Costco insider hacks you didn’t know existed! Employee secrets and more! 

Now that’s a heck of a saving!! Free money 💴 ❤

Wow, we love free money!!

I do this with my banks credit card I get 35 bucks each month of free money back. I always pay it off without any interest being tacked one@@theresamcclure7333

Yup, the more you spend the more you save. 😂

We do the same thing!

If I cash my rebate check first and then go through the register I won’t get money towards my next rebate check if I pay for my groceries with cash. I have to use my credit card, right?

@@terryhall2299 yes, I am sorry I had put that the wrong way, you cash your rebate check(s) then use that cash to pay off the card... Actually depending on your membership, executive membership will get you a check just for spending in any way, cash card it does not matter, but with the Costco credit card, cash the rebate check(s) then use the Costco credit card to pay for the Costco purchase. That way it adds back in for your next rebate check(s).

Thanks for the explanation. I saw where someone else advised to cash in the rebate but I didn't know why but now I know. 🤩

Get the cash, pay with the Costco credit card, use the cash to pay the credit card bill later.

Use your card to pay and deposit the cash into your bank account. ​@terryhall2299

I'm not a retail CEO but noticed practically all of them are talking about sluggish, challenging, soft, slowing, and weak consumer spending in earnings calls so I dumped all my Costco shares and opened a large position in energy/commodities. I was not a bag holder in the GFC and don't plan to be in the current collapse!

Same thing Mallory. I bought stock years ago and recession or not people will always need T.P. Food products and will more than ever want to save money.

@@ShannonRamoscope

Any deals on meat on those days?

Oh for real thanks for that tip fam!

how can you tell if an item is on clearance?

​@@monicalewis2981@ 3:00 Price ending in 97

@@monicalewis2981she literally tells you in the video.

So if they find it elsewhere will they ship it to you?

@@michellesanchez741 Unfortunately no. But we might have it online.

@@davident1 Ty for your reply.

@@michellesanchez741 You are very welcome.

You meant to say "I'm a 34 year..." As a 34 year... makes no grammatical sense.

Great tips!

I do the same with Wal-Mart, Target, Sam's Club apps as well

I find Sam's Club to be cheaper on comparable items.

@@dawhikenot organic at Sam’s

Yeah thats literally what I do at costco every time before I put anything in my cart lol👍

Right? Imagime if our goverment was run as well as costco 😅🎉

Ya, costco employees are always very lovely to deal with.

YES! And if you self check out (also, be fast when there). :)

This comment deserves more likes

The audiology department will give you a hearing test for free, with a detailed printout you can bring to your doctor, with absolutely no pressure to purchase anything! They will also clean and dry your hearing aids for you, or help you put them in, even if purchased somewhere else. The optical department will clean your glasses for free, even if purchased elsewhere. And if you ever wondered about some of the sounds you hear in the store? The meat market rings a bell when the rotisserie chickens are ready.

In my Costco you do need a membership but it is well worth the price. Great service goes along with great product and price.

The hearing aids they sell are a private label of one of the name brand manufacturers. Audiologist quoted us $5,600 for hearing aids. Got the same ones at Costco for $1,700. Plus they gave outstanding service.

My husband was recently tested and bought hearing aides there. He was asked for his Costco card. And yes, the same hearing aids for $1700. And exceptional hearing tests and fitting. The audiologist said that Costco subsidizes, so it's top notch at discounted prices.

Yes, I went to a Dr first then costco and it way better and hearing aids were 1/3 the cost!😊

They told me that they did not accept ins

My Costco accepts insurance in the ptical Dept but not the Hearing Aid dept.

Contacts too! I pay much less for them.

My insurance is garbage, but their prices are so good it's like having insurance even if you don't.

@@dawhike that’s weird! I would ask to speak to a manager. I don’t imagine that would vary from store to store.

I totally get that when I relocate it's based on the nearest Costco and Trader Joe's .

I've been a Price Club > Costco member since the early 1990's. I don't think I'd buy a home based on the nearest Costco (at least I wouldn't tell my wife that!).

I absolutely agree with you…. That is not very nice 😏

Was it in the coupons? That’s A LOT of bacon! 😂😋

@@Laurenski67 Don't think it was, as this was an Ohio store and my Michigan store didn't have the discount. I just got back from Texas and the one I hit had a lot of different items than MI/OH.

Obesity, clogged arteries in your future. Don't buy because it's on sale.

Talking about bringing home the bacon!!

I've got a lot of respect for your smoked meats game!

I didn’t know about their 30 day policy until I bought my Christmas tree from them the day before Thanksgiving and found it marked down afterwards. We got over $150 back from our out $450 purchase!

Their 30 day policy is very liberal out here where I live , I’ve gone to the service desk to get a price refund adjusted difference on so many different items that were WAY over a month to get the refund and they say to me “I’ll do it just this one time “ but I’ve done that at least a dozen times, probably more and they quote me the same words 😅

Another way around the 30 day rule that THEIR employee said to me is- let’s say it’s a shelf I bought , I paid 199$ for it , now it’s on sale for 149$ 45-60 days or more later , and I say “do you expect me to take it apart and bring it back ?” He says just go buy it and go through the checkout and then come back to the return it desk and he will refund me the whole price plus the 50$ to save me the hassle - I’ve done that as well- true example

Saved money on new car purchase. Subaru no haggle price.

You didn't even need to bring the receipt either.

The bulk meat prices are cheaper as well. So If you're doing a bbq party the bulk prices for meats at Business Costco are unbeatable.

Can you still use your gold star membership to enter?

@@MonaLisa-de4cp you should be able to. I don't remember any restrictions for any Costco Membership

@@T12i99iN thanks 👍

@@MonaLisa-de4cp I use a basic membership. We don't have the executive. I assume any membership level works.

Dang that is genius. Might have to be the go to Costco from now on!

You only get 2% back on your CC for Costco purchases, other than gas, where you get 4% back, 3% back on dining, entertainment (mostly), and 1% back on all other purchases, other than gas (4%) at stand alone places, meaning not other club gas, Kroger, etc....

@tedsilversyeager840 You forgot the Executive 2% back as a separate check than the card. I get 2 check one from Citibank and one from Costco.

@@j01150126 No, I didn't forget it at all, she/he was talking about the CC, where you only get 2& back on Costco purchases, and I think I covered the other perks/benefits of the CC....wasn't talking about the Costco membership card, I work the membership counter at Costco, the last 8 years....and she/he mention the 2% from Costco in their post, but thank you for replying!

They dont like us doing that.. but too bad. I shop in bulk so I dont have to come as often. Once in a great while there is something on coupon that I know Im gonna use but cant or wont come back to purchase during the coupon dates, I go thru twice, one check out after another. They can either adjust the price at the register or I go over to the self check out a second time. I get the 'I cant believe you're doing that' look. Like I said every once in a great while I will do that..maybe once a year but Im gonna' do it. My Costco check this year was $200 and my Costco Credit Card benefit check was another $200. Im one person and 3 pets. Im spending 'PLENTY' of money..not going to worry about item limits if I need it.

@@kellyname5733 I think it depends on the location. Our costco workers were the ones that told us. My husband was buying tp in 2020 for us and for my parents who were unable to go out. he asked if he could please just get 2 and they just told him to do 2 transactions

@mhasting3376: That 'good deal' comes at a cost. Aside from the fact it's overcooked, it is also inhumane, and not organic. The animal rights group Mercy for Animals sent an undercover investigator to work-and film-at one of Costco’s factory chicken farms in Nebraska. The resulting video, released in February 2021, showed swollen, injured, and deformed chickens living in a crowded, darkened warehouse. It was the subject of a New York Times opinion piece and became a central part of an initiative by Mercy for Animals called "Costco Exposed." Since then, Mercy for Animals has pressured Costco to sign the Better Chicken Commitment. Costco has not signed this agreement. While more than 200 companies-including Whole Foods, BJ’s, Burger King, Chipotle, and Subway-have signed on to that commitment

Love it except for the salt.

I also saw something where they soak them in bleach water to kill off bacteria and if it’s not cooked all the way through you can get sick. I can’t confirm this but it’s what I heard, I did stop buying them after that though!

Too bad it's full of toxic ingredients! It's very bad for you and even worse for the poor tortured chickens.

I never buy those since they’re pumped with sodium phosphates to tenderize the chicken. Not to mention the ethical part mentioned above by others.

Natural Grocers does this too and has been doing it for decades and with the new laws charging people for bags they have still offered boxes for free.

Aldis also. Has boxes for customers

Yeah, but those suckers are a bear to break down.

BJ’s as well, but Costco is far superior in every way.

Same at Sam's Club.

Yeah, but since Covid, they no longer offer the Veggie & Supreme pizzas. Both of those were the bomb.

@@brianp3753 I know! It's a bummer.

I love their pizza, but ii doesn't work as a leftover, for whatever reason.

Definitely not quality ingredients. Highly processed cheap GMO grain but sure it tastes good

They have a great clothing section! Such good prices!

I don’t think it’s a “newer” Costco thing. My dad added me to his membership when my mom past away… my membership says “member since 1989” - that Costco has a gas station 😊

Maybe it was just a fluke, but I got bad gas from Costco. It killed two cars and a lawnmower. Has anyone else had trouble?

And the Kirkland brand for Prilosec does not work better and faster, it is not as effective as Prilosec. I still got heartburn using the Kirkland brand.

My husband says Kirkland Pepsid ac doesn’t work as good as name brand. Same with pesto bismol.

One must look at the active ingredient and its percentage with the Kirkland brand of the same drug!!!

Kirkland Signature OTC is not made by the National brand it is competing with.

Hearing aids are name brand as well.

Agree…designer glasses are so inexpensive

Never seen grinders at our local Costco?

Pretty bad idea. Grinding beans right before making coffee then sealing them in bean containers keeps flavor and aroma. Also having burr grinder vs blade grinder.

@@makb5354 I knew someone would say that :)

Wait, where are the grinders???? I literally can’t find them and never seen anyone use em. I’d love the whole bean Starbucks but when I grind it at home it doesn’t work and I don’t want to buy expensive grinder. I’d love. Reply and thx ina dvance

@@donotrobme9295 in my Costco they are across from the auto batteries/tires after you get through the checkout lanes. just ask customer service desk where yours are. they might hide them in the employee area

My husband is the only coffee drinker. So he packs the coffee in the seal a meal bags and freezes it.

More Wrong information from Jordon Page! The Rewards check you get from Costco Must be used toward your purchase. You Can Not just Cash it!

I cashed mine.

At my Costco, they no longer give you cash back at the Customer Service desks. To get cash back, go through the checkout line (not self checkout) with a low cost item ($5 rotisserie chicken for instance), hand them your rebate check and they will give you cash back after deducting for the low cost item that you just purchased. If you have the Costco credit card and your check is $200, you will be missing out on $8 in future cash back (2% Costco, 2% credit card) if you use your check to purchase items.

I use my annual award check to pay my annual membership renewal. I get any additional money from the rebate in cash at Membership.

@@momoney2272 There are two kinds of rewards checks. I get both of them. One is from the Costco Visa card. You get different percentages back based on what you're using your card for-gas, travel, Costco purchases, etc. My rewards check from my Visa comes with my February statement and can be cashed at the register near the exit of the store. Last year, I was even able to transfer the amount from my Costco Citibank Visa app directly into my bank account. It was AWESOME!! And I will do that again this year. The other kind of reward check comes from having an executive membership. I used to be able to cash these at that same register, but the last time I got one, they weren't doing that anymore. HOWEVER, they did give me a Costco cash card with the full amount on it. That was really nice to just have a card to use partially rather than having to use the whole thing at once. I get this reward check in August every year. It is not nearly as much money back as the Visa reward though.

What a out the self check out line? You can do it there

I’m never asked to identify myself at Costco an I send my son all the time with no issues.

@@sylkola457 They're also standing there checking the cards.

Yes, they took my membership card because I gave my son to go there and buy me some stuff. They took MSH away from a lot of people and a lot of people stopped shopping there. They lost off a lot of consumers and then they're standing at the entrance and encouraging people to put up their cards. many opened accounts in BJ's where membership is much cheaper, they have more goods there and they treat customers better. I live in NY and a lot of people go to NJ to BJ's to shop there. When I went to Costco I asked why they took my card from my son. The consumer service woman was very rude and argued with me that he should have his own membership. My son is studying and doesn't shop there. He went shopping for me on Saturday. It's the same as if I was doing it. He lives at the same address and is a student. They don't understand it. Especially since I've been their customer for over 28 years. The owner is a Russian who started this business in the 90s and behaves towards like communist.

As a former Costco employee…the self checkout is now starting to verify that the membership card matches the ID because of that very thing.

Prices are similar, but service, cleanliness, return policy, ancillary services are 5 star @ Costco, the bakery can't be beat, having your basket emptied by a Costco employee, vs. yourself at the other club is worth it, not to mention, at least in my experiences at Wal-Mart (sorry, Sam's club), Costco provides boxes for your items, also, Costco, takes care of its employees, with exceptional pay, health care (for part timers too), observance of 9 holidays (paid), closes at a decent hour (for the employees), etc......Sam's club, about 6-7 years ago, closed 65 stores. You know how their cherished employees found out? By showing up to padlocked doors......that's Sam's club....anything else, just ask?

Sam’s app is 10x better. The scan and go feature is 👌🏾

Have had both. Costco wins 100 times better. Employees at Sam's don't seem to know anything so will make things up. Got a membership deal but then never got the gift card or items I was promised for free on the deal,just got the run around and lies. No membership deal at Costco but no lies, helpful employees. ❤ Costco

It'll never happen, and what for? Costco, is so far above the other clubs, it would be a waste of time to waste the time. Customer service, returns/refunds, cleanliness, employees knowledge of the entire store, etc. puts Costco in a class all by itself. Prices, are price shopped by all competitors, so, prices have an ebb and flow. Another outstanding service that Costco offers, are its ancillary services. That's where the membership pays for itself, many times over. Don't believe me, try it out for a year, if you're not satisfied, just ask for your membership fees to be refunded (after a year), and Costco, will gladly do it!! You're welcome, anything else, just ask, k?

I'll second that. Costco wants you happy. I have been going there for decades, and I have never seen a fight at the customer service desk. I've seen people return a gallon of milk, no problem. They seem to think keeping their customers shopping in their store is worth something, unlike a lot of retailers. Costco has a similar structure as Wal*Mart, but my gosh, they treat the customer like human garbage over there.

Wow, thank you for all the Costco tips. I currently do not have a Costco card but I think you convinced me to go get one! Happy Shopping!!!

Similar experience I purchased an $800 dollar item and I happen to be in the store a week later and it was on sale for $60 less. Went to the service desk and receive credit for the refund.😄

I return and rebuy as well. Also, you can just take your receipt to customer service and if the original purchase date is less than 30 days of the date when you are there when the item is on sale, the will refund the difference.

I am not understanding your post. I want to for sure but I read it several times and I dont get it. What does 'run their purchases or payments to Costco' mean? How do you 'run purchases/payments to Costco'? Somehow purchases on another cc can be credited to a Costco cc? Thanks

​@kellyname5733 I think they mean use the card at Costco. Otherwise ive no idea 😅Like Amazon's card gives 5% back at Amazon, extra couple% at certain stores, then the regular % for the rest.

I was wrong in my above description of using a city double cash credit card. You cannot directly pay another credit card with a credit card for its regular monthly balance. Whether you choose to use the Citi card visa, the Costco offers or the double cash card that I mentioned by city, you could pay all your bills using that one card if you have a line of credit that allows you to do such. Then pay it off at the end of each month. You’ll get cash back on things you buy on a regular basis anyways. Sorry for any confusion. It’s a way to get free money for future purchases. With city double cash I can elect to just get the cash and put it back in my checking account and use it for whatever I want.

@@danharvey61 Thanks for the 'clarification' about your post. Many, many, many years ago you could pay one CC with another CC. Sadly those days are gone. As soon as we find a way to benefit ourselves..they get rid of that benefit. Just like double points on CC, are soon to go away when too many people are benefitting. Getting double points for paying bills/utilities is a great benefit but I dont expect that to last. These CC companies lure people in with these benefits and soon start to take away little things here and there. The Costco card has done this in recent years. It used to be 2% on ALL purchases in or out of Costco and now it is 2% at Costco only. They also took away the automatic 3 year warranty on items now it is 2 years, 1 year manufacturer warranty and 1 year Costco warranty. So I only use my Costco card for Costco purchases at Costco..nowhere outside of Costco do I make any purchases. There are great benefits out there but the average person does not have the time to be constantly searching and checking the updated benefits of each card.

For the last few years Costco has changed how they price the chickens. If they are under a certain weight Costco charges by the pound, if they are over that weight they charge $4.99

@@davident1 It may depend upon where you are. Here in Richmond, VA they are still $4.99.

how'd you save money buying your car?

Apparently Costco has an auto buying program. I didn't know either, I just looked it up. @@ShaidHosain

Probably stated in the fine print but anybody who reads the fine print should do so in-store and ask a manager to interpret every least bit ambiguous legalese. After 2-3 hours for each customer, maybe they’d get the message & be more transparent.

@@gr8dvd If you can read the fine print you probably don't need glasses!

@@jessiebrader2926 True 😂😂😂 …unless you’re toting a microscope or large magnifying glass.

I think it depends on when you go. I recently went to get the full exam and was able to buy three pairs of glasses (distance, reading and sunglasses) for around $200 due to a BOGO type deal they were running. That beats my previous eyebuydirect purchases, even with their discounts.

i bought my desktop from costco but the pc i wanted wasnt available in store but it was still a lower price than the pc from the brand website

That’s very true about China. Look at labels. If it doesn’t have the country of origin, it’s China. All store brands of fruit and vegetables , regardless of the store, are from China. Also seafood. Buyer Beware!

I want to know what they put on the crops 🤔

Yes, in Canada, it is 90 days :)

Good to know 😊😊

What? Is that true?

​@@klattin1501You have to buy 100 ea. Not sure that they're cheaper but it's more convenient, especially before the price of the Forever stamps go up.

What department sells the stamps?

Cashier 😊​@@pamconnor3512

Over the years I've been to many optometrists but none have outpaced the quality and service at Costco.

Oh boy, it's a whole new world!

Aww thank you!

Wow!! That's amazing!

Look for the coupons in their ads for a deal on a second pair of glasses. Happens a few times a year. I think it is $30 off. I got computer progressives for $130 with frames!

I paid less than $90 for progressives frames included, at Zenni optical… I don’t go elsewhere! I have a Costco membership… but never buy glasses there.

Yes, eyeglasses are a great price. But also contact lenses! We keep our membership for the optical savings alone.

Do they take insurance too,.?

They also accept outside prescriptions. I go to my OD for my eye check-up and then fill my glasses prescription at the Costco Optical Department.

Love to hear this!! Thank you!

Their beef is much higher quality than local grocery stores, and frozen salmon is great. Bobby Parrish has a RU-vid channel where he talks about ingredients in foods and how to buy smarter. He says skip all the various frozen hamburger patties and go straight for the grass fed beef which is from New Zealand and doesn’t have hormones and chemicals. He also suggests Kirkland grass fed butter which is also from New Zealand.

@kathygann7632 I'm all about Texas beef, which is what I buy locally. And I never buy frozen salmon, I get fresh wild caught Alaskan sockeye at my grocery as well. That's how HEB does it when I say their meat is superior to Costco. Now if you're talking Kroger or Walmart, no thanks.

@@summerskyegardens I buy the frozen because it is so much fresher. It is frozen before it leaves Alaska. It sound like you have great meals!

@@summerskyegardens _Unless you're enjoying a fillet of salmon straight off the boat, high-quality frozen salmon beats "fresh" fish any day. That's because flash-freezing preserves the texture, taste, and freshness of just-caught salmon. If you live near a body of water, your fishmonger may offer never-been-frozen, locally caught seafood. This selection of fish changes, depending on what local fishermen have brought in. Assuming the fish has been been kept on ice, it's at its peak of freshness the day it's been caught. Beyond that first day though, fish quickly loses its taste and texture. Though it's never been frozen, it's not necessarily what you'd call fresh. Of course, salmon that's just come off of a boat that day and been delivered directly to your table will taste better than almost anything you can get elsewhere. That's true of basically all seafood and shouldn't surprise anyone. So, if you're in the coastal parts of Alaska or Washington state, you should obviously get the fresh stuff. Anywhere else, though? That's a different story. Here's where the science comes in, because the technology involved in modern-day transportation means frozen salmon is actually better than "fresh." Fresh salmon starts to lose its taste and texture within a day. So, if your grocery store advertises its salmon as "fresh, never-frozen," and it hasn't been flown in overnight (which it probably hasn't), then the salmon's probably not going to be that good. But most "fresh" salmon actually was frozen, then thawed for display at the grocery store - meaning that, during that time on display, it's been coming closer and closer to the expiration of its ticking clock. Frozen, packaged salmon doesn't have that problem. This type of fish is typically flash-frozen right at its freshest point, meaning it stays at that level right up until you thaw it yourself for dinner. Chances are, if you're not in one of the few places that offer fresh salmon caught that day, you're getting more quality out of the frozen stuff."_ " I never buy frozen salmon, I get fresh wild caught Alaskan sockeye at my grocery as well."

Honey, Flash freezing of wild caught salmon is done on the boats themselves. Instant nutritional preservation. @@kathygann7632