10 Surprising Things You Can Buy at Warehouse Stores

You wouldn’t expect to purchase these items at BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club

Donna Fuscaldo and Daniel Bortz,

Updated November 14, 2025

AARP

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En español

Published May 06, 2024

/ Updated November 14, 2025

an inside look at a warehouse store full of items

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Weight-loss drugs • Musical instruments • Gold bars • Engagement rings • Hearing aids • Vacations • Caskets • Caviar • Emergency food • Saunas

Toilet paper and cleaning products aren’t the only things you can buy at warehouse clubs. These retailers hawk everything from vacations to gold now. They probably don’t make a ton of money selling these unusual items, but they do create a buzz that can drive more members to their stores.

That’s the case at Costco, which has been doing brisk business selling gold bars to its members. Another reason warehouse club stores sell out-of-the-box items is to meet demand as they morph into one-stop-shopping meccas.

“We rely on our wholesale clubs for our jugs of cooking oil, giant spices, flats of canned goods and all the paper plates we’ll need all summer, but wholesale clubs often carry items that we don’t expect,” says Trae Bodge, a shopping expert at TrueTrae.com. “I think in the Amazon age, many retailers are trying to be all things to all people, and this is evidence of that. I think for the senior customer, that one-stop-shop approach is a real draw and might help to retain that shopper even after all their kids have left the nest.”

With that in mind, here are 10 surprising things you can find at warehouse retailers.

Costco recently started selling prescription weight loss drugs.

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1. Weight-loss drugs

GLP-1 RA medicines are all the rage, with countless people using Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight. That hasn’t been lost on Costco, which recently started selling four-week supplies of the prescriptions for $499 out of pocket — about half the list price for Ozempic, and about two-thirds less than that of Wegovy. (Prices vary for shoppers with health insurance.)

a drawing of a snare drum with drumsticks

Warehouse stores sell instruments like drums and guitars.

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2. Musical instruments

Want to channel your inner Jimi Hendrix or inner Louis Armstrong? You don’t have to scour the music stores or look online for your next musical instrument; you can purchase it at BJ’s or Costco. A Cort AD810OP-A Standard Series acoustic guitar goes for $178 at Sam’s Club, while a Washburn Festival EA15ATB acoustic electric guitar at Costco costs $230.

Gold bars are in demand.

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3. Gold bars

Unique to Costco, gold bars are in demand, and the warehouse retailer is answering that by selling 1-ounce gold PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan bars (prices vary based on availability and market value). Delivery time is about two to three business days. The gold bars can only be purchased online, are not eligible for returns or refunds.

Warehouse retailers offer a wide range of engagement rings.

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4. Engagement rings

It’s never too late to get married or remarried, and what better way to buy an engagement ring than when you are stocking up on paper towels and food? All of these warehouse club retailers sell engagement rings at various price points. Take BJ’s: An engagement ring can set you back $500 for a .33-carat total weight princess-cut solitaire ring in 14k white gold or $1,000 for an Amairah 1-carat total weight diamond halo ring in 14k white gold.

Sam’s Club prices a 0.95-carat total weight pear-shaped diamond halo ring in 14k white gold at $1,079, while a superior quality VS Collection 4.07-carat total weight round diamond solitaire ring in 18k white gold costs $80,000.

Costco’s diamond rings range from $1,100 for a round brilliant 0.75-carat VS2 clarity, G color diamond white gold ring to $135,000 for a round brilliant 4.24-carat VVS2 clarity, G color diamond platinum solitaire ring.

a drawing of a hearing aid with its battery

Over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids are available at warehouse stores.

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5. Hearing aids

Roughly 1 in 3 people in the U.S. between ages 65 and 74 have hearing loss, yet only about 30 percent of adults 70 and older who could benefit from hearing aids use one. That’s despite the many benefits, including staving off dementia and lessening your chances of falling. So maybe it is not surprising for some warehouse retailers to cater to a large share of their customer base by selling over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids. Costco and Sam’s Club sell a variety of hearing aids and hearing aid batteries (prices vary widely based on brand, style and features).

Save on vacations by booking through travel services.

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6. Vacations

Interested in taking the grandkids to Disney or going on an Alaskan cruise? The warehouse clubs can help. From cruises to escorted tours, BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club members can save on vacations by booking through their travel services. They often come with more perks than just a discounted rate. Take BJ’s travel packages, for example. With some of the trips, you get double bonus points, a BJ’s gift card worth up to $500 and free upgrades.

Caskets are among the surprising things you can find in a warehouse store.

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7. Caskets

Taxes and death are life’s two certainties, and if you want to keep costs down for the latter, consider purchasing a coffin from BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club, although the choices are limited at Sam’s Club, which sells two: the Titan Casket Heritage Steel Funeral Casket for $1,399 and the Titan Casket Opus XL Oversize Funeral Casket for $1,650. Costco sells a variety of caskets for $1,350 to $1,600.

Treat yourself to caviar from a warehouse retailer.

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8. Caviar

If you have a taste for the finer things, why not treat yourself to caviar from a warehouse retailer? Costco sells a 1-kilogram tin of Plaza Osetra caviar for $1,400. If you’re not stocking up for a party, the store also sells a three-pack of 2-ounce tins of Plaza Osteria caviar for a mere $250.

A stock of emergency food can help you after a natural disaster.

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9. One-year supply of emergency food

Hopefully, you’re prepared for a financial emergency. But what about a food shortage after a natural disaster? Don’t worry — you can stockpile your basement with enough prepared meals for up to a year by buying a Mountain House emergency food pallet from Costco for $7,500.

If you're willing to splurge, saunas are also available at warehouse retailers.

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10. Saunas

Sauna bathing can reduce the risk of vascular conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive diseases, according to Mayo Clinic research. If you’re willing to splurge, you can buy a Maxxus two-person infrared sauna with red light therapy at Sam’s Club for $2,300. Prefer an outdoor sauna? Costco sells a variety of barrel saunas, including a six-person Almost Heaven model for $6,000.

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Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.

Daniel Bortz is a personal finance editor at AARP, where he writes and edits money content for the website, from saving and budgeting to building wealth and money management skills. His work has been published by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Entrepreneur, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Money and other national publications.