Walk into any Costco this week and you'll spot the usual rotation of furniture, seasonal candy, and giant tubs of pretzels.
But the deals worth your attention rarely make the flyer.
They hide on endcaps, in the pharmacy aisle, and behind the asterisk.
That little star on a price sign is Costco's quiet signal that an item is discontinued or being replaced.
Once it's gone, it's usually gone for good.
If the price ends in .97, that's a manager's markdown, not a corporate promotion.
Combine the asterisk with a .97 and you're often looking at 30 to 50 percent off the original tag.
The pharmacy counter is one of the most overlooked money savers in the entire warehouse.
Costco's prescription prices are frequently lower than what you'd pay with insurance at a traditional chain, and you don't need a membership to use the pharmacy.
You can also ask the pharmacist for the cash price and compare it against your insurance copay before you commit.
Optical and hearing aid centers follow the same playbook.
A single pair of glasses with lenses can run $100 or more less than a typical retail optical shop, and the hearing aid department routinely undercuts standalone clinics by hundreds per device.
Both are open to non-members in most states.
Then there's the rotisserie chicken, still holding at $4.99 after years of inflation pressure elsewhere.
It's a loss leader by design, which means the margin has to come back somewhere.
That somewhere is usually the impulse buy you grab on the way to the register.
Watch the monthly instant savings book, but don't assume every circled item is a bargain.
Some discounts apply to bulk sizes you'll never finish, which turns a "deal" into waste.
Compare the unit price on the shelf tag against what you'd pay per ounce or per load at your regular grocery store.
Executive members get 2 percent back on most purchases, capped at $1,250 a year.
If you're spending enough to hit that cap, the upgrade pays for itself several times over.
If you're not, the standard membership is fine.
Costco will also refund the difference if you upgrade and don't earn back the extra fee.
Costco's return policy is generous, and that applies to electronics, appliances, and even some furniture.
If a deal turns out to be a dud, you're not stuck with it.
A .97 tag you see on Tuesday could be gone by the weekend, and online prices often differ from warehouse prices.
If you see a steep markdown on something you actually need, buy it then.
Waiting for a deeper cut usually means watching someone else wheel it away.
Costco's real value isn't the membership fee or the food court hot dog.
Final Thoughts
It's knowing where the markdowns hide and being willing to walk out empty-handed when the math doesn't work in your favor.