Costco has officially enforced a new rule that restricts early morning shopping to Executive members only, ending a grace period that had allowed others to enter during that time. Starting September 1, only Executive members can access the store from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, the exclusive window is reduced to 30 minutes, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Non-Executive members will be denied entry before 10 a.m. on weekdays and before 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The policy has sparked controversy among Costco members, but the company defended it, stating, “Our Executive Members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco.”
Costco offers two main membership tiers: the Gold Star at $65 annually and the Executive at $130 annually. The Executive tier includes perks such as the exclusive shopping hour and a $10 monthly credit introduced earlier this summer. The Business Membership, also $65 annually, is exempt from the extra shopping hour.
This change follows other recent adjustments, including a switch from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products in food courts, which was finalized in August. The move has divided shoppers, with some expressing mixed reactions on social media. Costco had previously switched to Pepsi in 2013 to maintain the price of its $1.50 hot dog combo.
