Costco Price Tag Secrets & Sale Cycle (2026)

Costco price tags hide a code that regular shoppers walk straight past — and once you can read it, you know exactly when to buy. In short: a price ending in .99 is full retail, .97 means the item is on clearance, .00 or .88 is a final manager markdown, and an asterisk (*) in the top-right corner means it will never be restocked. Add Costco's sale cycle, monthly coupon book, and 30-day price adjustment policy, and you have a complete playbook. Here is how all of it works in 2026.

Costco Price Tags Explained: What the Endings Mean

Costco does not run traditional weekly sales, so its price tags are the sale signals. Learn these endings and you can spot a genuine deal at a glance:

Price ends in	What it means	Your move
.99	Full regular retail price.	No rush — standard price.
.97	Manager markdown / clearance.	A real deal — worth grabbing.
.00 / .88	Final liquidation markdown.	Lowest it will go — buy now.
.49 / .79	Often a manufacturer/special price.	Good value; check against .99.

Quick rule: The further the ending drops below .99, the deeper the discount — and the more likely the item is on its way out of the warehouse for good.

costco price tags

The "Death Star" Asterisk

The most important symbol on a Costco tag is the little asterisk (*) in the top-right corner — shoppers call it the "death star." It means Costco will not reorder the item: once the current stock sells out, it is gone. A .97 price plus an asterisk is the ultimate signal — a marked-down product that will never come back.

See a .97 with an asterisk on something you want? Buy it on the spot. There is no "I'll get it next time" — there is no next time.

Costco's Price Adjustment Policy: Money Back in 30 Days

Here is a secret that quietly saves members real money: if an item you bought drops in price within 30 days, Costco will refund you the difference. For Costco.com orders you request it through their online form; for in-store purchases you take your receipt to the returns counter. It takes minutes, and on a big-ticket buy it can be worth a lot.

Where you bought	How to claim the difference
Costco.com	Submit the online price-adjustment form within 30 days.
In warehouse	Bring your receipt to the membership/returns counter within 30 days.

The Costco Coupon Book: How the Monthly Savings Work

Costco's other big saving lever is the monthly coupon book (the "Member Savings" book). It arrives roughly once a month, runs for about a 28-day window, and contains instant discounts on 80 to 150 specific products — no clipping needed, the savings apply automatically at checkout. In 2026 the books run back-to-back; for example, one window ran July 27–August 23, with the next running August 24–September 30.

Plan around it: If something you want isn't in this month's book, it may appear in the next — and coupon-book prices often stack with an already-low warehouse price.

Costco Sale Cycle: When Do Prices Drop?

Because Costco lacks weekly ad cycles, its "sale cycle" is really the clearance rhythm plus the monthly book. Prices tend to fall as seasons turn and buyers clear space for new inventory — so end-of-season is prime time for .97 and .00 tags. Combine three habits: read the tag endings, check each month's coupon book, and keep the 30-day price-adjustment window in mind after any large purchase.

Timing	What to expect
Start of month	New coupon-book savings begin (~28 days).
End of season	Clearance .97 and .00 tags spread as stock clears.
Any time	Asterisks flag items that won't return.

Best Costco Shopping Secrets & Tips

Scan endings first. Train your eye on .97 and .00 tags — they are the genuine deals.
Respect the asterisk. A .97 with an asterisk is buy-now-or-never.
Claim price adjustments. After a big purchase, check the price for 30 days and reclaim any drop.
Read the coupon book monthly. Time non-urgent buys to when they're featured.
Shop end-of-season. That's when clearance markdowns are widest.

Costco vs Other Store Sale Cycles

Costco's model is unusual, but the underlying skill — learning a store's savings rhythm and buying at the right moment — pays off everywhere. If you like this kind of insider timing, we have the same deep-dive for other retailers. See our Hobby Lobby Sale Cycle guide and our Home Depot Sale Cycle tips to master their patterns too.

Conclusion

So the "secret" to Costco is simply learning to read it. Once you know that .97 means clearance, .00 or .88 means final markdown, and an asterisk means gone for good — and you layer on the monthly coupon book and the 30-day price adjustment — every warehouse run becomes a smarter one. Combine these habits with verified coupon codes here at GetMePromo, and you'll stretch every dollar further.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a .97 price mean at Costco?

A price ending in .97 means the item is a manager markdown or clearance — a genuine discount, and worth grabbing. Regular full-price items end in .99.

What does the asterisk on a Costco price tag mean?

An asterisk in the top-right corner means Costco will not reorder the item. Once current stock sells out, it is gone for good, so buy it if you want it.

What do .00 and .88 price endings mean at Costco?

They signal a final liquidation markdown — the manager wants the inventory gone. These are usually the lowest prices an item will reach.

Does Costco offer price adjustments?

Yes. If an item's price drops within 30 days of your purchase, Costco refunds the difference — via the online form for Costco.com orders or the returns counter for in-warehouse buys.

How often does the Costco coupon book come out?

About once a month. Each book runs roughly 28 days and features automatic instant discounts on 80 to 150 specific products.

When is the best time to find deals at Costco?

End-of-season is prime time, when clearance .97 and .00 tags spread as stock clears. Also check each month's coupon book and watch for asterisks on items you want.

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