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Costco price tag codes: what shoppers say they mean
The endings and symbols on Costco tags, who reports each meaning, and how far to trust them.
The bottom line
Costco has not published what its price endings or the asterisk mean, and it has declined to comment when asked. The meanings below come from shoppers and employees, repeated by news and food sites. Most say .99 is the regular price, .97 is a markdown, .00 or .88 is a store-level markdown, and an asterisk means the item may not be restocked. Use them as hints, not proof of a low price. The 30-day price adjustment is the one rule here that Costco states itself.
What the endings mean, as reported
None of these meanings come from Costco. Each is what shoppers and employees report, so they may vary by warehouse.
.99
Reported meaning: Regular price, not marked down.
How solid is it: Reported by Tasting Table, BGR, Food Republic and Dexerto. This is the least disputed one.
.97
Reported meaning: A markdown or clearance price. Several reports say it is set by a store manager for that warehouse and the item may not come back.
How solid is it: Sources differ on details: some say manager deal, some say clearance. None is from Costco.
.00 or .88
Reported meaning: A store-level markdown. Tasting Table and BGR link it to returned, damaged, open-box or display items, or low stock.
How solid is it: Food Republic adds that .00 shows up mostly on apparel and .88 on perimeter items. That detail comes from one source.
.49, .79 or .89
Reported meaning: Often described as a maker-funded promotion or a limited-time deal.
How solid is it: Sources disagree. Dexerto says .49 or .79 can mean a new product in a trial run. Tasting Table says manufacturer sale or price match.
* (asterisk)
Reported meaning: Most reports say the item is being discontinued or is seasonal and will not be restocked.
How solid is it: Employee comments in Newsweek dispute this and say it can mean other things.
Two smaller signs
- Date in the lower-right corner: Food Republic says it is mainly when the sign was printed and may hint that a price change is due. Signs are usually reprinted when a price drops.
- Green tag: Tasting Table and Food Republic report that it marks organic items. Food Republic adds that, according to shoppers, not every organic item gets one and some warehouses have not adopted it.
How reliable are these codes
Not very, and you should know why. Costco declined to comment on what its tags mean when FOX 9 asked. Newsweek could not verify the claims it reported, and employees in the comments disagreed with parts of them. The sources also disagree with each other on .97 (manager markdown or clearance) and on .49 and .79 (maker promotion or new-item trial). An employee quoted by Tasting Table put it this way: it is "not really a code, more just a set of rules that we follow to track pricing and be consistent throughout the region."
Which approach fits you
| If you... | Do this |
|---|---|
| Hunting for clearance | Look for .97, .00 and .88 endings and an asterisk. Treat them as hints, then compare prices elsewhere. |
| Buying something you need soon | Do not wait on a hint. Buy at the price you see and keep your receipt for the 30-day price adjustment. |
| Buying a big item such as a TV | Check the model number and the price at other stores. See our Best Buy vs Costco guide for return and warranty differences. |
| Shopping organic | Do not rely on a green tag alone. Some warehouses have not adopted it, so read the package label. |
More on warranties and returns: Best Buy vs Costco for electronics. Current offers: Costco deals.
Traps to avoid
Treating the code as official
Why it matters: Costco has not published these meanings and declined to comment when asked.
How to check: Read every code as a hint. Compare the item at one or two other stores.
Watch out for: Assuming a .97 is always the best price anywhere.
Assuming every warehouse follows the same rules
Why it matters: Reports say .97 and .00 are often set by store managers for that warehouse.
How to check: If you want an item, ask an employee whether it is being cleared.
Watch out for: Planning a trip around a code you saw on a post from another state.
Waiting for a second markdown
Why it matters: Reports say the date on the tag can hint at when a price last changed.
How to check: Look at the date in the lower-right corner. An older date on a marked-down item may mean it has sat a while.
Watch out for: Waiting too long. A clearance item may be gone before it drops again.
Skipping the price adjustment
Why it matters: Costco says purchases that drop in price within 30 days are eligible for a price match on Costco.com orders.
How to check: Keep your receipt. If the price falls, ask at the membership or return desk, or use the request form on Costco.com.
Watch out for: Missing the 30-day window. Costco can deny a request.
The 30-day price adjustment
This one is Costco's own wording, for Costco.com orders: purchases that reduce in price within 30 days of the purchase date are eligible for a price match. If the sale has set dates, the request must come within the promotion dates and within 30 days. Costco does not match other retailers, and it can deny a request at its sole discretion.
For warehouse purchases, reporting says to bring your receipt to the membership or return desk and that you do not have to return the item. One report says some warehouses offer the same policy, so ask before you count on it.
Before you check out
- Read the ending and any asterisk as a hint, not a promise.
- Search the same item at one or two other stores.
- Check the date in the lower-right corner of the sign.
- Keep your receipt and note the date. You have 30 days to ask for a price adjustment.
- Check the return policy for the item type, such as TVs, before you open the box.
How we put this guide together
We don't test or verify these codes in stores. We read the news and food-site reports and Costco's own price adjustment page listed below on October 9, 2026, and compared what each one says. Where they disagree, we say so. Costco can change its policies and its tags at any time, so check with the warehouse before you rely on either. We earn a commission on some purchases through our links; that never decides what we recommend. Disclosure
Quick answers
Does Costco say what .97 or .00 price endings mean?
No. Costco has not published a meaning for them. Fox reported that Costco declined to comment on what its price tags mean. The meanings in this guide come from shoppers, former and current employees, and the news and food sites that repeat them.
Does a price ending in .97 always mean a good deal?
No. Most sources say .97 marks a markdown, but reports also say it can be set by a store manager for that one warehouse. A markdown is not proof of a low price. Check the same item at other stores before you buy.
What does the asterisk on a Costco price tag mean?
Most reports say the item is being discontinued or is seasonal and will not be restocked. Employees quoted by Newsweek disagreed, saying it can also mean other things, such as repacking or a delay from the maker. Treat it as a hint, not a rule.
Can I get money back if a Costco price drops after I buy?
Often yes. Costco says purchases that drop in price within 30 days are eligible for a price match on Costco.com orders, and it can refuse a request. For warehouse purchases, reporting says to ask at the membership or return desk with your receipt.
Do all Costco warehouses use the same codes?
Not necessarily. Employees quoted in reporting call these rules, not a code, and say they are followed to keep pricing consistent across a region. Food Republic also notes that some warehouses have not adopted green organic tags.
Shopping at Costco now?
See Costco deals and every store's Black Friday ad as it comes out.
Sources
- Tasting Table, "Costco Price Tag Endings Explained: What .97, .00 & .88 Really Mean" (Aug 14, 2025)
- BGR, "What Do Costco Price Tag Codes Really Mean?"
- Food Republic, "Every Costco Price Tag Code, Explained"
- Food Republic, "Does The Date On Costco Price Tags Matter?" (Jun 14, 2025)
- Dexerto, "Costco low pricing secrets finally explained"
- Newsweek, "Woman reveals hidden Costco tricks, including the star of death" (Mar 24, 2026)
- FOX 9, "Costco shopper says he cracked the code to price tags and the asterisk" (Costco declined to comment)
- Costco Customer Service, "Price Adjustment - Costco.com Orders"
- Tasting Table, "The Costco Policy That Has You Covered When You Miss A Sale"
- The Daily Meal, "The Costco Price Adjustment Policy You Absolutely Need To Know About"
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