It's no secret you can already save money at CostCo just by shopping there, but that isn't the only way to get more bang for your buck out of the warehouse retailer. Savvy shoppers can find ways to keep even more cash in the bank by employing a few additional tips, tactics and strategies when they head out to do their shopping. If you're ready to hang on to more dough, here's 10 ways to save even more at CostCo.
You can also buy a membership, stock up in a few massive trips and then cancel it by saying you were not satisfied. CostCo has a 100% money-back guarantee. If you claim you aren't happy with your experience, you'll get all your membership costs returned.
Kirkland is meant to be a high-quality brand so CostCo doesn't skimp. Some of their stuff is not great but the majority of the time you'll get materials that are equal-to or even better than the name brand at a fraction of the cost.
Shop Seasonally
Like all retailers, CostCo has massive markdowns right after the holiday season where you can reap massive rewards. You should also know that CostCo does a big price cutting right after summer as well, so at the first nip of autumn, you should make a point of heading in to stock up for the next year. You'll also want to keep your receipts just in case another retailer, or even CostCo itself, slashes their prices on some item you just bought so you can take advantage of their price matching guarantee.Get Online
Going to a CostCo outlet can sometimes be a hassle. There are crowds to contend with, parking lots, and battling another shopper to the death over the last case of A-1. This isn't always necessary. CostCo recognizes that it can be a headache to shop at their outlets which is why they offer additional bargains, deals, coupons, and offers to people who skip the trip and shop online. You'll often find discounts on items that are only available through their website and online deal codes that will save you cash. Most of the time shipping is included and you can be guaranteed to get your item, while inventory at the actual store might be depleted.Shop Without a Membership
If you want to save money at CostCo without coughing up the yearly membership fee, you can get in the door by having a CostCo cash card that a member bought for you. That is all that is required for you to help yourself to the heaps of savings available inside. You don't even need to make your entire purchase with the card. If you have a cash card worth only $25 and you rack up a couple of hundred bucks worth of merchandise, you can simply pay the difference with one of their accepted payment methods. Now that's sneaky saving.You can also buy a membership, stock up in a few massive trips and then cancel it by saying you were not satisfied. CostCo has a 100% money-back guarantee. If you claim you aren't happy with your experience, you'll get all your membership costs returned.
Crack the Codes
The way a true guru knows to save money at CostCo is to learn the secret price codes. Each sign has a few things to note so that you can determine what are the best buys and what you should pass by. Here's what to know:- If a price ends in 88 cents or an even dollar amount it is a manager's markdown. They make these when they need to get rid of an item very quickly. It is specific to each store and tells you that they really want you to buy so these will have a much lower price than usual.
- 97 cent steals: Ordinarily an item ends in 99 cents, so if you see "97" at the end it has been cut down from its usual price. These are usually the items that give you the most savings so it is worth taking a look.
- Prices with odd cents amounts (examples: 49, 59, or 79 cents): These are items that CostCo bought cheaper from the manufacturer and they are passing the savings on to you. You won't save as much as the other methods listed, but it still might be worth checking.
Welcome to Kirkland
Kirkland is CostCo's store brand and by buying Kirkland products you can save a bundle. Here's the best part: They are often made by name brand companies at a lesser price. Pureology makes the Kirkland shampoo. Bumble Bee makes the tuna. Huggies makes almost all of the diapers, and Humboldt Creamery makes the Kirkland Signature ice cream. The best is the booze. Grey Goose handles their vodka while Jim Beam makes their bourbon.Kirkland is meant to be a high-quality brand so CostCo doesn't skimp. Some of their stuff is not great but the majority of the time you'll get materials that are equal-to or even better than the name brand at a fraction of the cost.