Here’s how the keys to the Costco kingdom can be yours
There’s very little in life that’s more exciting than a trip to Costco. So much promise! So much possibility! So many price cuts! Maybe that’s why it hits so hard when you head to a crowded store at peak shopping times and discover the $4.99 rotisserie chickens are sold out and there are no more free samples. It’s just so darn disappointing.
If only Costco opened earlier, you could have beaten the rush and gotten the goods. Well, your wish has been granted, because that’s exactly what’s happening at Costco stores across the country right now … though there is one small catch.
Keep reading to find out more about Costco’s extended hours and how you can take advantage of them.
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Who is Costco extending store hours for?
Executive members, this one’s for you! Costco’s extended hours apply only to those with this higher-tier Costco membership—and yes, that’s the catch.
Currently, most Costco locations open at 10 a.m. (though a few open earlier), and that is still the case for Gold Star members. But Executive members get the perk of shopping up to a whole hour earlier than everyone else: from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on weekends.
This new scheduling change officially went into effect on June 30, but Costco allowed a grace period for members until Aug. 31. Now that the grace period has ended, locations have started strictly enforcing the policy and turning away Gold Star members during these exclusive times. (More on that below.)
What is the Executive Membership?
Costco’s Executive Membership is the highest tier of Costco membership, and it includes premium benefits that Gold Star members don’t receive. However, the Gold Star Membership is the more popular, more affordable option among Costco shoppers. While the Gold Star Membership is just $65 per year, an Executive Membership is nearly double—$130 per year.
That said, depending on what you buy and how much you shop, members will say that it practically pays for itself. And that’s not even including the other perks you’ll get with it.
What other perks come with an Executive Membership?
There’s a good reason that a Costco Executive Membership is more expensive than a Gold Star Membership: Executive members get even more savings and some really incredible perks! An Executive Membership includes all the same benefits of a Gold Star Membership, but it also includes a 2% cashback reward on qualified Costco purchases. Plus, it offers things like members-only auto pricing, bottled-water delivery and additional benefits when shopping with Costco Travel—including an annual 2% reward on qualifying travel purchases, which can really add up. Executive members are also privy to Costco’s excellent mortgage and refinancing services. (Yes, you read that right.)
Costco also rolled out another new Executive Membership benefit in June. Executive members now get a $10 monthly credit on Instacart orders over $150. That alone can work out to $120 in savings per year!
How serious is Costco about enforcing the new extended-hours rule?
In a word: very. Costco has definitely been cracking down since the rule became official on Sept. 1, and customers without an Executive Membership are regularly being denied entry at warehouses when they try to shop before the designated hours.
Over on Reddit, shoppers are sharing stories about what they’ve witnessed. One user described a recent scene like this: “Day one at 9:55 [a.m.], I watched them turning people away. One guy got lippy and the manager (who was making announcements about the Gold Members needing to wait until 10) escorted him away from the doors.”
The message is clear: If you don’t have an Executive Membership, that extra hour of shopping is officially off-limits.
How do Costco shoppers feel about this?
As you can imagine, some people are thrilled, while others are really, really not. Let’s start with the happy people. One Redditor says it makes the whole shopping experience so much better: “Well worth the money. I mentally feel lighter knowing it’s not chaos to get what you want and get out.” Another praises the calmer atmosphere, saying: “It truly is glorious not having to shop with the other riff raff. We were in and out in 30 minutes.”
And now for the unhappy shoppers. Some on social media feel like Costco is making a “cash grab” and “discriminating against regular members.” Others think this perk should be reserved for Costco Business Card members. “I get Executive Card status is the highest membership card,” says on TikToker. “But c’mon, business owners can’t always up and go to Costco to buy in bulk.”
Despite the controversy about Costco’s extended hours, the new rule is here to stay. We leave it to you to decide whether that extra hour of shopping (in relative peace and quiet) is worth shelling out the extra cash for an Executive Membership or not.
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Sources:
- Today: “Costco’s Early Shopping Restrictions Are Causing a Stir: ‘It’s Demeaning’”
- Costco Insider: “New Executive Member Early Hours Coming Soon”
- Reddit:”New Executive Hours:”
- TikTok: “USA Costco Lovers”
