When Does Costco Restock? (Everything You Need to Know)
From bulk groceries to home goods, Costco makes it easy to stock up on everything you need in a single shopping trip. If you’re searching for a specific item, planning your shopping trip at the wrong time might leave you running to different stores to cross everything off your list.
Although Costco lacks a universal restocking schedule, local warehouses typically restock during the night shift and early morning between 4:00 a.m. and until the store opens. If you’re shopping for a specific item, it’s recommended to call your local warehouse or visit Costco’s website to check the available inventory.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what time Costco restocks, how long it takes for Costco to restock its online inventory, and the best day to plan your Costco run.
What Time Does Costco Restock?
Costco generally starts restocking its shelves during the night shift and early morning, around 4:00 a.m. Although Costco receives new shipments daily, local warehouses cannot guarantee that high-demand items will be in stock. For the best results, call your local store to check inventory before planning your trip.
Planning a shopping trip right after the store opens may be able to help you secure hard-to-find items, but an early Costco run doesn’t always guarantee availability.
To determine when your local warehouse opens, use Costco’s warehouse locator.
It’s also important to keep in mind that an asterisk next to a barcode on a Costco price tag indicates that an item will not be restocked.
If you love a product enough and your local warehouse isn’t going to continue restocking it, be sure to stock up—as long as the item is not subject to Costco’s purchase limits.
How Long Does It Take for Costco to Restock Online?
Costco’s online inventory is updated daily based on when trucks show up and how quickly pallets are put away. Costco’s online inventory is updated in real-time, meaning if you’re unable to find a specific item on Costco.com, the item is likely either not available online or currently out of stock.
According to Costco’s website, when Costco restocks its online inventory, any out-of-stock items that are restocked will reappear on the website instantly.
Costco encourages customers to check the site’s online inventory frequently for updates, especially when shopping for high-demand products.
For the best results, eCommerce Costco employees recommend checking the website around 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
@Costco Is there any way to check inventory on an item #899496 besides going in to the warehouse?
— Wolven Sheepsclothings (@comish4lif) August 1, 2017
How to Check Costco Inventory
To check Costco inventory at your local warehouse, you can visit the membership counter at your local warehouse, call your local warehouse to talk to a team member or contact member services.
If you’re shopping for something specific at your local warehouse, consider calling in advance to ensure the items you’re shopping for are currently in stock.
Here’s how to inquire about inventory at your local store.
- Click on the warehouse map under “Warehouse Locator” for your nearest store’s phone number.
- Call your local Costco store and dial 0 to talk to a team member.
- Ask the team member to confirm the availability of any items you’re planning to shop for.
However, if you choose to check Costco’s inventory, having the inventory number or product description on hand can speed up the process.
According to Costco’s website, while local warehouses try to keep high-demand items in stock, it’s better to get in touch sooner rather than later to avoid missing out on a specific item.
Meanwhile, if you’re searching for a specific item you found online, keep in mind that Costco’s online inventory is not the same as local warehouse inventory.
Costco online and warehouse prices also differ for most items due to the shipping and handling costs for online orders.
As a result, there are some items that you may find online that you won’t be able to find at your local warehouse and vice versa.
To browse Costco’s online inventory, visit Costco.com. Select items can be purchased online and shipped to your local Costco warehouse for in-store pickup.
If items are eligible for in-store pickup, you’ll be able to find the option on the product page below the “Add to Cart” button.
Do you get stock alerts for @Costco? Are they even going to restock?
— Paul McNeill (@Paulypnutz) November 24, 2020
How to Get Costco In-Stock Alerts
The Costco website does not offer in-stock alerts. However, if you’re searching for a specific item, you can sign up for Costco in-stock alerts using PriceCase. This free price tracker monitors websites and sends notifications when products are restocked, or price changes occur.
To sign up for in-stock alerts on PriceCase, you’ll need to enter your product URL for the item you want notifications for.
Costco updates its online inventory in real-time, so it’s best to act fast when you receive a PriceCase notification and purchase the item before it goes out of stock again.
As mentioned previously, Costco’s online and in-store inventory varies. Meaning when an item is restocked on the Costco website does not necessarily mean that the item has been restocked at your local warehouse.
When Does Costco Restock Produce?
Depending on your local warehouse, Costco begins restocking produce at the end of the night or soon after the store opens. Costco does not have a universal restocking schedule, and your local warehouse will restock depending on its management, volume, and when it receives new produce shipments.
In most cases, Costco warehouses only restock produce and other fresh grocery items once in the morning and once at night, and restocking typically takes a few hours.
Although many Costco warehouses have experienced a significant increase in business over the last year, the big-box retailer does not currently practice 24-hour stocking.
If you’re planning a Costco run to pick up produce, try visiting your local warehouse when the store opens.
Some Costco stores have changed their hours, so it’s a good idea to call your local store before planning your trip.
If you’re worried about visiting your local store and finding empty produce shelves, you can also call your warehouse in advance to ask about current availability.
Is there a landing page for grocery store busy-ness and inventory? We need to go soon but if everyone is going at off hours as recommended… should we go at on hours? Do we call to see if Costco has TP?
— everybody’s mom (@emilyjanehubb) March 28, 2020
What Is the Best Day to Shop at Costco?
If you’re planning your shopping trip around Costco’s restocking schedule, the best day to shop at Costco is Monday morning, right after the store opens. This way, you’ll be able to beat the weekend rush while shopping shelves that were recently stocked during the night shift.
When planning your weekend morning Costco run, avoid planning your trip so late that you’ll be there during lunch hours.
Many Costco warehouses see an increase in shoppers during the lunch hour, so it’s best to get out before the lunch rush starts.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to beat crowded aisles and long checkout lines, the best time to shop at Costco is during the week, between Tuesday and Thursday.
To beat the lunch and dinner rush, aim to visit the store between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
According to Costco managers, another way to avoid crowds is by visiting the store shortly before closing time on a weeknight.
Conclusion
At your local Costco warehouse, you can take advantage of great deals on furniture, home decor items, and an extensive selection of bulk groceries.
Although the inventory at your local Costco might be difficult to check in advance without Costco shop alerts, it’s worth a call to your local store if you’re searching for a specific item.
If you’re interested in finding out more about shopping at Costco, check out the related articles below.
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Costco Membership: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Kirkland Signature: What You Need to Know About Costco’s Store Brand
Costco App: It Has New Features Including the Digital Membership Card
