Secret Shopping Tips for Costco, Target, Walmart and Amazon
Today's post will introduce you to hidden gems in the world of discounts, promotions, and sales, ensuring you never miss out on an opportunity to save. We will be focusing on tricks for shopping at Costco, Target, and Walmart that are hidden from the average customer.
Did you know that Costco's prices have a pricing code that gives information about the product? For example, most product's prices will end in '.99'. The last two digits being ninety-nine means that this is a standard Costco product. There are three main types of pricing codes that you should be looking for when shopping at Costco:
- 1. When the price isn't '.99' but ends in 9 such as 6.79, 7.69, or 12.59. This means the product was either recently added or is a special-priced item that Costco got at a discount from the manufacturer. To know the difference between the two, look closely on the price tag towards the bottom right.
- 2. Look for items ending in '.97'. means that the product is currently marked down for a lower price.
- 3. The best deals at Costco's pricing will end in 0 cents or 88 cents. These are rare to find but indicate a 'manager markdown' meaning the store is trying to move that product quickly.
Apart from the pricing codes, there are also some other useful things to note while shopping at Costco. Choosing a card such as the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is wise if you frequent Costco, as it can get you 5% and 4% cash back on gas and EV charging there, respectively. It also gets you 1-3% cash back on many other purchases, in store and out. In order to save that cash back money, be sure to check online for Costco sale cycles too, as some items go through a predictable pattern of discounts.
If you're a freqent Target shopper, you might have noticed that Target has an unofficial schedule that they use to discount products. If you don't have it memorized, here it is:
- Monday: Electronics, Accessories, Kids Clothing, Books, Baby, and Stationery
- Tuesday: Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets, and Market food items
- Wednesday: Men's Clothing, Health and Beauty, Diapers, Lawn/Garden items, and Furniture
- Thursday: Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Decor, and Luggage
- Friday: Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry
This is helpful for shopping both online and in-store. Also, when looking at prices, look for items ending in '.06' or '.08'. The prices ending in six and eight cents mean that it's an item on clearance pricing. Don't forget to use Target mobile coupons or subscribe via their website and save for extra savings on essentials that you regularly buy.
Walmart can be a busy store to shop at, so stick to night hours when you're in a rush. There will be no waiting in checkout lines and store employees are everywhere as they prepare the store for the rest of the day. However, a good time for discounts is the early morning, because there will often be markdowns on yesterday's meat, veggies, or baked goods. The exact timing depends on your local store, but baked goods can get marked down around 10 AM, and meats at 1 PM. Check for sell by times on products when you're in the aisle to see when peak discount pricing will hit.
Walmart has some special sale language that is important to take note of. Clearances are permanent markdowns, while rollbacks are only temporary, so stock up on your favorite items when you see them on rollback. Clearance items will be there until it sells out, or is cleared out.
Much like Costco, Walmart also has store brands that are less expensive than the name brand ones. Picking them doesn't compromise quality, and can really save you money, especially on bulk and staple goods like rice, flour, or paper towels.
Amazom has so much content that it can be a daunting task to find smart deals. One thing to use is Amazon's Subscribe and Save. This service allows you to save up to 15% on eligible items. The 15% discount is applied to all items in your recurring order if you have 5+ items in it. So set it up, save, and skip or cancel the program whenever you want!
Amazon also has credit cards with no annual fees that give 3% or 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, as well as Chase travel; you get more back if you're an Amazon Prime member. They also give you 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and transit hubs, and various other returns based on current deals. So if you're a frequent Amazon shopper, this could be a great way to save on your purchases.
Another good thing to consider is how to mitigate shipping costs. If you're a Prime member, you get free shipping between 0-2 days on many items, depending on where you live. Usually you have to spend $25+ dollars for same day shipping, so if you're in a rush to get a particular item, throw some other essentials in your cart to save cash. Not a Prime member? No worries. You can get free shipping too! The minimum is $35, and it is regular 5-8 day shipping. This makes it a good idea to collect all non urgent buys in a cart until you reach that minimum, then place your order to get maximum savings.
Good luck on your next shopping trip. Keeping these tips in mind, as well as a good old fashioned shopping list, will hopefully help make it a more profitable one.
