Costco stores are loved by members for their large selection and low prices on bulk items, but when you hunt for a deal on the company’s website, some items can be more expensive than expected.
A new report by A Beautiful House found that some products, from furniture to Halloween decorations, have higher prices online than in-store, even though Costco advertises that members get free shipping.
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For example, the store notes that the bouclé swivel chair was reported to be $249 in stores but was listed for $399.99 online, meaning shipping fees must have risen to $150 for that particular item. The animatronic werewolf was found for $249.99 in the warehouse, but $339.99 online.
“Each product on Costco.com has its own shipping fee attached (although most items ship at no extra charge). If there is a shipping charge, you will find it on the product detail page to the right of the product image,” Costco’s shipping policy states.
The store also featured Reddit boards (some years old) dedicated to explaining fees, including this spreadsheet.
Costco online vs store price on my last visit
byu/ponder_life in Costco
Costco explains that most items are shipped directly from retailers and manufacturers who set their own shipping costs, so the supply chain cannot recoup fees.
Earlier this month, Costco announced that it will increase the annual membership fee for all tiers in the US and Canada, effective September 1, 2024.
Related: Costco CEO Says This Product Is ‘Most Important Thing We Sell’
The news was announced after the company reported Q3 2024 earnings in May, which included $1.123 billion in membership fees, up 7.6% from the same period last year.
Costco was up 44% year over year as of Friday afternoon.
A businessman has reached out to Costco for clarification.
