Shop at Costco long enough and you become a wise, battle-worn warehouse warrior — someone who knows exactly when and how to plan a trip through the cluttered maze of bulk goods.
On Reddit, Costco’s savviest veterans have shared their “unwritten rules” and “No. 1” shopping tips, passing along their insights to other members, new and old — and these Costco shopping tips can completely change how you navigate the warehouse.
Plan Your Trips Strategically
Want to avoid the crowds? Frequent Costco during the weekly football game when the warehouse is a “ghost town.” If you’re shopping during the offseason, then going an hour or two before closing on a weekday is also a good bet, Redditors say.
Don’t Wait To Buy Limited Products
Go ahead and indulge your impulse-buying habits at Costco, Redditors say, especially when it comes to seasonal or limited-stock items. “If you see an item that looks appealing and isn’t normally stocked, buy it the first time you see it,” one top comment reads. “Waiting for the next trip typically results in regret as you may never see it in stock again.”
Know How To Read Prices
Pay attention to Costco’s prices. Price tags ending in .97 indicate that an item is on sale, while prices that end in .49, .79, or .89 mean that Costco received a special deal from the manufacturer. And be sure to buy up products that are on their way out, which employees note with an asterisk on the price sign.
Never Shop On Weekends
Unless you like crowds, long lines, and mobbed parking lots, you’re better off avoiding weekends at Costco. The exception, Redditors say, is if you live somewhere where folks go to church on Sunday.
Don’t Shop on an Empty Stomach
Steer clear of Costco if your stomach is grumbling, or, at the very least, fill up with a $1.50 hot dog before you start shopping. Studies have shown that hungry shoppers spend more money, even on non-food products.
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Vegetables and Produce Don’t Last
While it’s hardly a universal opinion, one top-rated comment warned shoppers that veggies and produce from Costco go bad quickly. Their advice? Either store them properly or shop for fresh goods elsewhere.
Kirkland Brand Products Are High-Quality
Costco devotees know that the warehouse store’s in-house Kirkland brand is (almost) always synonymous with quality. Superfans regularly praise Kirkland French vodka, coffee, and batteries.
Have Your Membership Ready at the Door
To avoid traffic jams and to make employees’ lives easier, be sure to have your Costco card out when you enter, checkout, and leave. “Don’t arrive to the door and start digging through your purse, or fumbling with your wallet holding up everyone else,” one commenter writes.
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Take Advantage of Costco’s Food Court and Gasoline
Don’t forget about two of Costco’s most beloved money-saving perks: its inflation-proof food court and low-priced gas stations. The hot dog and soda combo costs just $1.50 — a constant since 1985 — and gas is so cheap that it’ll likely make up for your annual membership fee.
Make a List … and Stick to It
While some Redditors recommend adopting a “life’s too short” mindset while shopping at Costco, others prefer a more organized, frugal approach. “My rule is to make a list and stick to it. If I see something I like, I add it to the list for next time,” a Costco veteran shares. Another Redditor-approved money-saving strategy is to purchase only what you can carry without a cart.
Pack Your Cart so Barcodes Face Up
Before you get in line, arrange the things in your cart with the barcodes facing upward and grouped by category. This makes it easier and quicker for cashiers to scan items — and can help speed up slow register times at Costco, where lines can get long.
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