Costco recently adopted a new policy that gives its Executive members special early shopping hours, adding value to their membership experience. This joint effort was launched to every Costco warehouse across the United States and Canada. Now, Executive members get to shop an hour earlier than other members! The policy had a soft launch in June. It looks to provide even greater benefit to the approximately 600,000 annual fee-payers ($130/year).
The rollout of this new policy follows up Costco raising membership fees last September. Executive members can now take advantage of the following shopping hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. This VIP access gives Executive members the chance to explore the store with fewer shoppers, helping them more conveniently enjoy everything that makes shopping with us so special.
Membership Details and Fee Structure
Costco has three different membership levels, with the top tier of membership, Executive members, spending $130 per year. That’s a huge jump from the previous $65 annual fee for Gold Star, Business, and Business add-on members. The Executive membership offers other exclusive Member perks, including the new early shopping hours.
As a caveat, this policy launch was very much a pilot, restricted to just a few warehouses. Now, it’s been rolled out to all Costco locations. Those exclusive hours are meant to give additional perks to the most loyal customers who put the most money back into their membership.
In early 2023, Costco members first learned about the transition via email from the retailer. They emphasized the value of their Executive level membership to regularly inform everyone on the practice floor.
Shopping Experience Enhancements
Costco’s home page now features a banner welcoming “VIP hours.” This new shift changes entirely the nature of how the retailer engages with its base of Executive membership. We’re very focused on making the shopping experience better for these members. They are providing special time in the stores before it opens to regular members of the public.
Tied to the member’s physical location, executive members can use their unique executive membership card to enter these exclusive early hours. Costco has made a firm commitment to deliver the most value and convenience possible for its gold-pladge members. Further, this initiative adds to the attractiveness of the Executive membership.
“exclusive earlier shopping hours for Executive members” – Costco’s website
