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Attention Costco shoppers: 5 money saving tips and tricks that everyone should know, according to experts
Costco is widely recognized as a go-to for bulk shoppers looking to stock up on food and groceries, home essentials and more. More than 10 million Canadians have Costco memberships that give them access to its gas station, a members-only pharmacy, Costco Travel, Costco Services, home improvement and more. But are shoppers making the most of their memberships to get best deals possible?
Nichole Schaubroeck and Tina Chow are two Canadian content creators who have each earned hundreds of thousands of followers by sharing the ins and outs of saving money while you shop.
'It's very hard to find a good deal, so anyway we can save, maybe it's not as extreme as it used to be, it's still good," said Schaubroeck who runs the account Coupon Cutie, in an interview with Yahoo Canada.
Keep reading to learn Chow and Schaubroeck's best tips and trips on how to navigate Costco like a pro.
According to Schaubroeck, Costco's price tags are a good predictor of whether or not an item will go on sale. Items that end in .97 are likely at their lowest price, making it prime time to stock up on what you need.
Another hidden hack is to look for what Costco shoppers call the 'death star,' an asterisk located in the upper right-hand corner of an item's tag.
'All this is telling you is that this item is either no longer going to be at Costco or it won't be back until next year,' said Schaubroeck.
Chow, who created the account Costco Lovers Canada, said that although the foot traffic in the store is constantly changing, sales seem to follow a schedule.
'I know that most sales end on a Sunday... new sales will begin the following week,' said Chow.
There's also what people refer to online as "Markdown Mondays" — when new items go on sale. While this is not a Costco-official event, it still creates a buzz for shoppers to find cost-friendly deals. 'They [Costco] are always doing markdowns," she added.
Additionally, Chow noted that Costco is known for 'following the trends of what's happening in the market,' which can help attract shoppers who are looking for products for a certain occasion. For example, it's not uncommon for Costco to have a sale on hamburger buns, ketchup, mustard and relish ahead of a long weekend.
Chow also recommends shopping as the weather changes to take advantage of out-of-season products at lower prices.
According to Costco customer service, shoppers are entitled to 'risk-free, 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee', meaning that the majority of purchased products can be returned and refunded at any time (excluding electronics and diamond jewelry). This allows shoppers to test out products and see if it is the right fit for them.
'If I'm going out and trying a $700 Dyson [hair dryer]... I want to be able to know that I can return it,' said Chow. 'I will always go to Costco and pay more on a product for their return policy.'
Costco also honours price adjustments on merchandise if the price drops within 30 days of the original purchase and the product is still in the store's warehouse.
Schaubroeck added that this flexibility is a large reason as to why Canadians turn to Costco for their shopping.
'It's always nice to have that reassurance when buying something, that no matter what happens, they will take it back for you,' she said.
One perk to owning a Costco membership is that it can be used worldwide at any location, which can come in handy when going on vacation.
Chow said she often uses her membership when travelling to help save on food and snacks. It's even handy for shopping and saving on souvenirs and local food.
Many Costco shoppers may not know that there's an official Costco app meant to enhance shopping experiences. The Costco app allows you to shop and save using online-only prices, check warehouse inventory and local gasoline prices, refill prescriptions at Costco's pharmacy, create your own shopping list in-app and more.
The app also allows shoppers to receive updates on sales promotions and product entering the store, a perk that Chow said is a 'huge secret' amongst Canadians.
'There are app-exclusive savings,' she said. 'If you follow Costco on Instagram, there are also exclusive savings available there."
Schaubroeck also highlights another app called Checkout 51, a platform that displays cash-back offers on Costco merchandise. While this does not apply to all products, Schaubroeck said it's an incentive worth checking out.
