13 Mistakes We Make When Shopping at Costco

Retail stores like Costco give shoppers a fantastic opportunity to save big as long as they don’t mind buying in bulk. Not too long ago, it wasn’t possible to stock your home with the necessities that would last you for months on end. And although Costco is a great business, shoppers still make many mistakes while visiting.

These are the common mistakes we all make when entering the United States’ largest warehouse market. Avoiding these pitfalls will save you money and a little bit of your sanity, too.

Paying Full Price for a Membership

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Like most businesses, Costco’s business model revolves around customers purchasing an annual membership plan. So, while getting your yearly membership renewed automatically with a bank account or credit card is easy, not searching for discounted memberships is a mistake nobody should make.

Discounted yearly Costco memberships are out there for you to take advantage of. You just need to know where to look. Search internet forums and be on the lookout for limited-time offers. When you see a deal that knocks a few dollars off the price of your membership, jump on the opportunity.

Shopping Without a Plan

Making your weekly (or monthly) trip to Costco isn’t all that different from going to the supermarket. After you figure out what you need, you plan accordingly and head into the store with a list in hand. Doing this keeps you on track and your budget under control.

But let’s face it: we’re all guilty of walking into Costco without a plan. Of course, this results in us buying large quantities of things we don’t necessarily need in addition to the things we drove to the store to buy. Having a game plan while shopping at Costco will save you time and money.

Forgetting to Price Adjust

Like all major retailers, Costco has a generous price adjustment policy, which extends to its own in-store pricing. Not taking advantage of this perk is one of the worst mistakes you can make!

If you purchase an item and its in-store price has gone lower in the last 30 days since you bought it, you can request a price adjustment. Imagine how much money you can save if you keep your eyes peeled for unexpected price drops, even if you already found an excellent price.

Not Taking Advantage of the Return Policy

For better or worse, Costco has the most flexible and shopper-friendly return policy ever. The store allows shoppers to return any product bought at its stores for a full refund without any time restrictions. That means you can return a product at any time for any reason.

There are even instances of customers returning used two-year-old furniture without a receipt for a full refund, which is quite crazy. So, although Costco’s return policy is generous, you should still take advantage of it without abusing the whole system.

Shopping at Busy Times of the Day

You’re wrong if you thought long lines in checkout areas and overcrowded aisles only occurred in supermarkets and grocery stores; they also happen often in Costco. Shopping at Costco during the busiest time of the day (between five and seven o’clock in the evening) will only bring you headaches, but that doesn’t stop millions of shoppers from doing so every day.

Keep your shopping experience stress-free by going in the morning or later in the evening before your local store closes. Being part of the Costco zoo is no fun.

Not Using the Costco Auto Program

The Costco Auto Program is one of the best-kept secrets of your Costco membership. Many men and women don’t take advantage of it because they don’t even know it exists.

The Costco Auto Program gives you a discount on buying or leasing a new car (with participating manufacturers). It’s as easy as that; you buy your next vehicle through Costco, and the store will pass along a discount of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It makes a large purchase like a new car or truck sting your wallet a little less.

Shopping While Hungry

It’s the cardinal rule of shopping at any establishment that sells food: don’t show up hungry. Shopping while hungry is dangerous enough at your local supermarket, but entering a Costco on an empty stomach is a terrible mistake: you will over-purchase due to your hunger pangs, not because of your shopping list.

Use your head: eat a good meal at home before venturing into your local Costco. A full-bellied Costco shopper is a smart Costco shopper.

Overbuying

When you’re inside a place as cavernous and enticing as Costco, your shopping habits can quickly spiral out of control. Overbuying is one of the cardinal sins of bulk shopping because it can significantly dampen your budget for the rest of the week (or month).

Yes, there are deals everywhere at Costco. The allure of buying everything you need under one roof is sometimes too good to pass up. However, your wallet will thank you if you exercise self-control and stick to your pre-determined budget and grocery list.

Not Buying a Hot Dog

One of Costco’s most underrated membership perks is its delicious, affordable food options. There’s no shame in having a meal during your weekly Costco run, especially when hot dogs and their world-famous chicken bakes are inexpensive and tasty.

Prices are so low you’ll think the company is stuck in the 1980s. Ask around; most people cite Costco’s fresh Little League baseball-style food options as one of the best parts about visiting their local store!

Being Too Loyal to Your Local Store

It’s easy to become addicted to shopping at Costco. The thought of getting so many good deals at once is almost too good to pass up. However, using common sense is essential because the best deals will sometimes not be found at your local Costco.

Don’t forget about other stores. The supermarket and grocery stores down the street try their best to compete with the wild discounts warehouse chains offer, so they actually have competitive prices, too, depending on the products and the season. It’s always wise to double-check non-Costco stores for essentials.

Not Using All of Your Membership Benefits

A Costco membership is more than just access to one of the best shopping experiences in America. Many people make the major mistake of not using all their member benefits. Fortunately, that’s an easy habit to break.

Costco members enjoy discounts on everything from gas to prescriptions to vacation packages. There’s a good chance you’ve never looked over your official Costco membership packet, so now’s the time to get familiar with many of its great benefits. (Remember, there are different membership levels, so your individual benefits may vary.)

Not Stocking Up on Gift Cards

Gift cards are some of the most common gifts to give a loved one, and no store has better deals on them than Costco. While most shoppers walk right past Costco’s impressive wall of gift cards, they don’t realize they’re making one of the biggest mistakes they can make.

Costco gift cards are always a great deal. Not only do they offer cards for every business, restaurant, and shop you can think of, but they’re always cheaper than buying at other stores. At Costco, $100 gift cards often cost $80 or less, which makes doing all your Christmas shopping at Costco one of the best decisions you can make.

Not Stocking Up on Postage Stamps

Did you know that Costco sells Forever Stamps at prices lower than your local post office? It’s true! While writing a letter and mailing it the old-fashioned way is a little out of style in 2024, shopping at Costco is about saving as much money as possible, so you should always consider stocking up on stamps during your next visit.

Forever Stamps will always be enough to send a letter even if prices of a typical stamp go up (and they have, a lot, in recent decades). Nobody wants to go to a post office in 2024, so simplify your life by grabbing your stamps at Costco.