Save Even More Money at Costco

Unless you’re majoring in child development and interning at an orphanage, you probably don’t do the bulk of your shopping at Costco. But maybe you’ve been voted snack-fetcher for your UC Davis astronomy club, or you’re the guy or gal with the wheels who makes runs up Rd. 102 to Woodland for massive quantities of beer and chips. Whatever, we know you go there. Now, Lifehacker.com has some great tips on how to save big at Costco.

The price signs at Costco will clue you in to the best deals and help you save even more money at the warehouse store.

In an incredibly detailed post, Len Rapoport breaks down how the price signs indicate which items are marked down, specially priced, rebate items, discontinued, or will be not be restocked. (The last two categories aren’t necessarily money-saving ones, but they’ll help you know whether you should stock up on these limited items.)

In particular, look for:

• Prices that end in 97¢: These have been marked down from the regular priced items, which end in 99¢
• Odd pricing, such as 79¢, 49¢, or 89¢: These indicate specially priced items that Costco got a deal from the manufacturer. Rapoport says these can be better deals than at other stores, but not usually better than the 97¢ markdown.
• An asterisk* on the upper right side of the sign: The item won’t be reordered.
• 88¢ or .00 endings: Manager markdowns. Sometimes the company uses these to move a product very fast.

Want more great tips on how to save even more at Costco? Click on the link above.