Costco Price Drop Alerts: How to Get Notified When Prices Fall (2026)

Last updated: January 2, 2026

TL;DR

• Costco doesn't offer built-in price drop alerts—you need third-party tools.
• For items you already bought: Use CostPal to upload receipts and get automatic alerts when prices drop.
• For items you're watching: Use Visualping (free) or Price Watch for Costco app.
• For in-store prices: Warehouse Runner tracks prices at 600+ locations.
• Why it matters: Costco's 30-day price adjustment means price drops = money back.

This is part of our Costco Price Tracker Guide. Also see: How to Check Costco Price History and Best Time to Buy at Costco.

Why Costco Price Drop Alerts Matter

Unlike most retailers, Costco offers a 30-day price adjustment policy. If something you bought drops in price within 30 days, you can get the difference refunded. But there's a catch: Costco won't tell you when prices drop.

That's where price drop alerts come in. With the right tools, you can:

• Get notified instantly when items you bought go on sale
• Claim price adjustments before the 30-day window closes
• Track items you want to buy and snag them at the lowest price

Method 1: Track Items You Already Bought (CostPal)

If you've already made purchases and want automatic alerts for price drops, CostPal is the best option.

How CostPal Works

1. Download the app (iOS or Android)
2. Upload your Costco receipts by taking a photo
3. CostPal automatically monitors prices for every item on your receipt
4. Get instant notifications when any item drops in price
5. Request the adjustment using the app's guidance

CostPal Pricing

• Free trial: $5 worth of price adjustment savings
• Credits: Starting at $0.99 per credit
• Unlimited: $2.99/month subscription

Why It's Worth It

CostPal users have collectively claimed over $250,000 in refunds. If you shop at Costco regularly, the subscription easily pays for itself—one $30 TV price drop covers a year of the service.

Method 2: Track Items You Want to Buy (Visualping)

If you're watching specific items and waiting for a price drop before purchasing, Visualping is a powerful free option.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Find the product on Costco.com and copy the URL
2. Go to Visualping.io and paste the URL
3. Select the price area on the page to monitor
4. Set your check frequency:
   • Free tier: Daily checks
   • Paid tier: Every 5 minutes (during sales)
5. Enter your email to receive alerts
6. Optional: Write a prompt like "Alert me when price drops below $X"

Pro Tips for Visualping

• During sales: Use 5-15 minute check intervals
• Routine monitoring: Daily checks are usually sufficient
• Select precisely: Highlight just the price element, not the whole page
• Create multiple monitors: Track different products separately

Visualping Pricing

• Free: 5 monitors, daily checks
• Starter: $14/month for more frequent checks
• Business: Custom pricing for heavy users

Method 3: In-Store Price Alerts (Warehouse Runner)

Most tools focus on Costco.com, but Warehouse Runner tracks in-store warehouse prices across 600+ locations.

Key Features

• Real-time prices from your local Costco warehouses
• Price drop notifications for items you're tracking
• Price comparison across different warehouse locations
• Historical price data with interactive graphs

How to Use Warehouse Runner

1. Download the iOS app (Android coming soon)
2. Set your local warehouses
3. Search for products or browse categories
4. Add items to your watchlist
5. Enable notifications for price drops

Why Track In-Store Prices?

Costco's in-store prices often differ from online prices. Some deals are warehouse-only, and prices can vary between locations. Warehouse Runner helps you:

• Find the cheapest Costco near you
• Catch in-store-only deals
• Know when warehouse prices drop (for price adjustments)

Method 4: Simple iOS Watchlists (Price Watch for Costco)

For a no-frills approach, Price Watch for Costco offers basic watchlist functionality.

Features

• Add products to watchlist to monitor daily
• Set target price alerts—get notified when price falls below your target
• View price history charts over time

Pricing

• Free: Limited items, includes ads
• Premium: $1.99/year for unlimited items and ad-free

Comparison: Which Alert Tool Should You Use?

Setting Up a Complete Alert System

For maximum savings, combine multiple tools:

Step 1: Track Past Purchases

1. Download CostPal
2. Upload your last 30 days of Costco receipts
3. Enable push notifications

Step 2: Monitor Your Wishlist

1. Create a Visualping account
2. Add 3-5 high-value items you're considering
3. Set check frequency to daily (or more during sales)

Step 3: Compare Local Warehouses

1. Download Warehouse Runner (iOS)
2. Add your local Costco locations
3. Check for price differences before shopping

When to Expect Price Drops

Knowing when Costco typically drops prices helps you set alerts at the right time:

Monthly Instant Savings

• Runs for about 26 days each month
• Usually starts on a Wednesday, ends on a Sunday
• Different categories featured each month

Seasonal Clearances

• January: Holiday items, fitness equipment
• March-April: Winter apparel, patio furniture appearing
• July-August: Summer items, back-to-school deals
• November-December: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Holiday Savings Event

Weekly Manager Specials

• Posted irregularly as "Hot Buys"
• Often unadvertised—alerts are essential to catch these

What to Do When You Get an Alert

Got a price drop notification? Here's your action plan:

For Items You Already Bought

1. Verify the price drop—check Costco.com or call the warehouse
2. Check your purchase date—must be within 30 days
3. Request the adjustment:
   • Online orders: Use Costco.com's price adjustment form
   • In-store purchases: Bring receipt to the Returns counter
4. Keep documentation—screenshot the lower price with date

For Items on Your Wishlist

1. Compare to price history—is this a good deal?
2. Check if it's the lowest price—tools like Warehouse Runner show history
3. Buy if it's a good deal—popular items sell out fast
4. Set up post-purchase tracking—add to CostPal for future drop protection

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Not Getting Alerts?

• Check notification permissions in your phone settings
• Verify email isn't in spam (for Visualping)
• Confirm the product URL is correct—Costco URLs can change

Alert Came Too Late?

• Increase check frequency during sales periods
• Set up multiple tools for redundancy
• Check time zones—sales often start at midnight PT

Tool Says Price Changed But It Didn't?

• Page layout changes can trigger false alerts
• Shipping costs might have changed, not the item price
• Refine your selection area in Visualping to be more precise

FAQ

Does Costco send price drop notifications?

No, Costco does not offer price drop alerts. You'll need to use third-party tools like CostPal, Visualping, or Warehouse Runner.

What's the best free option for price drop alerts?

Visualping offers a free tier with 5 monitors and daily checks. It's the best free option for tracking Costco.com products.

Can I track in-store Costco prices?

Yes, Warehouse Runner tracks prices at 600+ Costco warehouse locations. Most other tools only track Costco.com.

How quickly will I get an alert when prices drop?

It depends on your settings. CostPal checks continuously. Visualping ranges from every 5 minutes (paid) to daily (free).

Are these price tracking tools safe to use?

Yes, the tools mentioned are well-established services. They don't require Costco login credentials—they monitor public product pages or analyze photos of your receipts.

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