BEGINNING today, Costco is instituting a big switch-up to its store hours at all 628 of its US warehouses.
As the retail giant rolls out the change and shoppers adjust, Costco is facilitating the process by offering a grace period to millions of members.

Costco is rolling out a major change to its store hours beginning today, June 30[/caption]
As Costco implements its hours change, the retailer is offering a grace period to help shoppers adjust[/caption]
Costco’s most premium members fall into the warehouse club’s Executive level tier, a membership card that costs shoppers $130 each year.
While Executive members only comprise around 47% of Costco’s total membership, they account for an astounding 73% of the company’s sales, per company data.
These stats indicate that the retailer’s top tier members tend to spend more per shopping trip and potentially make more frequent purchases at Costco compared to Gold Star or Business members.
In an effort to expand the perks for its most loyal customers, Costco is making a policy change that will give Executive members an extra hour to shop, allowing them to enter the store before anyone else.
Starting today, Costco will open its doors to these members at 9 am local time at all 628 warehouses – an hour earlier than Gold Star and Business level members.
These new hours will be in effect every day except Saturdays, when Executive members will be able to exclusively enter the store from 9 am to 9:30 am, 30 minutes earlier than everyone else.
For locations that already open their doors at 9 am to all shoppers, Costco will reserve that time for Executive members starting today.
“Our Executive members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco,” the company told Business Insider.
In addition to opening earlier for Executive members, Costco will stay open one hour later on Saturdays, until 7 pm, for all shoppers.
It’s not the first time that Costco has given early store access to its top-paying customers, with select locations offering extended shopping hours to Executive members in recent years – a benefit that was slowly phased out.
The move to reinstate the membership perk rivals Sam’s Club’s early hours policy for its Plus members, which allocates two extra shopping hours for its premium members every weekday between 8 am and 10 am.
On Saturdays, Plus members can take advantage of the early access between 8 am and 9 am.
SHOPPING SHIFT
As the warehouse club rolls out its new store hours, Costco is cognizant that the abrupt switch-up could spark confusion among members unaware of the change.
In an effort to help all its non-Executive members adjust to the change, the retailer is implementing a grace period.
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
“A grace period for Gold Star and Business members will be in effect through August 31,” reads a sign posted at one Costco store, alongside details of the company’s new schedule.
Although Costco is making an effort to ease customers’ grievances with the new policy, it hasn’t stopped Gold Star and Business members from complaining.
“WTF is the point for business members pass then?” cried one shopper on Facebook, as another fumed that Costco was ripping people off.
“So they are telling you the hours that you can shop? I DON’T THINK SO! Goodbye Costco!” slammed a third, as others vowed to switch over to Sam’s Club.
Some Executive members have similarly expressed complaints about the hours change, saying that they would rather see additions such as a scan-and-go system or the revival of the beloved combo pizza at the food court.
Even Costco workers have shared their dismay about the new store hours, complaining that both opening and closing later will make their jobs much tougher.
“Two hours may not sound like a lot, but we already struggle to get certain parts of the day covered and certain things done between opening and night crew. This two hour change will make it infinitely worse,” complained one employee on Reddit.
As Costco’s new hours take effect beginning today, the retailer is rolling out another hours change this week.
The retailer will close down all of its locations for 24 hours, forcing its rival Sam’s Club to scoop up business.
Costco is also launching another new perk for its Executive members, giving them a free $10 – you just use a popular service and it’s automatically added.

Costco will open its stores an hour earlier to Executive members starting June 30[/caption]