5 Unusual Costco Items That Make for Great Christmas Surprises

In all my time shopping at Costco, I've learned you should never underestimate what the company will sell. You may think you know your warehouse from front to back, from its electronics section to the frozen foods, only to then realize Costco sells the most bizarre items online, like, a 4-person barrel sauna and a 72-pound wheel of Parmesan. A few months ago I even saw Costco selling Babe Ruth autographed cards.

So, while we may always love Costco for its hot dogs and cheap wine, the store has a lot more to offer. If you're still on the hunt for Christmas gifts, here are five unusual items that could make good presents.

1. A Costco hoodie or board game

Perfect for the Costco lover in your life, this is the warehouse's official store hoodie. The black and gray versions sport the Costco logo front and center, while the white hoodie has it emblazoned all over. It's only $26.99 and comes in multiple sizes.

If you like the idea of gifting someone Costco-themed merchandise, you could also check out the Costco Monopoly game for $44.99. Like other themed Monopoly sets, this one replaces the traditional boulevards and properties with Costco locations from around the world. The game pieces are cleverly designed -- I like the forearm forklift and shopping cart -- and the board is extra big, just like you'd expect from Costco.

>> Not a Costco member? Check out these options on Amazon here.<<

2. Arcade games

You may know Costco sells popular gaming consoles, like Playstation and Nintendo, but did you know it also sells retro arcade machines? Yep, Costco sells both PAC-MAN and NBA Jam as stand-up machines that are attachable to both walls and tables.

Both have 17-inch screens and come with a variety of games. PAC-MAN sells for about $200, while NBA Jam is $150 (after a $50 coupon that expires on Christmas Eve).

>> Not a Costco member? Check out these options on Amazon here.<<

3. Signed sports memorabilia

Costco sells autographed sports merchandise on its website. At any time, you can find signed gear from legendary players, like Mickey Mantle and Shaquille O'Neal, ranging from a variety of sports. Over the last few days, I've seen some interesting signatures, like Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Magic Johnson.

If spending upward of $249,999 on an athlete's signature doesn't line up with your personal finance goals, you can also buy sports tickets at good prices on Costco's website. Costco typically sells tickets in the offseason. For example, in December, Costco is selling baseball ticket packages for the 2024 season. Prices vary based on teams and location, but many are below $100 and come with two tickets. You can also find basketball and hockey tickets, though it appears football tickets are no longer available.

>> Not a Costco member? Check out these options on Amazon here.<<

4. "Around the world" in nuts

If someone in your life loves nuts, you could surprise them with "nuts from around the world." The nuts are spiced with flavors from five parts of the world, including Africa, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Thailand, and come in three-ounce bags packaged in two tins.

It could make for a special gift, but take note of the price: $59.99 for 15 ounces of nuts. At that cost, you could buy several 45-ounce bags of almonds, or even a three-pound jug of chocolate almonds.

>> Not a Costco member? Check out these options on Amazon here.<<

5. The Costco bear

Finally, let's end on a Costco favorite: the plush bear that measures almost 8 feet tall (93 inches). It's not cheap -- $400! -- but what kid wouldn't be surprised (or horrified) to wake up on Christmas morning and see a stuffed animal towering over the Christmas tree? And if you have two kids, you could buy them both a bear online and save yourself $100 with Costco Direct.

>> Not a Costco member? Check out these options on Amazon here.<<

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The five Costco items mentioned above only scratch the surface of what you can find online. Costco updates its website frequently, and you might catch something new that no one has seen yet. Take a look for yourself and see what unusual Costco items you can wrap up for your holiday presents.