11 Secret Costco Deals Uncovered as Inflation Drives Up Grocery Costs

Costco’s cavernous aisles are best known for $4.99 rotisserie chickens and bulk paper towels, but some of its most valuable savings are easy to miss. Many of the warehouse club’s most aggressive deals sit behind service counters, in specialty departments, or in member programs that rarely make it onto in-store signs. From discounted meat and bakery items to insurance protections and travel perks, these underused benefits can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year for members who know to ask.

Hidden Deals in Everyday Shopping

One of Costco’s least visible bargains is the 10‑pound ground beef “chub” sold behind the meat counter. Members who request the 10‑pound chub, or item #47356, can typically pay $3.29 to $4.89 per pound—often up to $2 less per pound than the pre-packaged ground beef in the cooler. The chub usually runs 90–95% lean, compared with the 87% lean commonly found on display, making it well suited for dishes like chili or pasta sauce. Department employees often use these chubs as a base and blend in fatty trimmings for the regular ground beef packages, so buying the chub directly can save roughly $20–$30 on a single 10‑pound purchase, depending on local pricing and inventory.

The bakery offers a similar behind-the-scenes value. At Costco Business Centers—and in some Canadian warehouse freezers—members can buy the same chocolate chip cookie dough used for the bakery’s popular cookies in bulk. The frozen dough comes in boxes of 120 pre-portioned pieces, typically priced from $24.49 to $44.99. On a per-cookie basis, that works out to roughly 20–37 cents each, compared with about 49 cents per cookie for the ready-baked version, while giving households or offices a steady supply of cookies they can bake fresh.

Shoppers looking to furnish a home or upgrade appliances can also benefit from watching the sales floor. When the last boxed units of an item have sold, the displayed floor model is often discounted by 10–50%, particularly if it shows minor cosmetic wear. Some members report securing steep markdowns on high-ticket items such as premium grills and sectionals once an item’s price tag features an asterisk, indicating it will not be restocked. These purchases are still covered by Costco’s standard return policy, which can soften the risk of buying an item that has been on display.

Behind the Kirkland Label and In-Store Services

Much of Costco’s value strategy is built into its Kirkland Signature private label. Many of these products are sourced from the same manufacturers that produce well-known national brands, but with lower markups—around 14% compared with 25–50% at traditional retailers. That structure helps support sizable savings on items such as Kirkland 36‑Month Aged Parmigiano Reggiano, which carries protected designation of origin (PDO) status, or Kirkland organic maple syrup, often priced around $15–$20 for a large bottle versus $25–$35 for similar volumes elsewhere.

Some of the most overlooked savings sit in Costco’s service departments. The Member Prescription Program operates automatically for members and does not require separate enrollment fees. It offers negotiated pricing on medications at Costco pharmacies and at thousands of partner locations, and extends to pet prescriptions, vaccines, compound medications, and diabetic supplies. Members simply present their Costco card with the listed BIN and PCN numbers to access the pricing.

Costco Optical is another department where the savings can be substantial. Many customers report paying about $100–$200 for complete eyeglasses, with an often-cited typical total near $184 for frames plus lenses. That is less than half of what similar progressive or high-index lens packages can cost at many traditional optical chains. Basic lens upgrades such as scratch-resistant coating, anti-reflective treatment, and blue-light filtering are generally included at no extra charge, rather than sold as separate add-ons.

Savings on Cars, Travel, and Tires

Beyond the warehouse floor, the Costco Auto Program negotiates pricing on vehicles through a network of participating dealers. Members who use the program often see discounts of roughly $1,000 to $4,000 compared with typical dealer offers, with reports of savings even during recent periods when many dealers were selling at or above MSRP. The program also extends to vehicle ownership costs by offering up to 15% off parts, service, and accessories at participating service centers, capped at $500 per visit.

Travel can be another area of stacked returns, especially for Executive Members. Costco Travel offers vacation packages, cruises, and rental cars, and Executive Members receive 2% annual rewards on these bookings, up to $1,250 per year, after their trips are completed. Members who also use the Costco Anywhere Visa card can add 3% cash back on travel transactions, effectively turning some bookings into 5% total cash-back opportunities. Many travel offers also include extras such as digital Costco Shop Cards based on cruise fare, resort credits, or waived resort fees.

In the auto category, tires are a recurring expense that Costco aims to streamline. The price quoted on a set of tires generally includes installation, avoiding the separate $80–$100 installation line item common at other tire retailers. The purchase typically includes mounting, balancing, nitrogen inflation, lifetime rotation, flat repairs, and installation of tire pressure monitoring system components. Periodic promotions from manufacturers such as Michelin and Bridgestone offer instant rebates—often $60–$80 on four tires—which stack with the warehouse’s base pricing.

Services, Insurance, and Membership Value

Costco’s lesser-known services extend into home and business water delivery and insurance benefits. Through a partnership with Primo Water, members can arrange regular delivery of 5‑gallon water bottles at a discounted rate—around $7.49 per bottle compared with $7.99 for non-members. Ordering four bottles a month can save a household about $24 per year, while a business using 25 bottles monthly might save around $150. Each reusable 5‑gallon container also replaces roughly 1,500 single-use plastic bottles, and members can rent hot-and-cold dispensers as part of the service.

The warehouse also frequently sells gift cards to restaurants, airlines, and regional retailers at 10–30% below face value. Common offerings include airline cards such as Southwest, sometimes sold at about $449.99 for $500 in value, and some paint retailers where the added value can reach 30%. Because these cards can still earn loyalty points when redeemed, they effectively combine upfront discounts with standard rewards, though the largest markdowns tend to appear during short promotional windows.

Insurance is another area where membership can influence long-term costs. Through American Family Insurance, Costco members—especially those with Executive status—may qualify for benefits that include a lifetime renewability guarantee on auto policies as long as membership remains in place. That can protect drivers with future tickets or accidents from non-renewal. Other features can include zero-deductible windshield repairs, coverage for travel expenses after accidents far from home, and roadside assistance up to a set dollar amount per incident. Home insurance packages linked to Executive Membership may add services like home lockout assistance, coverage for spoiled food during power outages, limited identity theft recovery support, and zero-deductible glass repair.

Several additional benefits quietly support electronics and general purchases. Costco’s Concierge Services provide free technical support and basic setup help for many electronics and appliances bought at the warehouse, paired with an automatic extension of the manufacturer’s warranty to two years on eligible items. The company’s return policy remains one of the most flexible among major retailers, with most items accepted for return with no set time limit, except for specific categories such as electronics, jewelry, alcohol, and event tickets. Members can even return food that does not meet expectations, with the company monitoring only repeated or unusual patterns of returns.

Taken together, these hidden offers play a central role in the value equation for Costco memberships. The auto program alone can offset several years of membership fees in one transaction, while travel rewards, optical savings, tire services, prescription discounts, bulk gift card deals, and insurance benefits can steadily compound over time. For members willing to ask at the counter, check signage closely, and explore lesser-known departments, these programs turn a basic warehouse visit into a broader package of financial and practical advantages that can continue to grow as Costco adds new partnerships and services.