- Starting September 2, only Executive Members will be able to shop Costco stores from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- This policy change was loosely enacted in June, but it will be enforced starting in September.
- The shopping hour change has elicited mixed feelings from customers, many of whom are disappointed by the exclusivity of the new policy.
If your favorite time to shop is in the morning, while stock is bountiful, lines are short, and you can browse at leisure, we have news for you.
Popular wholesale retailer, Costco, has enacted a new policy this week that impacts the first hour of shopping. Only customers with an Executive Membership may now shop between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays and Sunday, and from 9.30 a.m and 10.00 a.m. on Saturdays.
This perk is exclusively available to Executive Members who pay $130 per year for the highest tier of Costco membership. All other Costco shoppers must wait until 10 a.m. to buy from the wholesaler, and Executive Members can shop after those exclusive hours as well.
This change was first piloted back in June of this year, with many locations offering leeway about which membership tiers may enter at 9 a.m. So even if you weren't a top-paying member, there was a good chance you could still get your Costco morning fix.
However, that's all changing. On September 2, the retailer started cracking down on the policy, allowing only Executive Members to shop during this exclusive hour. This means, starting this week, standard Gold Star members will be turned away at the door if they try to shop before 10 a.m. on weekdays.
The change is, understandably, dividing shoppers. "It should be for all members," one person wrote on Instagram. "Is this for all Costco locations?," another asked. While others were thrilled. "Costco right after school drop off is so much more productive."
We're interested to see if this modification will pave the way for any other policy changes. If so, we'll be sure to keep you posted on the latest Costco news.
Kate (she/her) is the associate editor of The Pioneer Woman Magazine. She writes features, commerce, and travel content. Kate brings nearly five years of home, food, and lifestyle experience to the role, including time as editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping. Her bylines have appeared in Woman’s Day, Food Network Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and more. When she’s not writing, Kate can be found lazing in the park with a sudoku in hand.
