What Does ".97" Mean at Costco?

At Costco, a price ending in .97 almost always means clearance. It's a warehouse-level markdown used to move remaining inventory fast. When it's gone, it's usually gone.

If you want alerts when new .97 deals show up, CostLow can notify you.

The Simple Rule: .97 = Clearance

Costco uses price endings as internal signals. The easiest one to remember:

•.99 = standard price
•.97 = clearance price

A .97 tag tells you Costco is actively trying to clear that item out of the building—either because it's seasonal, discontinued, replaced by a new model, or just not selling fast enough.

Learn about all price tag codes and endings in our complete guide.

Costco .97 clearance price tag on an item showing warehouse-specific markdown and clearance signal

.97 = Buy it now! (also these are amazing).

Why .97 Deals Are Warehouse-Specific

This is the part most people miss: clearance is local.

Costco doesn't run a single national "clearance price" for all stores. Each warehouse has its own inventory levels and floor space priorities. That means:

•A blender might be $59.97 at your warehouse
•The same blender might still be $79.99 across town

So when you find a .97 price, it's not just "on sale." It's often a sign that your warehouse is done with it. CostLow is built around warehouse-specific deals to help you spot these opportunities.

How Good Are .97 Discounts?

Sometimes it's a small cut. Sometimes it's a steal. Common patterns:

•10–25% off when it first hits clearance
•30–60% off if it sits
•Rare "final markdown" scenarios can go even lower

The best clearance deals usually happen when the item is taking up space and Costco wants the pallet gone today.

Can .97 Drop Again? Yes.

A .97 price is often the first clearance markdown, not the last.

If inventory doesn't move, you may see:

$19.97 → $14.97 → $9.97

And occasionally it ends in:

.00 or .88

So it could be:

$19.97 → $14.97 → $9.97 → $5.00

Check out .00 and .88 pricing explained.

Should You Wait for a Lower Price?

Here's the tradeoff:

•If you wait, you might get a deeper markdown
•If you wait, the item might not be there next time

The rule: If it's something you genuinely want and the .97 price already feels good, buy it. Clearance inventory can disappear veru quickly.

If you're only "kind of interested," waiting is reasonable - on some items that are moving very slowly the price might be lower next time.

Can You Get a Price Adjustment If Your Item Drops to .97?

Yes!

If you bought an item and it drops in price shortly after (including to .97), Costco may refund the difference if you're within the policy window and follow the rules. The details depend on whether you bought online or in-warehouse, and for clearance there are extra "gotchas."

Learn the full price adjustment policy.

How to Find .97 Deals Faster

You can wander around the warehouse aimlessly, hoping to stumble on a .97 price tag. Or you can be smarter about it.

Use the CostLow app to browse clearance deals before you even go to the store. See what's on clearance at your warehouse right now, decide if it's worth the trip, and go in with a plan.

Better yet: set up push notifications for one or more stores. When a new .97 item appears at your warehouse, you get an alert instantly. This matters because popular clearance deals sell out the same day—so you can decide right then whether to make the trip before it's gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does .97 mean on a Costco price tag?

It means clearance. Costco is trying to sell through remaining inventory.

Are .97 prices the same at every Costco?

No. Clearance pricing is usually warehouse-specific. The same item might be full price at one location and clearance at another.

Does .97 mean the item is discontinued?

Often, yes—or it's seasonal, replaced by a new model, or simply being removed from that warehouse's assortment.

Can a .97 item drop even lower?

Yes. It can get additional markdowns, and sometimes ends in .00 or .88.

Can I get a price adjustment if it drops to .97?

Sometimes. It depends on timing and the purchase channel. Full details here.