Costco is tightening access for its premium members with a new exclusive morning shopping hour, a move the retailer says will help manage crowds and improve service for its most sought-after tier.
Executive Members will be granted an exclusive 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. shopping window on weekdays and Sundays, and a 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. window on Saturdays. Gold Star and Business Members attempting to shop outside the Executive hour may be turned away by store greeters as the policy is enforced across U.S. warehouses. The change follows an earlier announced rollout and grace period, with formal enforcement beginning around Labor Day. Because the holiday falls on a day many stores are closed, shoppers are expected to see the first tangible effects starting Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Some Costco locations, including all Bay Area stores in California, already open at 9:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, so customers there may notice less disruption at the start of the new schedule. Costco also noted that Executive Members represent a large share of sales—about 73%—despite making up just under half of its roughly 79.6 million memberships, underscoring the policy’s alignment with its premium tier.
The change brings Costco into closer alignment with Sam’s Club, which has long offered exclusive early-morning hours for its premium Plus members. As part of the broader policy update announced on June 30, all U.S. warehouses will also stay open one extra hour on Saturdays, closing at 7:00 p.m. for all members.
What this means for shoppers
– If you’re not an Executive Member, plan to shop within the new exclusive window or consider upgrading to access the morning hours.
– Weekday and Sunday mornings (9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.) are the peak exclusive times, with a shortened 9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m. window on Saturdays.
– Bay Area locations and other stores already operating at 9:00 a.m. may experience less disruption, while others may notice earlier starts to the day.
Context and implications
– Costco’s goal appears to be smoothing crowds and enhancing the shopping experience for top-tier members, while encouraging upgrades within its membership lineup.
– The policy could affect store traffic patterns, with non-Executive members shifting visits to later hours or post-Executive-hour windows.
– The shift mirrors a larger trend among large retailers to offer premium, time-based access as part of membership value propositions.
Summary
Costco is implementing an exclusive 9:00–10:00 a.m. shopping window for Executive Members on weekdays and Sundays, and 9:00–9:30 a.m. on Saturdays, with enforcement starting around Labor Day. Gold Star and Business Members may be turned away outside the Executive hour. In addition, all U.S. warehouses will stay open an extra hour on Saturdays. The policy, supported by Executive Members’ strong share of sales, aligns Costco with competing clubs and aims to balance access with operational efficiency. A hopeful note is that this could improve the shopping experience for premium members while offering clear incentives to upgrade, though non-Executive customers may face changes to when they can shop.