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Costco’s inventory tends to rotate. Read on to see which products may not be available come 2024.
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There are certain Costco products you can count on finding every week, barring a random supply chain hiccup. Grocery staples like produce, milk, and eggs, for example, are pretty much a staple. And it’s rare to walk into Costco and not find a wide selection of tissues, paper towels, and household cleaners.
But Costco does tend to rotate some of its inventory on a seasonal basis. And that means there are certain items you’ll only find at specific times during the year.
If you’re looking for Halloween costumes, for example, you won’t find them in April. But you probably will find them in late August through mid-October, or whenever they all sell out.
Right now, Costco has a host of awesome products on its shelves that may not be around once the new year arrives. So if they’re items you’re hoping to buy, you may want to do your shopping soon.
1. Gift baskets
Costco carries a limited number of gift baskets throughout the year. But right now, the selection of gift baskets you’ll find in stores and on Costco’s website is huge. So if you know you have some gifting needs in January, you may want to scoop up a basket before that selection gets whittled down.
That said, if you’re going to buy a gift basket now to hand to someone in January or beyond, check the items carefully, as some might be more perishable than others. You can generally get away with holding onto wrapped chocolates for a few months before their quality degrades, but be more careful with dried fruit and baked goods (even the packaged kind).
2. Toys
The toy aisle at Costco isn’t just a temporary one that’s put up during the holidays. You can find toys at Costco throughout the year. But now’s when Costco’s toy selection tends to be the largest. And often, you’ll find toy bundles at Costco that you won’t see elsewhere. So if you have birthdays or other occasions coming up in 2024 that you want to stock up for in advance, now’s your chance.
Plus, unlike gift baskets, you don’t have to worry about toys expiring. You just need to worry about finding a place to keep them hidden from their intended recipients.
3. Fancy chocolates
You can find your fair share of chocolate at Costco at any time of the year. And it’s not just Hershey bars and similarly mass-produced items you’ll see online and on Costco’s shelves. You can find fancier stuff, like these delicious sea salt caramels, on a consistent basis.
But right now, Costco’s shelves are loaded with higher-end chocolate assortments that make a great gift or treat for yourself. And pretty soon, those are going to be gone, since Costco tends to stock them specifically for the holidays. So if you like the idea of fancy truffles, make your purchase sooner rather than later.
A lot of people are racking up large credit card tabs in the course of their holiday shopping, so now may not be the best time to stock up on items you don’t need right away. Keep your personal finances in mind. But if you think you’ll have a need for gift baskets, toys, and fancy chocolates in the new year, then you may want to load up now if you can afford to shell out the extra money. Wait too long, and you might have to sit tight until next November for these items to make a full-fledged appearance at Costco.
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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
