What It Means If You See The Costco 'Death Star' On An Item (And What You Should Do)

The next time you're wandering the aisles of Costco and you hear whispers about a "death star," lean in and listen up. Otherwise, you may be missing out on buying your favorite item before it disappears forever. The "death star," or what Costco employees know as a "pending delete," refers to an asterisk on the top left or right corner of a price tag. This symbol means that once the item is sold out at that specific warehouse, it won't be restocked or reordered. 

What does that mean for customers? Costco's membership hacks page advises, "It's a good sign to buy now — it may not be there later." The symbol typically appears on seasonal items, like holiday-related products, or things that weren't very popular. Maybe it's Costco's $10 chubby holiday mug tower that everyone's obsessed with or fun Halloween decor that is perfect for Disney fans. If you see the death star on the price tag and love the item, stock up. 

Each Costco warehouse carries about 4,000 items, compared to the over 20,000 products that most retailers and supermarkets carry. For this reason, Costco wants to move items quickly to make room for more. A high turnover rate among its merchandise allows Costco to follow retail trends and bring in the latest or seasonal items, keeping customers intrigued and coming back to the store frequently to see what's new.

Just as some restaurants have secret menus, Costco has its own price tag coding — which includes the death star — that customers like to decipher. Costco's specific price vocabulary, as this coding is referred to in the retail industry, differentiates Costco from other retailers and gives customers a more engaging shopping experience. Other stores, like T.J. Maxx and Home Depot, also employ their own price vocabulary that their frequent shoppers are privy to. These secret codes aren't widely publicized, which gives the customers a feeling of exclusivity — and who doesn't like feeling like they belong to a special club?

To maximize your Costco experience, look for these additional clues to help you decide whether to buy or wait. If the price ends in .99, that means you're paying the full retail price. If the price ends in .97 or .00, Costco is selling the item at a discounted cost to move it more quickly. Pay attention to prices ending in .49, which indicates that Costco likely received a manufacturer discount and is passing along its cost savings to members. If you change your mind upon returning home with a car packed with Costco purchases that weren't on your list, don't worry — Costco has a generous return policy. Here's everything you should know before splurging for your home.