Costco secrets revealed including the pricing code that tells you if an item has been discounted

The Sun

7 hours ago

EVERYONE loves feeling part of an exclusive club and it's even better if you get cheaper prices like at Costco.
And if you are a subscriber then there are some secrets, including a pricing code trick, that could help you get even bigger discounts.
1
Plus, we reveal how anyone can shop online and you don't need to qualify for a full membership.
Coupon king Jordon Cox shares his top tips and explains how to shop Costco like a discount expert.
Secret codes on price labels
Did you know that the pricing labels hold a lot more secrets than you might think?
They even tell you a lot about the item, purely by what the price ends in.
If a price ends in .97 - that means Costco has discounted it, or it's on clearance.
A price that ends in .49 .69 .79 - it's a manufacturer's special, so could be cheaper than other supermarkets.
The rarest is a price ending in .00 - which is a manager's special, and very hard to come across. These are usually bargain buys.
But if you see a price ending .99 - it's full price & nothing to shout about.
Finally, if you ever see a pricing label with an asterisk in the top corner, that item is not being restocked.
So if it's something you want, get it before it sells out.
Gift card discounts you should look out fo r
One of the best value things to buy in Costco is their gift cards.
You can often buy them for less than the value they're worth.
For example, £40 worth of Vue gift cards are priced at £34.99. £100 worth of Nando's gift cards are £83.99.
And £250 Virgin Experience days vouchers are priced at £199.99.
These are available both online and in store.
Remember, they are only worth buying if you wanted to spend that cash anyway - but they do work out great value for items you had planned to buy.
Don't forget to make a note of the expiry date and also consider that your cash isn't protected if a firm goes out of business.
Anyone can shop online
Did you know you can shop online on Costco's website, even if you don't qualify for membership?
There is an 'online only' membership for £42 per year, where you can get access to all of the deals online & delivered - you just can't go into a warehouse.
If you're looking to buy electricals, white goods or higher value items - this may be one of the cheapest ways to get them.
Get cashback if prices fall
If you're ever buying an item from Costco, it might be worth checking the price even after you've purchased it.
That's because, if the price is reduced within 30 days after you've bought it - you can claim back the difference.
This works especially well for those high ticket items like white goods.
You'll need to fill out a price adjustment form - and the money will be given back to you as store credit.
You can complete the form either online or in store.
Cheapest supermarket lunch
A staple of the Costco experience is heading to the food court - where you can find some real bargains.
One deal in the food court that has never changed, is a hot dog and fountain drink for £1.50.
This is the one of the cheapest lunches you can find at a supermarket - and some go out of their way just to get it.
It's known as a 'loss leader' for the supermarket, to tempt people through the door, and do more of their shopping there. But the hot dog is good!
You can also pick up a refillable drink for around £1.19 to take around with you while shopping.
How to save money on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.