Kirkland Rotisserie Chicken and Early Birds
Costco members nationwide are setting their alarms early on Tuesdays to be first in line for everything from bulk toilet paper to the beloved $1.50 hot dog.
However, this privilege is reserved for a specific group of shoppers.
As of September 2nd, those with executive memberships can start shopping at 9 a.m. daily, while general members must wait until the standard opening hours from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
Costco is well-known for its vast selection of groceries and reliable savings, operating as a paid membership warehouse. The new VIP shopping window gives these high-tier members an edge over others.
Costco’s CEO, Ron Vachris, introduced “Executive Member Shopping Time” back in June to compete with Sam’s Club, its rival owned by Walmart. Sam’s Club offers two hours of early shopping on weekdays and an extra hour on Saturdays for plus members.
This change allows executive members to avoid Costco’s notorious long checkout lines and parking lot congestion. Additionally, they’ll get to access food courts, optical centers, and pharmacies early, although pharmacies are closed on Sundays.
Currently, there are about 37.6 million executive members enjoying benefits like a 2% reward on annual purchases up to $1,250, paying $130 annually. In June, Costco also announced $10 monthly credits for $150 orders using same-day service or Instacart.
Lower-tier Gold Star and business members pay $65 a year, too, but with fewer perks, though they still have access to annual rewards, discounts, and Costco fuel.
Costco has been thriving, reporting nearly $3.6 billion in revenue from membership fees in the first three quarters of 2025, an increase from $4.8 billion last year.
By the end of the fiscal year, Costco anticipates reaching 914 global warehouses, with new branches opening in Sweden, South Korea, and Canada. The company hopes that these extended hours will motivate some Gold Star members to upgrade to executive status, though it really comes down to individual experiences and whether they find the benefits worth the extra cost.
