Costco introduces early shopping hours exclusively for Executive Members, giving them an hour head start before regular members can enter the warehouse.
At a Glance
- Starting June 30, 2025, Costco is restricting its 9 a.m. early shopping hour exclusively to its Executive Members.
- The move is a strategic effort to reward the company’s most valuable customers, who account for nearly 75% of all sales.
- Executive Members, who pay $130 a year, also receive a 2% annual reward and a new $10 monthly credit on large Instacart orders.
- The new perk follows a recent membership fee increase and mirrors a long-standing strategy from rival Sam’s Club.
An Exclusive Perk for Executive Members
Costco is rolling out the red carpet for its most loyal customers. Starting Monday, June 30, 2025, the warehouse giant will be restricting its 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. shopping hour exclusively to its Executive Members. The move, which follows a membership fee increase last fall, is designed to provide a more relaxed, less crowded shopping experience for the members who pay for the company’s premium tier.
“Our U.S. locations that currently open at 9 am will transition June 30th to limiting access to Executive Members only,” Costco confirmed in a statement on its social media.
The Math Behind the Move
The new policy is a clear and calculated business strategy aimed at rewarding—and growing—Costco’s most valuable customer base. An Executive Membership costs $130 per year, compared to the standard $65 Gold Star membership.
The value of these members to Costco’s bottom line is immense. According to Costco CFO Gary Millerchip, as reported by Axios, Executive Members now make up 47% of the company’s paid memberships but account for a staggering 73.1% of all sales globally. By offering this exclusive early-access perk, Costco is providing a powerful new incentive for standard members to upgrade.
More Than Just Early Access
The early shopping hour is the latest addition to a suite of benefits for Executive Members. The premium tier’s signature perk is a 2% annual reward on most Costco purchases. Additionally, these members now receive a $10 monthly credit on same-day or Costco Instacart orders that total $150 or more.
Costco announces earlier shopping hours for executive members, more benefits https://t.co/1mhSxfvCO1
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 12, 2025
The new policy is part of a broader push under CEO Ron Vachris to “improve the member experience.” As reported by Fox Business, the company is also testing new “Scan & Go” technology to speed up checkout lines and continues to use its famously low gas prices to drive traffic and loyalty.
