The mega-warehouse retailer Costco is filled to the brim with food, furniture, tech gadgets, home decor, and toys, all for great discounts. We’ve found some truly excellent savings at Costco on tons of things we have to buy on the regular. But for the stuff you don’t buy all that often….well, Costco actually has that handled, too. Caskets, saunas, honeymoon packages, gazebos — did you know you can buy lots of weird Costco items with your membership?
Whether you’re a complete newbie to Costco or a seasoned shopper (rocking your Costco slides, of course), let me give you a taste of all the unexpected and totally weird Costco items you can actually buy with your Costco membership. And if you like the more higher-end stuff, check out our list of Costco luxury items.
Just keep in mind that the availability of some of these weird Costco items might be based on your location. And while many are available for online purchase, non-members will pay a 5% surcharge, and online prices are generally higher than in the warehouse.
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1. You can buy a casket from Costco for $1,150 and get it delivered.
Yep, you can totally buy a fully-assembled casket from Costco.com and get it delivered in as little as two to four business days. You can have it delivered to a funeral home, cemetery, or even your house.
And these aren’t ho-hum caskets. The Costco caskets are made of solid wood and appear to be quite plush, with a range of colors to choose from. I found one Prime casket with a baby pink interior ($1,149.99) and a customizable option from Titan with a military design ($1,599.99).
You’d pay $2,000 or more for a casket from a funeral home, according to Titan Casket, a popular casket maker. So buying a casket from Costco could potentially save you around 40%.
2. Add a 72-pound wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to your cart for just $949.99.
I’m quite the cheese fan myself, but this 72-pound whole wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese — imported straight from Italy, mind you — is a whole new level of gourmet. It’s only available on Costco.com, but shipping and handling gets included in the steep $949.99 price tag.
You’ll pay $13.20 per pound for the wheel from Costco, which seems like a pretty good deal based on my calculations. I found a half-wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese going for $649 on Amazon, which comes out to $16.23 per pound. So what would you use this for? Reviewers say it’s a fun addition to a wedding reception, and guests can take home a wedge as a party favor.
3. Stock up on these self-heating emergency meals for camping and pay only $7.16 per serving.
With up to 3 years of shelf life, this 32-pack of Omeals emergency meals from Costco.com can come in handy for camping, hiking, hurricane prep, or just emergency meals in the car.
Just add a few ounces of any liquid, and they’ll heat up themselves — right in the pack! And if you’re not happy with them for any reason, just return them to your local Costco. Here’s what you get in the pack (it includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even a dessert):
- 2 Southwest Chicken with Rice
- 2 Vegetable Stew with Beef
- 4 Lentils with Beef
- 4 Chicken Creole with Brown Rice
- 4 Chicken Pasta Parmesan
- 2 Hashbrowns with Bacon
- 2 Turkey Chili
- 2 Smores Cookie
- 3 Pasta Fagioli
- 4 Cheese Tortellini
- 2 Chickpea Masala
- 1 Molten Brownie
4. Buy a travel vaccine consultation for $40, then get your shots done at a participating Costco Pharmacy.
Traveling somewhere but not sure if you have the right vaccinations? Costco can help! Just buy the Full Service Travel Medicine Consultation Program for $39.99, and Costco will set up a web-based consultation with a Travel Medicine Physician.
Once your consultation is complete, the doctor will send any recommended vaccine prescriptions or medications to the Costco Pharmacy of your choice. Note: The vaccines and medications will have an additional cost, and not all are covered by insurance.
You’ll find Costco Pharmacy locations in the following states that participate in the travel vaccine program:
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Oregon
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
5. You can buy massive gazebos from Costco for around $1,900.
Want to take your backyard to the next level? It could be as easy as buying a full gazebo from Costco. These outdoor structures range in price from $800 (for a Sunjoy gazebo with a fabric roof) all the way up to $5,500 (for this Yardistry gazebo with a timber frame). But you can find a good one like this Yardistry 12′ x 14′ Grand Gazebo for $2,099.99 (it was $1,899.99 in-store when we found it in April 2023).
Some Costco gazebos include upgraded features like built-in mosquito netting and aluminum roofs. You can even buy add-on packages that make it easy to upgrade your setup with a bar counter ($369.99) or a privacy wall ($749.99).
If you’ve been eyeing a Costco gazebo for a while, wait until you see a Costco deal like “Buy 1, save $300” or “Buy 1, save $500,” which tend to pop up in the spring and fall.
Related: Take advantage of these patio furniture deals and landscape lights on sale, and soon you’ll have a whole new place to relax.
6. You can buy a tiny studio shed from Costco for $16,999.99.
Ever dreamed of owning a tiny home? Costco sells a tiny studio shed — the Medano 10’x12′ Studio Shed — that you can order with do-it-yourself assembly. It’s priced at a whopping $16,999.99, but shipping and handling are included.
Reviewers say it’s a pretty tough project to do on your own, so you’ll most likely want to work with a contractor if you decide to add this one to your online shopping cart. And remember, there’s no plumbing or bathroom hookup — and electrical features are not included — so this is more of an artist’s studio than an actual tiny home.
The next cheapest shed from Costco is this Braxton 12’x24′ garage shed for $4,999.99.
Related: When you factor in the cost per square foot, an Amazon tiny home might give you a better bang for your buck.
7. Did you know Costco sells new and used cars? Well, now you do.
Honestly, what doesn’t Costco have? The Costco Auto Program is an entire marketplace where you can shop for new and used cars. Dealerships who participate in the Costco Auto Program will offer you a special “Costco Member-Only Price Sheet,” which outlines the prearranged pricing for the specific offer you choose. And you’re under no obligation to make the purchase, so it’s pressure-free!
Their Auto Program also runs members-only deals, like the current special offer happening Jan. 3 – Feb. 29, 2024:
- $1,000 back on new 2023 or 2024 Cadillac CT4, CT5, XT5, XT6, or LYRIQ models
8. You can buy all kinds of insurance from Costco.
Since Costco has about 123 million card-carrying members, they can negotiate great rates on all kinds of insurance policies. If you’re thinking of switching your insurance provider or signing up for a new plan, check out the Costco offerings for home and auto insurance, business health insurance, pet insurance, and life insurance.
Keep in mind it’s not Costco employees who handle the actual insurance policies, though. Costco partners with insurance agencies like Connect (powered by American Family Insurance), Protective, and Figo to supply the policies, and they pass their negotiated savings on to you. Look for waived enrollment fees and percentage-off savings as a Costco member.
Related: The Costco insurance discounts are similar to what you can get with AAA membership discounts.
9. You’ll pay just $7.99 for a Costco car wash in five (lucky) states.
Do you happen to live in one of the five U.S. states with a drive-through Costco car wash? Well, consider yourself lucky if you live in Arizona, California, Idaho, Tennessee, or Washington, because you have access to a quite handy deal.
Instead of offering a bunch of packages to choose from, you’ll pay just $7.99 to get an exterior wash and wax, tire shine, wheel cleaner, spot-free rinse, and undercarriage wash.
Here are the Costco locations with a car wash service:
- Glendale, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Lancaster, CA
- Norwalk, CA
- Oxnard, CA
- Poway, CA
- San Juan Capistrano, CA
- Torrance, CA
- Victorville, CA
- Boise, ID
- Brentwood, TN
- Murfreesboro, TN
- Bellingham, WA
- Seattle, WA
10. You can get Costco water delivery for $6.99 a month — about 13% cheaper than competitors.
As a Costco member, you can sign up for a monthly Costco water delivery service that starts at $6.99 a month. For that price, you’ll get a 5-gallon jug delivery to your doorstep, and you can add on a monthly rental fee for the water dispenser for $3.99 a month.
I researched water delivery prices in my ZIP code and found that the Costco water delivery service is 22% cheaper per bottle compared to Zephyrhills water delivery, and 13% cheaper per bottle compared to Crystal Springs.
11. Forget the bank — you can order your checks from Costco.
Instead of making a trip to your bank, try ordering your checks from Costco.com instead. Shipping is free (orders are fulfilled by Harland Clarke), and no matter what kind of check you order (personal or business), they claim you’ll pay less than the average bank prices.
Plus, you’ll save an extra 20% if you’re a Costco Executive member or Business Executive member.
12. You can book vacations and honeymoons through Costco Travel.
Some people don’t know this, but Costco has a whole website where you can browse (and buy) their cheap travel packages, including flights, cars, hotels, and more. As a member, you get low rates that are sometimes about 20% cheaper than what you’ll find on Booking.com. Be sure to check out their limited-time deals, too.
Related: We did a deep-dive into how much you can save with Costco Travel packages.
You can buy tickets to theme parks from Costco, too.
If you’re planning to visit top attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disneyland, you’ll definitely want to squeeze out any extra savings you can get by checking the Costco Travel website.
The savings aren’t always huge, but it’s something. For example, I found I’d save 7% on the cost of a ticket to Walt Disney World for June 2023 if I purchased it through Costco Travel instead of at the gate. And as a Costco Executive member, you can still earn your 2% back on Costco Travel purchases.
13. You can buy musical instruments — including grand pianos — from Costco.
Costco has a pretty impressive selection of drum sets, karaoke machines, and pianos (including keyboards and legitimate grand pianos). And the prices are sometimes cheaper than competitors like Guitar Center.
For example, the Roland V-Drum Kits Bundle TD-27K-SC costs $2,499.99 at Costco versus $2,699.99 at Guitar Center — that’s 7% cheaper at Costco.
14. You can buy indoor and outdoor saunas at Costco.
I found a dozen different sauna options you can order from Costco.com, ranging in price from this $1,699.99 two-person infrared sauna to the $4,999.99 barrel-shaped sauna that can be installed outdoors. If you order through Costco, they’ll get delivered right to your door within two to three weeks.
Note: You might have to pay for special shipping, which can be pricey. Depending on where you’re shipping it to, prices can range from $50 to upwards of $200.
15. Costco sells huge backyard playsets for kids.
Make your backyard the hottest place on the block with a huge playset from Costco. These sets cost upwards of $1,800, but trust me, they’ll pay off. They come with swings, slides, monkey bars, and more.
From time to time, we see Costco deals where you can save $300 to $600 on a playset — making the price cheaper than at Home Depot or Amazon.
16. You can buy diamond jewelry from Costco.
If you want to get someone you love (or yourself) something nice, consider checking out Costco’s selection of fine jewelry. You’ll find diamond tennis bracelets, gorgeous rings, stunning earrings, and even jewelry sets.
We often see big savings events for Costco jewelry, like the “Spend $1000+, save $150” deal that we spotted in the lead-up to Mother’s Day this year.
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