If the price of an item ends in $0.99, then it's being sold at the regular cost.
Manufacturer Deals End in 9s (Excluding .99) 69 and 79 cents may seem unconventional, and they are, but these odd ending prices indicate a test-ride of a product by the manufacturer offered at a price lower than Costco would like. These .59, .69, .79, and .89 endings can possibly be better deals than at other stores, but they won't be better than the .97 manager markdowns.
But tags with $0.97 indicate the product is discounted or on clearance.
Price tags ending in $0.00 or $0.88 signal a “manager markdown,” which means the product may have been a floor model or return, among other reasons. Closely inspect the item before purchasing it to make sure it's not damaged or missing any parts.
An asterisk next to the price — often referred to as “the death star” by Costco regulars — indicates this item will not be restocked, so you may want to buy more than one.