Costco price codes: what .97, .00, .88 and the asterisk mean, and what Costco actually confirms

Costco price codes are the endings on warehouse price signs that shoppers use to spot markdowns: a price ending in .97 is widely reported to mean a markdown, and an asterisk in the top corner to mean the item won't be reordered. But Costco has never published or confirmed any of these codes, and the sources that report them disagree on .00, .88 and the rest. Our advice: treat a .97 or an asterisk as a hint, and rely on the rule Costco does publish, the 30-day price adjustment.

What do Costco price codes mean?

Here is what each ending is said to mean, and how much the sources agree:

None of these is official. Daily Hive collected the claims in May 2025 from shoppers, a Costco blog editor, social media and posts by people saying they are Costco employees, and noted that Costco did not reply to its request to confirm them. The .97 and asterisk readings go back at least to 2013, when Consumer Reports' Consumerist summarized them.

Does .97 mean clearance at Costco?

Usually, according to shoppers: .97 is the ending most reports agree means a markdown, often on items the warehouse won't restock. Markdowns are set by each warehouse, so the same item can be .97 at one Costco and full price at another. Costco has not confirmed the code.

What does an asterisk on a Costco price sign mean?

It is widely reported to mean the item won't be reordered, so once the warehouse sells out it won't come back. If you want the item, an asterisk is a reason not to wait. Costco has not confirmed this either.

Can you get a price adjustment if an item is marked down later?

Yes, and this rule is official. Costco refunds the difference if the price of something you bought in the warehouse drops within 30 days of your purchase, as long as it is still in stock and the lower price is still running. That applies to a .97 markdown too. Our price adjustment guide explains how to claim.

How do you find real Costco deals?

Start with Costco's own savings, marked warehouse, online or both: see how the Costco flyer works. Then check whether the sale price is actually low for that product by comparing the same item at one other store.

Costco's own brand is often the best value on the shelf; see whether Kirkland Signature is as good as name brands.

Rather not hunt for .97 tags yourself? An independent personal shopper can do the Costco run for you.