Secrets Costco don’t want you to know – from the sign you need to spot for bargains & why rotisserie chicken’s so cheap
COSTCO is known for its large quantities and bargain pricing but there are some hidden details which can save you even more money.
A shopper revealed what to look out for the next time you visit the wholesale shop.
In her viral video, TikTok user Shivani Khosla (@khoslaa) took her followers along as she explored her local Costco.
As she walked through the shop, she revealed “the secrets that Costco don’t want you to know.”
Shivani began by discussing the shop’s popular and budget-friendly rotisserie chickens.
She pointed out that the ready-to-eat chickens, which retail for just £3.99, are always located at the back of the shop.
According to the TikToker, this layout design meant that shoppers picked up more items than they had originally planned.
She guessed that this allowed the shop to keep their prices so low.
Shivani admitted that the technique has worked on her as she has been convinced to spontaneously buy items because of their discounted prices.
She also discussed the hidden details to look out for on the price signs.
“Anything ending in ‘.99’ is the regular price, anything that ends in ‘.97’ means it’s on clearance,” the TikToker explained.
“And if you see anything with an asterisk at the top, this means that it is the last time it’ll be on sale.”
Shivani clarified that this symbol “basically means they won’t sell it again soon.”
She added that Costco also frequently change the layout of their shops.
This means that shoppers always have to browse the aisles to find anything on their list.
She pointed out that the average time spent in Costco is 38, approximately 10 minutes more than most other shops.
TikTok users shared their thoughts on the insights in the comments section.
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
“My biggest flex is I once spent 14 minutes in Costco. I went in, picked up my son’s cake, paid, and left,” wrote one viewer.
“If the price is highlighted then it’s heavily reduced. You often see it in the fruit and vegetable section but you can see it in some of the other food sections,” shared another shopper.
“These are correct, good spot on the inactive and active star signs,” commented a third person.
“Stock merchandising, all big stores will do this,” said another follower.
“[They] move their stock around. It’s to stop customers sleep buying because they know where everything is. Doing this they get lured to other products.”