Image source: Getty Images
Costco might not be the first place that pops to mind when you think of buying a bathing suit. In fact, depending on what your warehouse stocks, you may not even see them at your local store. But Costco sells a variety of men’s and women’s swimsuits online, at prices that are generally hard to beat. Although the selection isn’t vast, here are three reasons Costco might just become your next swimsuit outlet.
1. Prices are very low
Costco generally has the lowest prices for specific swimwear that it sells. For example, here’s a quick price comparison for three ladies’ suits it’s currently selling online.
| Swimsuit option | Costco | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Hurley Ladies’ Swimsuit (large, black) | $21.99 | $25.89 |
| Jessica Simpson Ladies’ Swimsuit (large, multicolor) | $19.99 | $47.77 |
| LYSA Ladies’ Plus Size Swimsuit (2X, black) | $29.99 | $39.95 |
Keep in mind that the size of a bathing suit could determine its price on Amazon. For example, while the Hurley swimsuit was more expensive in a large, it was also slightly cheaper in a size small ($20.35). Also, since Amazon has dynamic pricing, you might find a cheaper bathing suit at a time when no one is buying them versus when they’re in high demand.
For men’s bathing suits, Costco had significantly cheaper prices than Amazon when I compared the same products. Here’s a quick breakdown of what I found.
| Swimsuit option | Costco | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Hurley Men’s Swim Trunk (large, gray) | $18.99 | $31.96 |
| Eddie Bauer Mens’ Swim Trunk (large, light blue) | $18.99 | $26.42 |
Although Costco has cheaper prices when we’re comparing two brand name swimsuits, it’s not always true that Costco has the cheapest swimsuits on the market. Its cheapest swimsuit for men is its Kirkland Signature Men’s Swim Short, which costs $15.99 online. If you’re not picky about appearance, you can find swim shorts on Amazon for less than $10. You might be wearing shorts with flamingos or sail boats, but if you’re okay with that, you could charge less to your credit card.
2. Get extra savings online
Every now and then Costco will run big sales on clothes. Typically, it doesn’t cut prices on individual items. Rather, it will give you a hefty discount when you buy a certain number of clothes all at once.
Recently, Costco ran a “Buy More & Save” on clothes purchased online. If you had bought five to nine items, you would have saved $20, while 10 or more would have scored you $50 in savings. This involves mixing and matching different clothes, from swimwear to shirts and shoes, so replenishing your wardrobe during one of these online events could help you cut the clothing line in your budget.
Keep your eyes on the Costco website for more clothing sales like this. Or, better yet, download the Costco shopping app and enable notifications to stay up to date on future sales.
3. Generous return policy
If you do find bathing suits at a Costco warehouse, you’ll probably notice there are no changing rooms. Fortunately, Costco has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. This enables you to return your swimwear to Costco at any time for a full refund. The same applies if you purchase a swimming suit online: You can return these products in a warehouse or through Costco.com to get your money back.
Another benefit of buying a swimsuit at Costco is that you could get an extra 2% in cash back if you’re an Executive member. Combine this purchase with your Costco credit card and you could score up to 4% back on your swimwear purchases. That’s a good amount of cash back, especially if you’re already saving money by purchasing it at Costco.
Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)
If you’re shopping with a debit card, you could be missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. These versatile credit cards offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco, and are rated the best cards of 2024 by our experts because they offer hefty sign-up bonuses and outstanding cash rewards. Plus, you’ll save on credit card interest because all of these recommendations include a competitive 0% interest period.
Click here to read our expert recommendations for free!
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
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.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
