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This Costco Trick Is the Shopping Secret Every Member Should Know

Learn hidden price-tag clues showing which Costco products are leaving.

By Erica Loop , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Aug. 27, 2026

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Costco has built its reputation on bulk savings, popular private-label products, and the thrill of finding unexpected deals. Many members head into the warehouse with a shopping list and leave with a cart full of items they never planned to buy. Part of that excitement comes from the fact that Costco regularly rotates merchandise, introducing new products while quietly removing others.

That constant turnover means that a favorite item might disappear without much warning. Fortunately, longtime Costco shoppers have identified a simple clue that could offer an early heads-up. Combined with a few pricing codes, it is one of the many great Costco shopping hacks and tells whether a product is likely to stick around or may be nearing the end of its run.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Note the small Costco asterisk

One of the most talked-about Costco shopping tricks involves a tiny asterisk printed in the upper-right corner of a price sign. Many shoppers pass by it without noticing, but experienced members know it as valuable information.

The symbol has earned the nickname "the Star of Death" among Costco fans because it generally indicates that a product is not expected to be restocked in the normal way. In many cases, once the remaining inventory sells out, shoppers may not see that exact item again.

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Not every asterisk means goodbye forever

The asterisk doesn't necessarily mean you'll never see the product again. Costco frequently carries seasonal products that appear for only part of the year before disappearing for several months.

For example, holiday foods, seasonal baked goods, outdoor furniture, and summer grilling products typically leave warehouses when demand slows. These items may receive the asterisk near the end of the season even though they are expected to return the following year.

Some products really are being discontinued

While seasonal merchandise usually comes back, other products are removed from Costco's assortment permanently. This may happen when sales slow, a supplier relationship changes, or Costco decides to make room for a new item.

When shoppers notice an asterisk on a product they purchase regularly, it may be worth considering whether they want to buy extra before inventory runs out. Once remaining stock is gone, finding the same item again could become difficult.

Why Costco rotates products so frequently

Many traditional supermarkets stock tens of thousands of products. Costco takes a different approach by offering a much smaller selection of carefully chosen items.

This strategy helps the warehouse dedicate more shelf space to high-volume products while continuously introducing new merchandise. The limited assortment creates the treasure-hunt shopping experience many members enjoy, but it also means products often cycle in and out faster than shoppers might expect.

What a .99 price usually means

The numbers at the end of a Costco price tag can offer another clue about how an item is priced. A price ending in .99 generally indicates the item's regular price rather than a markdown.

Seeing .99 doesn't necessarily tell you how much inventory the warehouse has, but it generally means you're looking at standard pricing rather than one of Costco's commonly discussed clearance or manager markdowns.

Why to pay attention to .97 prices

Costco shoppers should pay special attention to prices ending in .97. These numbers frequently indicate a markdown that has been approved to help move inventory more quickly.

A .97 price does not automatically mean an item is being discontinued, but it can mean that Costco is trying to sell through remaining stock at that warehouse. If the product also carries an asterisk, shoppers may want to consider buying in bulk because it may not be coming back.

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The meaning behind .00 and .88 prices

Prices ending in .00 can signal a warehouse markdown, according to Costco's own employee orientation materials. Other Costco shoppers also look for .88 endings, which are commonly associated with local markdowns or items with limited remaining inventory.

These price endings can show up on products a warehouse is trying to clear out, including items with limited quantities or returned merchandise. Because these markdowns can vary by warehouse, availability and pricing may differ from one Costco location to another.

Combining the clues for better Costco shopping

The most useful Costco shopping strategy is looking at both the symbol and the price ending together. Each clue provides information on its own, but together, they can give shoppers a better indication of whether an item is being sold at its regular price or being marked down as inventory moves out.

For example, a product priced at .99 without an asterisk may have a longer future at the warehouse. An item marked with an asterisk and carrying a .97, .00, or .88 ending could suggest that remaining inventory is being cleared out.

When it makes sense to stock up

Not every discounted product deserves a bulk purchase. Shoppers should still consider expiration dates, available storage space, and whether they genuinely use the item regularly.

When a household favorite receives an asterisk or a clearance-style markdown, buying an extra package may make sense. This approach will work especially well for shelf-stable pantry items and household essentials.

Bottom line

Costco's price tags contain more information than many shoppers realize. A small asterisk could mean that a product is nearing the end of its warehouse run, while price endings such as .97, .00, and .88 often point to markdown activity or inventory reductions for shoppers looking to save on groceries.

One additional tip is to pay attention to where an item is displayed. Products moved to endcaps, special clearance areas, or isolated pallets sometimes appear there because inventory is being consolidated. When those display changes occur alongside an asterisk or markdown price, shoppers may have discovered one of Costco's best-kept shopping secrets.

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