COSTCO members have lashed out at the chain over a new store policy starting on June 30.
Taking to social media, some shoppers who pay a membership fee to visit the wholesale retailer, have criticised the move that segregates members from each other.
Some Costco members have lashed out at the wholesaler over an incoming store policy (stock)[/caption]
New store hours will give exclusive shopping time to members who pay the highest fees (stock)[/caption]
All 628 warehouses will be undergoing an opening hours change from Monday onwards that will see executive members, those who pay the highest fees, given early entry.
Stores will open at 9 am Monday to Sunday for Executive members only.
Gold Star and Business Members will have to wait until 10 am unless its Saturday then they can shop from 9:30 onwards.
Those who pay $65 a year for Gold or Business memberships have hit out at the policy.
Some have even threatened to move to rival Sam’s Club.
“WTF is the point for business members pass then?” one wrote on Facebook.
“Now they want to start ripping people off too watch! I’m going to Sam’s club.”
“This is a poor decision,” another added.
“Why [do] executive members have privileges to shop one hour earlier than other members?”
He acccused the retailer of “sending a message” that those with more money “to throw” at the chain via membership fees can benefit while it “screws all other members”.
A third added: “So they are telling you the hours that you can shop? I DON’T THINK SO! Goodbye Costco!”.
Some shoppers have predicted that “people are going to be angry” when they “show up at that time with a lesser membership and [get] turned away”.
‘PEASANT’ MEMBERSHIP
Meanwhile, others have made repeated references comparing those of a “lesser” membership to “peasants”.
Costco membership sharing guidelines
Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they’ve been cracking down on offenders in recent years.
- Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
- Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
- Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn’t reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.
Credit: Costco
One shopper simply commented “peasants” under a post about the new policy.
Executive members joined in saying: “Executive Member. Early access. Extra privileges. Basically royalty now. Bow down peasants, I shop at 9AM.”
“Wait until you find out that Costco’s ‘Executive Members’ are allowed to shop 1 hour earlier than standard peasants,” another wrote on X.
But one shopper had the perfect response simply saying, “Good, us peasants will get an extra hour of sleep”.
Another thinks the change is needlessly divisive saying that chain could instead “make all members happy”.
“I have an executive membership Costco card but I don’t see any need to have us a special time slot,” she wrote on Facebook.
“My take is, why not allow every member in early, if the door is already open for business.
“Same expense to the store since they already have the employees to serve. Make all members happy.”
But some Executive members feel the move is well-deserved as they pay $130 per year for the top membership and should have more “incentives”.
They already receive a range of extra bonuses including the ability to shop at any Costco warehouse in the world and getting better savings.
Costco has confirmed that there will be a grace period for Gold Star and Business members to get used to the change until August 31.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Costco for comment.
Meanwhile, Costco has been told to “start revoking memberships” for shoppers who “embarrass themselves” by ignoring a checkout policy.
