Love Costco but hate the crowds? It may be time to upgrade your membership.
The warehouse retailer is granting a new perk to those who pay for its Executive Membership tier, the company said in a email to members on Wednesday. Executive Members, who pay $130 annually instead of the baseline $65 fee, will soon be able to shop for 30 minutes to an hour earlier than the general public.
The exclusive shopping hours will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays and Sundays. The time period is shortened on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
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Gold Star members, who pay $65 annually, will have to wait until after the Executive Member shopping times are over to enter the warehouse.
The new perk is set to begin on June 30.
It wasn’t immediately clear if all warehouses would allow early-bird access at the same time or if the rollout would vary based on location. It was also not not clear how the change would be implemented at locations that currently open at the earlier 9 a.m. start time. (Most locations around the U.S. open at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. the rest of the week, but some open at 9 a.m. daily.)
The company didn’t respond to Nexstar’s request for more information.
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Costco Insider reports the early-access shopping hours are already being test piloted at some warehouses in Michigan.
Executive Members already receive additional perks in exchange for their higher membership fee, including 2% off most purchases and extra discounts on travel, auto or insurance services.
