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Best Costco Secrets

Here are the secrets hidden in Costco’s price tags and even more tips and secrets. Deciphering the Costco price system can lead to getting great deals.

Best Costco Secrets

Items Ending in .97

Any price tag that ends in a 7 is usually a clearance item or “managers special” that have been marked down from regular price. Quite possibly a deal worth scooping up.

Items Ending in .00 or .88

These price tags indicate that the stock is low or an item has been returned and/or damaged. Be sure to examine before you buy

Items Ending in .49 or .79

Any product that ends either .49 or .79 indicates promotional offers from the manufacturer and will be limited time before returning to .99. It’s possibly an exclusive Costco price and lower than other retailers.

Items Ending in .99

Any price that ends in .99 is a full-priced product, and likely to be re-stocked.

Price Label with an Asterisk*

When a price tag of an item features an asterisk that means it’s been discontinued by the manufacturer (or Costco) and priced to sell. The asterisk i usually located on the top right-hand corner.

Brands Behind Costco’s Kirkland Label

Here are the confirmed brands behind Costco’s Kirkland Signature Products. There are many others that may be likely, speculation or even debunked.

  • Acetum balsamic vinegar
  • Blommer chocolate
  • Bolthouse Farms carrot juice
  • Bumble Bee tuna
  • CooperVision contact lenses
  • Diamond Naturals dog food
  • Duracell batteries
  • Formaggi Zanetti Parmigiano Reggiano
  • Green Mountain Coffee Keurig K-Cups
  • Huggies diapers
  • Isigny Ste-Mère brie
  • Ito En green tea
  • Jelly Belly candy
  • Kader Exports shrimp
  • Niagara bottled water
  • Ocean Spray cranberry juice
  • Perrigo infant formula
  • Reynolds aluminum foil
  • Sonova hearing aids
  • Starbucks coffee
  • Stearns & Foster mattress
  • Ti Point sauvignon blanc
  • Townsend Farms three berry blend
  • Trident Seafoods fish oil
  • Warren motor oil

More Costco Tips & Secrets

  1. 30-day price guarantee
  2. Non-electronics are 100 percent satisfaction guarantee
  3. Order ahead especially party platters and deli items
  4. Ask for price matching
  5. You don’t have to buy a whole Rotisserie chicken. Ask the meat department to cut into halves or quarters
  6. Opt for generic brands which are often as reliable as name brands
  7. Take advantage of discounted gift cards at restaurants, stores and entertainment parks
  8. Use membership worldwide
  9. Shop on weekdays to beat the crowd
  10. The physical coupons are never necessary
  11. Almost any item can be returned
  12. Electronics come with free tech support
  13. Bring your own bags
  14. Kirkland’s Spiral Ham is one of the best deals on a ham that you’ll find
  15. Use Costco’s prices to price match and bargain other stores
  16. Search the Costco website for deals only found online
  17. Use the Costco app
  18. Monday’s are the quietest times to shop
  19. A ringing bell means a new batch of cooked rotisserie chicken has been put out
  20. Split bulk packages with friends
  21. No manufacturer coupons are accepted
  22. Many Costco locations sell bulk meat in Cryovac bags and these bags come at a steep discount. These are not located on the sales floor, check with a meat department employee
  23. Ask about special “Butcher” discounts
  24. Ask for special cuts
  25. Gas prices are very competitive and often cheaper than any where else
  26. Free tech support on electronics provided by US call centers
  27. Buy a chest freezer and fill it up with bulk frozen items
  28. CostcoGrocery has online grocery delivery service with same-day and 2-day delivery options through Instacart
  29. With a Costco Shop Card gift card you’re entitled to access to Costco without a membership. Only members can purchase this card so find a family member, friend or co-worker who has membership
  30. There is no Costco membership needed if you purchase through Instacart, however prices will be higher than shopping in-store
  31. All of Costco locations accept EBT cards and comply with state laws regarding eligible purchases that can be made with EBT cards.

Orange County Costco Locations

There are 14 Costco locations in Orange County including one business center.

Cypress Costco
5401 KATELLA AVE
CYPRESS, CA 90720-2809
(562) 668-5150
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Fountain Valley Costco
17900 NEWHOPE ST
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92708-5404
(714) 338-2183
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Fullerton Costco
900 S HARBOR BLVD
FULLERTON, CA 92832-3098
(714) 738-7521
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Garden Grove Costco
11000 GARDEN GROVE BLVD
GARDEN GROVE, CA 92843-1206
(714) 638-6308
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Huntington Beach Costco
7562 CENTER AVE
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92647-3002
(714) 372-7510
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Irvine Costco
115 TECHNOLOGY DR
IRVINE, CA 92618-2408
(949) 453-0435
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

La Habra Costco
101 N BEACH BLVD
LA HABRA, CA 90631-4468
(562) 524-0001
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Laguna Marketplace Costco
27220 HEATHER RIDGE RD
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677-3418
(949) 389-8703
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Laguna Niguel Costco
27972 CABOT RD
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677-1211
(949) 364-0217
Services: Food Court, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

San Juan Capistrano Costco
33961 DOHENY PARK RD
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675-4836
(949) 240-3558
Services: Food Court, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Tustin Costco
2700 PARK AVE
TUSTIN, CA 92782-2708
(714) 338-1933
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids

Tustin Ranch Costco
2655 EL CAMINO REAL
TUSTIN, CA 92782-8918
(714) 838-7895
Services: Food Court, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department

Westminster Business Center Costco
13225 BEACH BLVD
WESTMINSTER, CA 92683-9210
(657) 400-7006
Services: No additional service at Business Center

Yorba Linda Costco
22633 SAVI RANCH PKWY
YORBA LINDA, CA 92887-4664
(714) 282-6650
Services: Food Court, Gas Station, Tire Service, Pharmacy, Optical Department, Hearing Aids


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