COSTCO employees have taken issue with one of the store’s most recent policy changes, complaining that it has made a mess of their lives.
As Costco workers adjust to the retailer’s new hours, they are pleading with members to have some patience on their shopping trips.
Costco is the largest membership-only warehouse club retailer in the US by revenue and membership fee income[/caption]
Costco recently rolled out a store hours policy change that has employees up in arms[/caption]
Costco, similar to rivals Sam’s Club and BJ’s, is a membership-based warehouse club, meaning that shoppers are subject to a slew of rules each time they step foot on the premises.
One of the retailer’s most recent policy updates pertains to its hours, with Costco extending its hours for shoppers in its premium Executive tier membership, opening at 9 am for them as of June 30.
While some members have praised the new schedule, Costco workers are not too fond of the change, complaining that it has caused many complications for them.
Costco employee Holly Dickey White shared her concerns about the change right before it rolled out in a Facebook post on June 29, complaining that workers were not given any say in the new hours and found out at the same time as customers.
“I understand it’s ‘just an hour,’ but for a lot of employees, it is making life difficult, getting kids to school or babysitters,” wrote White.
“If you are caring for an elderly member of your family. It is disrupting our lives!! We will all be stretched thin,” she said, noting that no new staff was hired to cover the extra hours.
Because she expected the reworked schedule to be so hard on Costco’s workers, White begged members to show them some grace.
“For the near future, please be kind to our Costco employees. We have a lot of our plates (that we didn’t ask for) and we are trying very hard to have good attitudes about it while taking care of our members,” she wrote.
“Greet us with a Smile, it will help, I PROMISE!! Bring a dose of patience, a smile and if you are feeling it, a kind word, you will make someone’s day!”
When Costco announced the new hours change in a tongue-in-cheek Facebook reel, shoppers similarly shared their grievances about the policy.
Many complained that, while Costco was opening early at 9 am, Sam’s Club opened at 8 am for executive members.
“I’m already in and out of Sam’s club by 9 am!” wrote one shopper, as another vented that 9 am was a “very impractical” time for them to shop, as they were already at work.
SHOPPING SHIFT
Costco’s Executive shoppers, who pay $130 annually for their membership, make up less than half of the retailer’s total membership but account for 73% of its sales, per company data.
This means that Executive members generally spend more money during each shopping trip and potentially make more frequent purchases at Costco than other members.
Membership and store cards on offer from major retailers
Here is a breakdown of the store cards on offer to customers from various retailers and their benefits
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Costco:
- Gold Star Membership: $65 per year, shop all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your household.
- Executive Membership: $130 per year, annual 2% reward, additional discounts and benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store, and get two additional cards for household use.
- Sign up for a Costco Membership here
Sam’s Club:
- Club Membership: $50 per year, bonus offers, same-day delivery, instant savings, Sam’s Club Mastercard, members-only fuel savings, tire and battery center, complimentary membership, and add-on memberships.
- Plus Membership: $110 per year, all benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, early shopping, and pharmacy and optical savings.
- Sign up for Sam’s Club Membership here
Target:
- Target Circle: A free-to-join reward program allowing users to earn 1% in Target Circle earnings rewards when an eligible purchase is made, access deals and personalized offers, get a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps out your community.
- Target Circle Card: A credit, debit, or reloadable account card that gives users 5% off in-store and online as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping, and an additional 30-day returns window. Formerly Target RedCard.
- Sign up for Target Circle here
Walmart:
- Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with a free 30-day trial. Offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ subscription, auto car, Walmart+ travel, returns from home, mobile scan and go in-store, and early access to deals and product releases.
- Sign up for Walmart+ here
“Our Executive members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco,” the company told Business Insider.
Costco made a move to permit Executive members to enter the warehouse club prior to Gold Star or Business members, opening exclusively for them from 9 am to 10 am on weekdays and Sundays.
On Saturdays, the top-paying members can have Costco all to themselves from 9 am to 9:30 am, 30 minutes before everyone else.
Costco also announced it would stay open one hour later on Saturdays, until 7 pm, for all customers.
The chain previously offering extended shopping hours for its premium members but slowly phased it out.
Costco move to revive the hours perk rivals Sam’s Club’s early hours policy for its Plus members, which allows the chain’s premium members to enter the store two hours before everyone else on weekdays between 8 am and 10 am.
As Costco workers adjust to the chain’s new hours, the retailer is being told to “join this century” over three checkout policy problems as members go to a rival that’s better in “all aspects.”
Meanwhile, Costco’s sorbet sold out again after going viral on TikTok – shoppers praise “I could eat a whole box in one sitting.”
Costco extended its shopping hours for Executive members beginning on June 30[/caption]
