We are CostContessa and we are treasure hunters of all things food, home, family, travel and #reallife – we report on all the best new Costco finds and deals.  From food to electronics to travel packages, we’re testing and reviewing all things Costco to help members shop smarter and save money!

We feature and review products and services from Big Box retailers including Costco, Sam’s Club, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, Kroger, Walmart, Target, Costco Travel, Hilton, Home Depot and more.

New Costco Finds & Honest Reviews

All opinions expressed on costcontessa.com are expressly our own opinions. We are not affiliated with or sponsored by Costco. We strive for helpful, honest reviews and we encourage you to share your opinions on all of our reviews (especially if your opinion is different than ours!). We truly enjoy featuring and reviewing interesting food, new products, home services, shopping tips, recipes, home decor and family travel and we hope our reviews and money saving tips are helpful to you!

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Our Closest Local Los Angeles Costco Warehouse Locations:

  • Culver City/Marina Del Rey, CA
  • Hawthorne, CA
  • Burbank, CA
  • Van Nuys, CA
  • Inglewood, CA
  • Northridge, CA
  • Torrance, CA
  • Woodland Hills, CA

Prices can differ between warehouses and regions, our region tends to have the highest prices…if your warehouse has a different price than we report, please comment on the post to tell us or use the form in the sidebar to let us know so we can add it!

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  • Google
  • Walmart
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About - CostContessa
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Recent Media Featuring Our Costco Tips, Big Box Retail Expertise & Social Media Channels

About Marie Clark

Big Box & Wholesale Club Shopping Expert

Marie Clark is the founder and managing editor of CostContessa. She also created and manages multiple Costco social media platforms including Organic Costco Life, CostContessa New Costco Finds, CostcoMoms FB Group, and more.

Marie has been featured in a Sam’s Club Commercial, Access Hollywood Live, and frequently quoted by media as a “Costco shopping expert” and “expert Costco shopper.”

She’s been a Costco member for over 22 years, a Costco influencer since 2019 and was the first to report on the Discontinued Kirkland Peanut Butter story in 2021.

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Frequently Asked Questions From Our Readers:

How do I get a refund at Costco?

Costco has one of the most generous return policies of any retailer in existence today. With only VERY few exceptions, you may return any item back to the return counter at your local Costco store for a full refund if you are not satisfied. Did you eat part of it? No problem. Did you use it? No Problem. If you’re unsatisfied with a product, Costco stands behind their products with a money back guarantee on nearly everything you can buy from Costco. Refund exceptions include travel, concert/event tickets, and similar types of experiences with third parties.

What credit cards does Costco take?

Costco accepts Visa cards, ATM Cards, EBT Cards or Costco Shop Card Gift Cards. Costco also takes cash and checks. Costco does not accept Mastercard, American Express or Discover Credit Cards. Read these posts for tips on: paying for Costco gas and using your EBT Card at Costco.

Can I buy Nespresso Vertuo Pods at Costco?

No, you cannot buy Nespresso Vertuo Pods at Costco. Costco does sell a Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker online at Costco.com which comes with vertuo capsules, however vertuoline coffee pod capsule refills are not available separately for Nespresso Machines. 

 

Does Costco Take EBT?

Yes, Costco takes EBT cards. All Costco warehouse stores in the United States accept food stamps/EBT cards.  You can find list of products that qualify for EBT purchase at Costco through your local state agency. Most cold and packaged food items fall under EBT in most states, but unfortunately you may not use EBT on rotisserie chickens or in the Costco food court.

Read Next: How to Save Money Shopping Costco Clearance – No Coupons Needed!

 

Were Costco Audiobooks Discontinued?

Costco quietly discontinued it’s audiobooks app in December of 2022. The company sent users a notification in August of 2022.

When does Costco restock products in-store?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as Costco restocks its shelves on a continuous basis. However, based on customer demand, some items may be restocked more frequently than others. ProTip: When a product will not be restocked, the price tag will have an asterisk (*) in the upper right corner. ProTip: If you’re looking for a specific item to be restocked, the best way to find out if and/or when that item may be back in stock is to ask at the customer service desk at the front of the store (the desk where you pick up stamps/gift cards can help with this too). They can confirm if it’s on order, and if they’ve received confirm that the item is en route to the store, and it’s estimated arrival. You can also put in a request that your local Costco restock items. If the item is available for restock and enough customers ask for it, managers can place orders for restock, so be sure to let them know when you want to see your favorite item back in stock!

Is Costco Open on Easter?

All Costco warehouses are closed on Easter Sunday. Costco closes it’s U.S. warehouses nationwide on the following 7 holidays:
  • New Year’s Day
  • Easter Sunday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Is Costco Open on Presidents Day?

Yes, Costco stores are open on Presidents Day.

Is Costco Open on Thanksgiving?

As one of the largest retailers in the United States, Costco is a goto for holiday shoppers. But are Costco warehouses open on Thanksgiving? The answer is no. All Costco locations in the U.S. are closed on Thanksgiving Day. That doesn‘t mean, however, that you can‘t do your holiday shopping at the retailer. Costco‘s website is always open, and you can place orders online for delivery or instore pickup the day before Thanksgiving. If you‘re looking for Thanksgiving Day deals, you‘ll have to shop online or wait until Black Friday to head into the store. Costco typically offers big savings on TVs, laptops, holiday decor, major home appliances, mattresses, tech accessories, and more for Black Friday.  

Can I get a Costco One Day Pass?

No, Costco does not offer 1-day passes to shop. You can, however, shop in Costco using a Costco Shop Card. If you know a member who can purchase a Costco Shop Card on your behalf, you can use that to shop without a membership! Generally a small amount above or below the value (say, $10 or less) can be settled up in cash at the store.

Does Costco have a Black Friday sale?

Yes! Costco does have a Black Friday sale each year. To see the most recent Costco Black Friday deals, see our coverage of Costco coupons and deals. Generally speaking, the Black Friday deals at Costco offer super deals on appliances, mattresses, furniture, home decor, kitchen wares and many other popular product categories.

How do I get a Costco.com $150 Coupon Code?

Last year in 2021, Costco sent specific members a $150 costco.com coupon code. This was a unique code for the member, and not a coupon code anyone can copy and use. It’s not clear why some members have received these….but we do know that there is no $150 coupon code for general use. To our knowledge, members have not received these for some time. Plenty of spammy coupon sides will like you to visit their site, and click things to copy and paste and apply codes but alas – we think you’ll be wasting your time searching for a $150 coupon code for Costco. 

When Does Costco Open?

Although store opening times vary, the majority of Costco warehouses open at 9am or 10am. Look here to see your local store opening and closing times.

Where can I find a Costco Membership Renewal Promo Code?

In short, Costco almost never offers any discounts or promo codes on membership renewals. On rare occasion we see offers for new memberships, but it’s been awhile since we’ve seen one of those. If you want to buy or renew a Costco membership, you should plan to pay full price and move on…recoup your expenditure on Costco gasoline, online coupon deals, etc. Otherwise, consider asking a member to get you a Costco Shop Card (gift card), and you can shop in store using that without a membership.

How much does Costco pay their employees?

Costco’s starting wage for in-store warehouse employees is $16 per hour. It is estimated that about half of Costco’s 180,000 employees make more than $25 per hour.

Where can I buy Costco Shop Card gift cards?

Costco Members may buy Costco Shop Card gift cards online at Costco.com and in-store. 

What is a Costco Shop Card?

 A Costco Shop Card is a Costco Gift Card. Costco Shop Cards are available in denominations between $25-$2000 and can be used in-store at Costco and on Costco.com. Only Costco Members can purchase Costco Shop Cards. You can check your Costco Shop Card balance here.  

Where can I login to my Sam’s Club credit card and make payments?

You can login to your Sam’s Club credit card here. Once logged into your Sam’s Club Mastercard credit account, you can check balances and make payments.

What credit cards does Sam’s Club accept?

Sam’s Club accepts all major credit cards, ATM cards and EBT cards. 

Do Costco Clearance Prices Get Marked Down Further?

Yes! Costco does make additional markdowns on .97 clearance tag prices. Check the date code in the bottom right corner of the price card to see when the price was last updated. If there’s still lots of product available and it’s been awhile since the last price update, another round of discounts may be on their way. Note that when a tag is starred it won’t be restocked, so waiting for further reductions is a gamble…but it can really pay off!

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