I’ve worked at Costco for over 19 years. Here are my 7 best tips for shopping there.

• I’ve worked at Costco for 19 years, so I have a few key tips for shopping at the warehouse.
• If you shop at Costco a lot, get the executive membership and pay attention to the prices of items.
• An asterisk on a price sign means that an item will not be restocked.

I’ve worked at Costco’s membership counter for over 19 years. Throughout my time at the warehouse, I’ve picked up a few tips to help save money and grab my favorite items before they’re gone.

Here are eight tips I use almost every day so I don’t miss out on groceries and items at Costco.

If you shop at Costco a lot, consider getting an executive membership

Signs with the asterisk at the upper-right corner mean it’s time to stock up because Costco will not be restocking that item.

If you enjoy a product, make sure to check its sign occasionally. Employees at Costco’s membership counter can also check if any surrounding warehouses will continue to restock that item.

Some pricing indicates an item was marked down

Prices ending in .97 or .00 are on sale. Most markdown prices mean the warehouse is trying to get rid of it, or it’s a seasonal item.

That being said, prices may vary per location.

Don’t miss out on Kirkland Signature items

Costco doesn’t provide grocery bags, but there are boxes available to help pack your items, usually toward the exit of the store.

I also recommend bringing some reusable bags to make packing up your shopping go smoother.

This story was originally published on May 2, 2023, and most recently updated on November 1, 2024.