Few pursuits are more American than a Costco run.
The primal search for a parking space in the glorious, SUV-packed expanse of pavement on a Saturday morning; the smell of defiantly priced hot dogs; and the sight of shuffling masses making their way through lofty aisles, demanding bulk goods, giant apple pies and human-scale Advent calendars.
Yet, when it comes to finding apex deals at America’s favorite big-box retailer, timing is everything.
Recently, expert and blogger Claudia Chee — of Costco Claudia fame — shared the best time to shop the big box for discounts.
Chee shared that the ideal shopping window depends on what you want to take home, but in general, one month stands out for discounts.
“January is the best time to shop; that’s when all the good stuff goes on sale,” Chee told Simply Recipes, explaining that the first month of the year is rife with post-holiday deals.
Chee underscored, however, that if you really love an item, don’t sleep on it, as many of Costco’s myriad treasures are seasonal, limited-quantity, and easily sell out before you are ready to shell out.
For those who are looking to determine what items are likely to sell out, Chee recommends taking a look at the price tag, noting that most items end in .99; however, “A price ending in .97 or .00 means that the warehouse marked it down. An asterisk means the item won’t be restocked.”
Costco shoppers widely know that asterisk as the “death star.”
Get it while you can, folks.
Beyond January, Chee stans September for steep discounts on BBQ essentials and other outdoor goods.
Black Friday is also a hotbed for deals, with discounts extending to electronics, appliances, clothing, toys, and more.
Chee also advised shoppers not to jump on an item simply because of its price point.
“There’s a common misconception that the cheapest price is the best deal,” she explained, noting that customers should pause and consider whether they truly need or will honestly use the item in question.
“When I started Costco Claudia four years ago, I was always hunting for a deal. Now I look at ingredients and materials first,” she said.
“A $9.99 polyester shirt isn’t a win to me, but $19.99 organic cotton is. Same with food—I’d rather pay a little more for real, whole ingredients than save money on preservatives and additives.”
Chee also shared that Costco mails savings booklets to all members, and while you don’t need the physical coupons to cash in on the deals, knowing which items will be marked down can help you plan your shopping expeditions to maximize savings and utility.
Earlier this year, Costco revealed it will open another 33 warehouses in fiscal 2027 — bringing the warehouse giant closer to its goal of 30 net new locations a year.
CEO Ron Vachris announced the new spots in its latest earnings call, and the retailer expects to shell out about $7.5 billion for the new locations.
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