The best deals you can find at Costco, according to employees

Advertisement
The best deals you can find at Costco, according to employees

Costco shopper

kyle tsui/Flickr

Make the most of your membership.

Advertisement
  • Costco membership provides access to a store known for its deals and bulk quantities.
  • Business Insider reached out to Costco employees to find out what they thought were the best deals in the store.
  • Employees highlighted a huge range of products, from bananas to hearing aids to the $1.50 food court hot dog.


Costco membership is supposed to bring about some major savings. The retail chain is famous for selling items in bulk, which can help you save money, if you know what you're doing. It also boasts a food court that hawks cheap and yummy eats, and tons of surprising and quirky offerings.

But Costco employees themselves know firsthand which deals are worth it - and which are best to skip.

A Costco employee with 15 months of experience told Business Insider that seasonal items can make for pretty good deals when supplies of the product are running low. "They are marked with an asterisk on signage and can be marked down quite a bit," they said.

But there are plenty of other products that Costco workers think are worth your money. "You just have to pay attention," said one worker with two years of experience at Costco.

Advertisement

Business Insider spoke with 35 Costco employees to get their ideas on what items you should consider buying at the retail chain.

Here are some things you might want to consider picking up on your next Costco run, according to workers:

{{}}

Kirkland products

Kirkland products

— three Costco employees with 10 years of experience, 25 years of experience, and nine years of experience, respectively

The $1.50 hot dog from the food court

The $1.50 hot dog from the food court

— three Costco employees with three years of experience, two years of experience, and 19 years of experience, respectively

Advertisement

Cheese

Cheese

— a Costco employee with five years of experience

Jewelry

Jewelry

— two Costco employees with two and a half years of experience and six years of experience

Advertisement

Toilet paper

Toilet paper

— five Costco workers who have worked at the store for 10 years, six years, two years, three and a half years, and 22 and a half years

Dog food

Dog food

— two Costco workers with seven and a half years of experience and two years of experience

Advertisement

Alcohol

Alcohol

— two Costco employee with seven years of experience and three years of experience

Electronics

Electronics

— three Costco employees with two and a half years of experience, 10 years of experience, and four years of experience

Advertisement

Water

Water

— five Costco workers with two years of experience, 12 years of experience, six years of experience, 15 months of experience, and two and a half years of experience

Eye glasses

Eye glasses

— two Costco employees with 23 years of experience and 10 years of experience

Advertisement

Name brand products like Tommy Bahama, Birkenstock, and Adidas

Name brand products like Tommy Bahama, Birkenstock, and Adidas

— a Costco employee with two years of experience

Vacation deals

Vacation deals

— a Costco worker with six years of experience

Learn more about Costco vacation deals »

Advertisement

Microwave popcorn

Microwave popcorn

— a Costco employee with three years of experience

Folding chairs

Folding chairs

— A Costco employee with three years of experience

Advertisement

Bananas

Bananas

— a Costco employee with two years of experience

Oven-roasted turkey

Oven-roasted turkey

— A Costco worker with four years of experience

Advertisement

Clothes

Clothes

— three Costco employees with six years of experience, three years of experience, and two and a half years of experience

Stamps

Stamps

— a Costco worker with six years of experience

Advertisement

Produce

Produce

— a Costco employee with four years of experience.

A worker with 10 years of experience added, "We get first pick before any other grocery store."

Rotisserie chicken

Rotisserie chicken

— four Costco employees with 15 months of experience, two years of experience, and three years of experience

Advertisement

Steaks

Steaks

— A Costco employee with two years of experience.

A Costco worker who's been at the store added that the chain's Issa steaks were an especially good deal.

Hearing aids

Hearing aids

— two Costco employees with 23 years of experience and 10 years of experience

Advertisement

Over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and prescription drugs

Over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and prescription drugs

— three Costco employees with four years of experience, two and a half years of experience, and 23 years of experience

Gift cards

Gift cards

— a Costco worker with six years of experience

Advertisement

The food court

The food court

— two Costco employees who have worked at the store for two years and 15 months

Baby clothes

Baby clothes

— a Costco employee with two years of experience

Advertisement

Sundries

Sundries

— a Costco employee with five and a half years of experience

Spices

Spices

— a Costco employee with two and a half years of experience

Advertisement

Chocolate covered almonds

Chocolate covered almonds

— a Costco worker with six years of experience

Tires

Tires

— a Costco worker with six years of experience

Advertisement

Gas

Gas

— a Costco worker with six years of experience

Furniture

Furniture

— a Costco employee with 10 years of experience.

They added: "When we are trying to get rid of something, they mark it down super cheap."

Advertisement

Everything in the store

Everything in the store

— three Costco employees with six years of experience, three years of experience, and four years of experience

Are you a current or former Costco employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com.