What Does the Asterisk Mean on a Costco Price Tag?

Visiting Costco, as all members know, can be quite a journey. On top of tasting all the delicious food samples, there’s the actual shopping task. Buying in bulk can often be inherently money-saving, but paying special attention to the details of the price tag can help you make even better decisions for your budget.

For example, you probably already know to check the price-per-unit or ounce to figure out the best deal on something. But were you aware that Costco has another easy but potentially significant way for us to make wiser and more timely shopping decisions?

Read More: I Asked 4 Food Pros What They'll Only Buy From Costco—They All Said the Same Thing

Decoding Costco Price Tags

If you didn’t know, Costco—like many other retailers—has an important system for labeling price tags. Anything that ends in .99 is full price, so you can be sure it’s the priciest option available. Items that end in .49 or .79 are on sale, but only for a limited time. This means that there’s a promotional price determined by the item’s manufacturer, and eventually, it’ll go back to the .99 price.

Items ending in .97 are on clearance or manager discount, which is typically the absolute lowest price you’ll find for something at Costco (and a good indicator to get it now if you’re trying to save money). You may also want to move quickly on an item with a price ending in .00 or .88. This usually signifies lower price and limited availability because the store wants to clear an item out of the store. These numbers can also mean an item was returned, so it’s a good idea to inspect for potential damage before taking it to the register.

What Does an Asterisk Mean On a Costco Price Tag?

There’s one more important symbol on Costco’s price tags: the asterisk. If you see this on a tag, the item is going to leave Costco soon, potentially for good—either because Costco doesn’t want to keep selling it or because the manufacturer won’t be making it anymore. So if you spot your favorite snack and you’re worried about future availability, it’s not a bad idea to stock up.

That said, an asterisk isn’t always a bad omen. In a Reddit thread about Costco pricing, one former store employee added that “the asterisk means the item number is pending deletion in the system. It might just mean that the item is changing packaging/item numbers and will be back again, or it might be gone for the season and come back. It’s not always a ‘gone forever type deal.’”

If you’re curious whether something is leaving the store for good, you can ask an employee or rely on context clues. Redditors say seasonal items (for example, holiday-themed foods or decorations) often have an asterisk on the price tag, especially at the end of the season. In that case, there’s a good chance it could be back on Costco shelves again next season.

Either way, when you’re done shopping, pat yourself on the back for your sweet, strategic shopping victory—ideally, over a delicious snack at the Costco Food Court.

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