Smart shoppers try to save wherever they can, including using coupons at places they frequently shop. At Costco, standard manufacturer coupons aren't accepted, but members have access to coupon offers that can be just as good or better.
Using Coupons at Costco
Costco doesn't allow shoppers to use regular manufacturer coupons from the newspaper or printed off the internet. Their membership guidelines state they do not accept manufacturer discount coupons except those distributed by Costco, nor do they accept competitor coupons.
Instead of the smaller cents-off coupons commonly found in the paper or online, the coupons Costco distributes to its members are typically for higher amounts, anywhere between $2 off brand-name frozen entrees to hundreds of dollars off big ticket items like mattresses, computers, and furniture. While initially Costco sent their coupon books out in the mail, their current process (as of 2014) is electronic. Coupon offers (also referred to as members-only savings) are automatically added to your account if you have a Costco membership.
Making the Most of Your Costco Coupons
To get the best discounts, you'll want to view what the current coupon offers are so you can take advantage of them. You can do this by downloading the free Costco app and add offers to your shopping list, or you can visit the website and browse what's available. In addition to making sure you know which offers are available, follow these tips.
Watch for Item Limits
Although some retailers limit you to one item per coupon, Costco coupons often let you use the coupon discount for more than one item. This varies based on each specific offer, so make sure you check the limits and plan your shopping limits according. Some offers might limit you to just two items while others offer larger limits (such as 10). Some offers do not have a limit.
Check for Combo Offers
Some coupon offers are only good for combinations of items (such as a purchase of Tide detergent and Bounce dryer sheets). Make sure you know if an offer includes a combo purchase so you don't miss out on the deal by only buying one of the items.
Look for BOGO Coupons
Occasionally, you'll find Buy One, Get One Free offers among the coupons. These can represent great deals since you're often purchasing larger sizes and quantities of items than you would at a regular grocery store, so take advantage of this and stock up.
Online Offers
If you like to do your shopping online, you're in luck. Many of the coupons for this warehouse retailer are also available online. These are marked with a red flag, so check which items qualify for coupon discounts first if you plan to do your shopping online. There are also online-only offers, though these are usually for more expensive purchases like appliances or patio furniture rather than everyday household items.
Get Additional Cashback Savings
You can combine available cashback offers for Costco items from places like Ibotta and Checkout 51 to help you maximize your savings. Just be sure to check for current offers from these sites and add them to your account before you shop.
More Tips for Getting Costco Discounts
While using their coupons can certainly help you save a lot of cash, there are plenty of other ways to get deals.
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Get deals on ink refills: Costco offers an ink-refill price of less than $8, which is much less than a new ink cartridge.
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Shop discounted movie tickets and gift cards: You can get significant money-off discounts on movie tickets and store, restaurant, or other gift cards. You can save up to 30 percent depending on the offer.
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Know the different price codes. Standard prices end in .99, while clearance items end in .00 or .88. Items that end in .97 represent a markdown.
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If you are looking to renew or get a new membership, check out social saving sites like Groupon for possible membership discounts.
Saving Made Easy
Though Costco doesn't accept standard manufacturer coupons, their store-specific offers can provide smart shoppers with great deals. Thanks to the coupons being automatically added to your account, it makes it easy to shop for the offers you want and know you're getting a great deal.
