Some members of Costco might need to set their alarms a bit earlier, as they’re now allowed to shop ahead of others.
On Wednesday, the wholesale giant revealed that executive members will have early access, starting June 30th, ahead of Gold Star members.
The usual shopping hours are from Sunday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. However, executive members can hit the aisles starting at 9 a.m. every day.
This news brought mixed reactions—some were excited, while others seemed a bit disgruntled.
“I didn’t expect to feel this good about having extra shopping time, especially since both moms are up at 6 a.m. daily,” one woman commented on a social media thread.
Another executive member said, “I wouldn’t mind having an hour earlier. Just imagine bringing home that combo pizza and churros.”
Yet, there were voices of dissent as well, with some recalling earlier privileges that have since disappeared.
“It feels like we need to ‘rewind’ this change. That’s how it used to be,” remarked one shopper.
A woman shared a nostalgic tidbit: “Back in the 90s, executive members could shop two hours before the public at Price Club, and they even got complimentary breakfasts with juices and bagels.”
Costco declined to comment on the matter, but it seems they’re catching up to competitors like Sam’s Club, which offers two hours of early access Monday through Friday and an hour on Saturdays.
Walmart owns Sam’s Club, although they don’t have early opening hours on Sundays.
Costco’s executive membership is priced at $130 annually, plus tax, while the Gold Star membership costs $65 annually, also plus tax.
Executive members benefit from a 2% reward on their purchases, along with other discounts, potentially earning up to $1,250 each year.
According to CEO Ron Vachris, Costco aims to expand its global warehouse total to 914 by the end of the fiscal year.
This includes a second warehouse in Sweden, the 20th in Korea, and the 110th in Canada, Vachris noted.
The retailer mentioned that since relocating to Melbourne, Australia, and following a revenue call on March 6th, they have opened nine new warehouses, including seven in the U.S. alone.
