COSTCO customers are unsure if a popular treat will be around much longer after spotting a dreaded label marking.
The warehouse retailer uses a variety of markings on merchandise to help employees with inventory count and other needs.
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An asterisk placed on the price tag for a Costco item is known among members as the “death star,” as it typically indicates once the remainder of that specific product is sold out, it won’t be restocked.
While Costco hasn’t officially verified this connotation, employees have concurred, noting that it effectively means the merchandise is “pending deletion” with the asterisk, per Yahoo.
Unfortunately for a member earlier this month, the asterisk was spotted on at least seven items, including Lotus Biscoff cookies, a beloved snack for some.
“I have never noticed so many products with the Death Star,” they wrote in a Reddit thread in shock.
“There seems to be a lot of products on the chopping block.”
Included were snapshots of every item, which included the Biscoff cookies.
Along with the $7.99 price tag per package, an asterisk could be seen in the top right corner.
MARK IDENTIFIED
Just two others with the asterisk were food and drink items.
Crown Maple Organic Syrup, sold at $15.79 per 25-ounce bottle, also had the “death star” in the upper right-hand corner.
So did the Bai Wonder Water Variety Packs for $19.99.
A majority of the other merchandise with the asterisk were self-care items, particularly shampoo and conditioner.
Nexxus Unbreakable Shampoo and Conditioner had it, for example, with a $12.97 price tag.
The Monday Shampoo and Conditioner Dry Shampoo Set for $14.97 also had the asterisk.
Shea’s Moisture & Smooth Conditioner and Shea’s Moisture & Smooth Shampoo also joined the soon-to-be-axed list at $9.97 and $14.97 respectively.
Costco membership sharing guidelines
Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they’ve been cracking down on offenders in recent years.
- Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
- Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
- Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn’t reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.
Credit: Costco
Additionally, Pantene Essential Botanicals Jasmine Citrus Conditioner is set to be cut at $12.99 per bottle after they sell out.
It’s unclear exactly at which of Costco’s over 600 locations nationwide the pictures were taken by the customer.
Cut items will likely vary from store to store.
NOT FOREVER?
Still, many shoppers were shocked to see so many products with the “death star,” even if it wasn’t at their nearest Costco.
“Biscoff is a surprise. My mom would buy their entire stock if she could,” a member wrote in the thread.
“Bai has the Death Star?!?? Nooooo!!” someone else exclaimed.
Even so, a Costco staffer said that the asterisk doesn’t mean that the item is gone for good, but rather the way it is packaged and currently sold is being removed to make way for an updated version, or it’s a seasonal offering getting cycled out for the time being.
“Asterisk doesn’t always mean that a product is being permanently discontinued,” they wrote.
“Seasonal or limited availability rotating products usually get the asterisks as well, or sometimes there might be a packaging, count change, or updated model number, buy the product may still come back in a different form at a later date (or may not).”
This was echoed by several others.
Costco workers also were recently left a note from corporate preventing them from buying certain items.
Some customers are also up in arms about an “incredibly difficult” aspect of having a membership.
