most shoppers walk right past these clues without a second thought, missing out on serious savings or worse, finding their favorite item gone forever.
Let me tell you, once you know how to read these tags, shopping at Costco becomes a different game entirely. You’ll spot the items heading out the door, the ones hitting rock bottom prices, and the ones that won’t be coming back. So let’s dive in.
The Asterisk: The “Death Star” Warning That Time Is Running Out
Costco employees and regular shoppers call the asterisk the “death star” because it means an item won’t be restocked. Spot that little star symbol in the upper right corner of a price tag? That asterisk means the product is being phased out, either seasonal stock or a discontinued item. This doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting a discount, honestly. The price might still be regular. Asterisked products might go on sale in the following weeks, so shoppers can watch the product for additional dips in price.
There are different reasons why an asterisk appears. Sometimes the manufacturer stopped making the product, sometimes Costco decided to stop carrying it, and sometimes it’s a seasonal product. A product could get the asterisk simply because its packaging is being revamped, so it won’t return until the new packaging design is released. The sale might be truly over in the sense that once these items vanish from shelves, they’re gone for good.
Prices Ending in .97: The Manager’s Markdown That Won’t Last
Ending in .97 means corporate or merchandise buyers mark the price down, and you can be sure you’re getting a deal. This is your signal that something’s changed from the original price. Items ending in .97 aren’t just a couple of cents less than normal – they’re actually usually discounted quite a lot, sometimes just around a dollar off, but usually a lot more. These items are either manager markdowns or are actually on clearance and are not likely to continue to be available in the store after they’re gone.
The .97 discount may not be the lowest the price will go – if you’ve seen trail mix lingering in a display with the .97 tag for a couple weeks, there’s a good chance the price could drop. Don’t think you’re going to find this product for a better price if you just wait it out because this is probably already at the lowest price you’ll ever see, though there’s a chance it might go lower to move it off the shelf. The sale being truly over means these .97 items will eventually disappear from inventory completely.
Prices Ending in .00 or .88: Manager Markdowns at Rock Bottom
A Costco price ending in .00 or .88 indicates that the item is really cheap right now, with store managers deciding these markdowns based on items they want to clear quickly. These specific double digits signal sales on sales, whether because of low inventory, former display model status, an unfortunate minor flaw, or its reappearance because someone returned it. These lower prices are typically reserved for items that were returned, previous floor models, or slightly damaged but still able to sell, though it can also indicate an item with just a few remaining in stock.
You need to inspect carefully. That .00 or .88 ending can be a warning sign to scrutinize the product more closely because it might have been returned, could be damaged, or has missing parts, though it could just be an item with super low inventory. Chances are, what you see on the shelf is all that the store has left, and since store managers determine these, you generally won’t see the same markdowns at multiple stores. When this sale ends, it’s truly over because the inventory is gone.
The Date Code: Your Crystal Ball for Future Markdowns
On every Costco price sign is a date in the bottom right-hand corner that is the date that the sign was updated and printed, which happens every time the price changes. Here’s where it gets interesting. If you see a discounted price, check the date – if it’s been a while since the price was marked down, it might mean the price will go even lower soon. I know it sounds crazy, but this tiny date can help you decide whether to buy now or wait.
Looking at the date can tell you how long it’s been at that price – if it’s been reduced for a couple of weeks rather than a couple of days and there’s still a lot of products left, the store may be willing to reduce the price even more, especially if it doesn’t have an asterisk. Roughly speaking, items that have been sitting at a markdown price for several weeks without moving are prime candidates for another price drop. The sale becomes truly over once that asterisk appears or the inventory finally clears out.
Prices Ending in .99: Full Price Means No Sale At All
Standard pricing ends in .99 which is just the regular price that has not been marked down, with several outlets confirming .99 as being a full price ticket. This means this is the original, standard price of an item that hasn’t been further discounted yet – if it ends in a nine, it’s a regular price. Let’s be real, this is the least exciting code you’ll find. Items ending in $0.99 reflect the original, regular price, usually the highest retail level, though endings like $0.49 or $0.79 indicate a limited-time manufacturer promotion that will eventually return to their original level.
There was never a sale to begin with on .99 items, so technically the “sale being over” doesn’t apply here. Any Costco tag that ends in .49, .79, or .89 or basically anything other than a .99 is merely a sign of standard pricing, though those nines shouldn’t take all the wind out of your sales because your discount could already be embedded into the printed cost, as Consumer Reports noted these odd numbers usually indicate the manufacturer has done discounting of its own already. You’re still getting value, just not a special Costco markdown.
Understanding these five codes transforms the way you shop at Costco. That asterisk warns you time is running out. The .97 and .00/.88 endings scream that inventory is clearing and the deal won’t return. The date tells you if another markdown might be coming. The .99 reminds you there’s no sale happening at all. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll never miss another clearance opportunity or waste time waiting for a sale that’s already ended. What price codes have you spotted on your last Costco run?
