What The Asterisks On Costco's Price Tags Really Mean

Who doesn't love a leisurely stroll through Costco's expansive aisles? With tasty samples spaced throughout the store, a rotating inventory of new items, and $1.50 hot dogs at the food court, shopping at Costco is always an adventure — you never know what delights you'll find on your next Costco trip. The opposite can also be true. You might step into your local warehouse excited about picking up a favorite item only to find Costco no longer carries it. The disappointment is real, but there's a trick that can help you determine if an item is about to disappear from Costco's shelves.

Next time you're shopping, take a look at Costco's price tags. If you see an asterisk in the upper right-hand corner of a price tag, that means the item will be discontinued soon. Commonly referred to as the "death star" by Costco loyalists, this unassuming little symbol tells a big story. Should you find the asterisk on an item you love and cherish, consider this your chance to stockpile while you still can. The death star doesn't necessarily mean the item will be gone forever, but it certainly could be.

It's hard to know exactly why Costco chooses to discontinue certain items, but there are some general reasons behind its choice to remove popular items. Many items, for example, are seasonal. After all, while you might love pumpkin products year-round, the reality is they might not sell so well in March.

Another factor is demand. We all have something special from Costco that we can't live without, but that doesn't mean it will stick around if others aren't as passionate about it. And while Costco seems huge, is shelf space is still limited. If an item is taking up valuable space and only bringing in lackluster sales, it's not going to stick around.

And of course, the economy can impact inventory in unexpected ways (take the infamous removal of Kirkland chocolate chips from Costco stores, for example). Every product needs to earn its keep, and if an item becomes too expensive to source, Costco might have to make the hard choice to kiss it goodbye.

You can learn a lot about an item by looking at a Costco price tag. Along with giving you insight into whether or not a product is being discontinued, the price tag can also tell you if an item is organic, if it's on sale, or if you're paying full price.

See a green price tag? That means the product is organic. However, if you don't spy any green labels in your store that doesn't mean it doesn't carry organic products. The green tags are relatively new, and it's possible they haven't been rolled out to your store yet.

Want to know if you're getting a deal? Check out the price itself. If it ends in a nine, you're likely paying full price. If it ends in a .00 or a seven, you're probably getting a good deal, as these items are typically on sale. The same goes for anything ending in .88, but this is a little different. These items are marked down by the manager, meaning they might be customer returns or items with some damage.