How to read Costco price tags: markdowns, codes, and discontinued items
Costco price tags show more than just the cost of an item. The final two digits of the price, symbols in the upper corner, tag colors, and small printed dates indicate whether an item is regular price, marked down on clearance, or scheduled to leave the warehouse.
Price endings and what they mean
The cents at the end of a price indicate who set the price and whether the item is discounted.
Items ending in .99 are sold at standard wholesale markup, typically up to 14% to 15% over cost. They are not marked down or on clearance.
Items ending in .97 have been marked down by regional buyers to clear inventory. These discounts come directly from corporate buying offices and usually represent clearance pricing across multiple warehouses in a region.
Prices ending in .00 or .88 are set locally by warehouse managers. These markdowns typically apply to display models, opened or damaged packaging, customer returns, or the last few units of a product taking up pallet space. These prices are specific to that store.
Odd endings in 9 indicate a manufacturer promotion or trial price funded by the supplier rather than a warehouse clearance markdown.
The asterisk in the upper-right corner
An asterisk in the top-right corner of a price tag means the item is pending deletion from the inventory system. Once current stock in the warehouse is sold, the store will not reorder or restock it.
An asterisk by itself does not mean an item is discounted; an item can have an asterisk and still be priced at regular .99. When an asterisk appears alongside a .97 or .00 price ending, it indicates final clearance on remaining inventory.
Tag colors and labels
Costco uses color on shelf signs to distinguish specific product categories and promotions:
- White tags: Standard price signs used for conventional merchandise.
- Green tags: Used for certified organic groceries, produce, and packaged foods.
- Yellow signs or banners: Indicate an active Instant Savings promotion from the monthly coupon book. Discounts are deducted automatically at checkout without paper coupons. The sign displays the original price, the discount amount, the net price, and the promotion end date.
- Yellow round stickers: Small circular stickers placed on tags are internal inventory indicators for items sold by weight (such as meat) or products undergoing physical audits. They do not indicate markdowns.
The date stamp in the lower-right corner
In the bottom-right corner of each paper price sign is a small date code, such as 09/12/26. This indicates the date the tag was printed or when the price last changed in the system.
If a clearance item ending in .97 has a date stamp that is several weeks old and inventory remains high, the item may receive a further price reduction if it does not sell.
Costco 30-day price adjustment policy
Costco provides price adjustments on items that drop in price within 30 days of purchase. If an item you bought at .99 is subsequently marked down to .97 or receives an Instant Savings discount within that window, you can request a refund for the difference at the membership desk. The item does not need to be returned to the store.
Summary of Costco price codes
| Code or Symbol | Classification | Description |
|---|---|---|
| .99 | Standard price | Regular inventory pricing; not discounted |
| .97 | Corporate clearance | Price reduction initiated by regional corporate buyers |
| .00 or .88 | Manager markdown | Local store clearance for display models, returns, or low stock |
| .49, .79, .89 | Manufacturer promo | Promotional pricing subsidized by the product brand |
| * (Asterisk) | Pending deletion | Item will not be restocked once current inventory sells out |
| Green Tag | Organic product | Identifies certified organic groceries and produce |
| Date Stamp | Price update date | Small date in the lower-right corner showing when the tag was printed |
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