Costco Shopping Policy Shift: Exclusive Early Hours for Executive Members Starting 2025

Costco Wholesale is implementing a significant policy shift that will affect shopping privileges for its members. Starting September 1, 2025, the retail giant will enforce a new schedule granting exclusive early shopping hours to its higher-tier Executive Members. This change, which was first announced in June, provides a valuable perk to Executive Members, allowing them to access stores one hour prior to the general opening time. This early access period spans from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays and Sundays, and from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The revised policy applies to all U.S. Costco locations, fundamentally altering the traditional shopping timeline for millions of members.

The policy's introduction has been met with mixed reactions. While Costco views the earlier shopping window as a reward for Executive Members' loyalty and significant contribution to sales—accounting for a notable 73% despite being less than half of the total membership—the move has sparked discontent among those holding Gold Star or Business Memberships. These standard members, who pay a $65 annual fee, will experience reduced access as they must wait until the standard opening times to begin shopping.

This change brings to a close the grace period initially provided, from June through August, where all members could start shopping an hour early. As of the first week of September, non-Executive Members attempting to shop during the exclusive hour face being turned away at the store's entrance. This approach aims to provide Executive Members, who pay $130 annually, with additional benefits, potentially incentivizing standard members to consider upgrading their membership.

Beyond early access, Executive Members are rewarded with a 2% annual cashback on qualified purchases, monthly credits for large orders through Costco's "Same-Day" service or Instacart, and other exclusive discounts. These incentives are part of Costco’s strategy to drive loyalty and additional spending from its most valuable customers.

This shift is not the only operational change by the retail warehouse chain. Earlier this year, Costco extended its regular Saturday hours, closing at 7 p.m. to provide an extra hour of shopping to all members. These developments come as Costco aligns more closely with competitors like Sam's Club, which has long offered early shopping for its premium members.

The decision to phase in early access hours aligns strategically with Costco’s broader business objectives. By catering to its Executive Members, the company aims to maintain and grow a customer base that significantly contributes to its quarterly revenue from membership fees, a figure reaching $3.6 billion in the first three quarters of 2025 alone. Costco’s remodeling efforts might prompt some Gold Star and Business members to shift to the Executive Membership tier, effectively doubling their membership fees.

As the policy officially rolls out, the retail giant's emphasis on rewarding committed members is clear. While some members have expressed dissatisfaction, labeling the practice as exclusionary, the changes underscore Costco’s commitment to enhancing the shopping experience for its top-tier members—those perceived as pivotal to its profitability and market standing.