How To Know When Costco Is Discontinuing Your Favorite Products
We don’t just shop at Costco to stock up on essentials; we do it for the whole Costco experience. Trying the samples, wandering throughout the aisles, and the food court all make the warehouse a destination in its own right. That being said, nothing is worse than getting out of the house and braving the crowds only to find out that a crucial item on your shopping list is out of stock.
The inventory at each Costco warehouse is unique and constantly rotates to make room for new products. It’s a great chance for you to discover your next favorite snack, but it also means saying goodbye (at least temporarily) to your tried and true items. But you may not know that Costco will give you a warning before pulling products off the shelves.
This little-known fact is colloquially known among Costco super-fans as the Death Star. This symbol isn’t actually a Star Wars space station, but rather an asterisk placed in the top right corner of the price tag. The Death Star denotes that your warehouse will soon stop stocking that product.
What the asterisk doesn’t tell you, however, is if or when Costco is planning to bring the product back. “That doesn't mean that it's always going to be discontinued forever,” said David Schwartz, co-author of The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z, in a 2023 interview with Delish. “That could mean that it's gonna be given a rest for three months, and then come back.”
Death Stars are commonly used for seasonal products, like Christmas decorations, Halloween costumes, and holiday food items. They are also placed on tags for products that warehouse buyers deem to be unpopular.
But don’t despair! Costco members still have the chance to make their voices heard and request that items return. You’ll likely have to wait until next year for seasonal products, but there are ways to convince Costco to bring back soon-to-be-retired items.
Schwartz, along with his wife and co-author Susan, recommend that you stock up once you see the Death Star. The increased demand in that particular product signals to Costco product buyers that they should restock it.
If it’s too late and your favorite items are gone, you can also reach out to your warehouse directly. Send your local Costco an email inquiring about certain products and requesting a restock. If they’re already planning to put the item back on the shelf, the team will let you know when it will return.
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