PriceAdjustPro
Sign in
Costco guide
What .97 means on a Costco price tag
Updated
Quick answer: a Costco price ending in .97 is a markdown — the item has been reduced from its regular price, usually to clear remaining stock. Regular Costco prices end in .99. Costco has never published this code, but shoppers and former employees report it so consistently that it is one of the most reliable signals in the warehouse.
The price-ending code, decoded
Costco does not put SALE signs on shelves. The signal is in the last two digits of the price:
| Ending | What it signals |
|---|---|
| .99 | Regular price. No discount. |
| .97 | Store markdown — reduced by that warehouse, usually to clear stock. The classic clearance ending. |
| .00 / .88 | Often a manager markdown: display models, returned or open-box items, or stock the warehouse wants gone fast. |
| .49 / .79 and similar | Frequently reported as manufacturer promotions or test prices — a deal, but from the supplier rather than a Costco markdown. |
| Asterisk (*) | Not a price, but a corner mark: the item will not be restocked once it sells out. |
One honest caveat: none of this is official. Costco corporate has never confirmed the code, endings can be used differently between regions, and a .97 price in one warehouse says nothing about the warehouse across town. Treat the endings as strong signals, not policy.
The asterisk: Costco's death star
An asterisk in the corner of the tag means the item is not being reordered. Shoppers call it the death star. On its own it is neutral — seasonal items get it every year. Combined with a .97 price, it usually means last chance: the price has been cut and the stock will not come back.
What .97 means for your wallet
- Shopping the aisle: a .97 tag is the closest thing Costco has to a clearance sign. If you were on the fence, this is the moment.
- Already bought it? If an item you purchased in the last 30 days now shows a .97 price at the same warehouse, you may be able to claim the difference. Markdowns are set per warehouse and eligibility varies, so ask at the service counter — the general process is covered in how a Costco price adjustment works.
- Comparing warehouses: .97 markdowns are local. The same item can be .99 at one warehouse and .97 at another.
Frequently asked questions
Is .97 always a clearance price at Costco?
Almost always, based on consistent shopper and former-employee reports: .97 marks an item reduced from its regular price to clear it out. Costco has never published its price-ending code, so treat it as a strong signal rather than a guarantee.
What does the asterisk on a Costco price tag mean?
An asterisk in the corner of the tag means the warehouse will not restock the item when it sells out. Shoppers call it the death star. Combined with a .97 price, it usually means last chance.
Can I get a price adjustment down to a .97 clearance price?
Sometimes. If you bought the item at the same warehouse within the last 30 days, it is worth asking at the service counter. Markdown prices are set warehouse by warehouse and eligibility varies, so the counter has the final word.
Tag endings tell you what the warehouse is doing today. What most members never find out is when a price drops on something they already bought — 3 mistakes that cost you a Costco price adjustment covers exactly how those refunds slip away, and if you shop both in-store and online, the two tracks work differently.