A new VIP perk hits the aisles
If you’re a Costco Executive Member, get ready to roll your oversized shopping cart in style. Starting this week, Costco is officially giving its highest-tier members their very own shopping hour — a private window to browse the shelves before the crowds pour in.
The company started strictly enforcing its new “Executive Member Shopping Hours” policy on Monday. That means if you’ve got the $130-a-year Executive Membership, you can enjoy the store almost all to yourself between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, the special window runs from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, Gold Star and Business members will still have to wait until 10 a.m. on weekdays and Sundays and 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays to start shopping.
A perk for Costco’s most loyal members
Costco first teased this change in June through social media and emails to Executive Members. After rolling out the policy at select locations over the summer, the perk is now available nationwide.
More than 37 million members qualify for this benefit. That’s a lot of folks who can now avoid long lines while sipping their morning coffee and wandering through empty aisles.
Costco has also confirmed that food courts, optical centers, and pharmacies (except on Sundays) will participate in these exclusive hours. So, whether you’re grabbing an early $1.50 hot dog or picking up new glasses, you can do it before the store fills up.
Why Costco is doing this now
Retail experts say this move is part of a bigger trend. Many companies are giving extra perks to higher-spending customers. With the economy weighing more on lower- and middle-income households, retailers see growth opportunities among people who have a little more cash to spend.
David Tinsley, senior economist at the Bank of America Institute, told FOX Business that spending by higher-income households is outpacing that of lower-income households. He also pointed out that wage growth among wealthier workers is higher, widening the gap.
For Costco, the math is simple: Executive Members spend more — a lot more. So giving them a quieter, faster, and less crowded shopping experience makes perfect business sense.
What it means for regular members
If you have a Gold Star or Business membership, don’t worry — Costco isn’t kicking you to the curb. Your usual shopping hours stay the same. The only real change is that Executive Members get to shop a little earlier.
Think of it like an amusement park letting VIP ticket holders in before the gates officially open. You still get to ride the roller coaster, but they get first dibs on the front row.
The bottom line
Costco’s Executive Member Shopping Hours are now live nationwide, giving the warehouse giant’s top-tier members a quieter shopping experience, shorter lines, and early access to everything from rotisserie chickens to giant packs of paper towels.
If you’re already paying for the $130 Executive Membership, this is just another reason to feel like Costco royalty. If not, you might find yourself wondering if an extra hour of peaceful shopping (and a few extra perks throughout the year) is worth the upgrade.
One thing’s certain: if you love Costco — and who doesn’t? — this new policy is just another way the warehouse club is keeping its biggest fans happy.
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