Costco Just Introduced a Major New PerkBut Only for Certain Shoppers

If you’ve ever walked into Costco and immediately gotten swept up in the human current (cart-to-cart,
shoulder-to-shoulder, fighting politely for a pallet of paper towels like it’s an Olympic sport),
you already know the warehouse has two seasons: busy and why is it even busier.
That’s why Costco’s newest perk is turning headsand turning some shoppers away at the door.

Costco has rolled out a major new benefit that makes the whole experience calmer, faster, and a lot less
“excuse me, can I just squeeze past your cart and your cart’s cart?” The catch: it’s only for certain members.
Specifically, the ones paying for the top-tier membership.

So what’s the new perk, exactly?

The big headline perk is exclusive early shopping hours for Costco Executive Members.
Translation: Executive Members can enter the warehouse before most other members and shop while the aisles are
still wide-open, the parking lot hasn’t become a real-life puzzle game, and the checkout lines are still in their
“cute and manageable” phase.

Here’s how the Executive-only window breaks down at many U.S. warehouses:

• Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (Executive Members only)
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Executive Members only)
• Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (Executive Members only)

After that early window, warehouses open to other membership tiers at their regular posted hours.
Costco also notes that hours can vary by location, so it’s smart to check your warehouse’s specific “Store Details”
in the Costco app or on the warehouse finder before setting your alarm like it’s Black Friday.

Who gets it (and who doesn’t)?

This perk is for Executive Members. In the U.S., that membership is typically $130 per year.
Standard Gold Star and Business memberships are typically $65 per year.
If you’re in the $65 group, the early hour isn’t yoursunless you upgrade.

And yes, Costco is actually enforcing it. Many warehouses use membership verification at the entrance, and the early
window is the kind of policy that only works if it’s not treated like a “suggestion with vibes.”

Quick visual: which card are we talking about?

Executive Membership is often associated with the higher-tier “Executive” card (frequently recognized as the darker
or black-style card design in the U.S.). If you’re not sure what you have, check your Costco account, your digital
membership in the app, or ask at the membership counter.

Why Costco is doing this now

Big retailers don’t change store access rules for fun. They do it because it moves the needleon revenue, loyalty,
and crowd control. Costco’s Executive tier tends to be its most valuable membership segment. These shoppers typically
spend more and renew at high rates, which makes that tier incredibly attractive for Costco to grow.

The early-hours perk does two things at once:

• Makes Executive feel meaningfully “premium” (not just “premium because the word is on the card”).
• Spreads out traffic by pulling some shoppers into a quieter time windowless congestion, fewer
  bottlenecks, and a smoother start to the day for staff and members.

It’s also a competitive move. Other warehouse clubs have long used premium-tier perks (including special access
windows) to encourage upgrades. Costco is basically saying: “If you want calm Costco, here’s the membership lane.”

What changes for your actual shopping trip

The best way to describe the Executive hour is: Costco, but with room to exist.
It’s the difference between browsing and surviving. It’s the difference between “I’ll just grab eggs” and
“I now know everyone’s middle name because we’ve been in the same aisle for eight minutes.”

What the early window is great for

• Stock-up runs (bulk staples, pantry, paper goods) without traffic jams
• Produce and refrigerated items while displays look freshly faced and less picked-over
• Quick in-and-out errands before work, school drop-off, or appointments
• Less stressful cart navigation (a true luxury in the snack aisle)

Some warehouse departments may also be available during those early hours (like the food court or pharmacy),
but availability can vary by location and dayespecially Sundays, when pharmacy hours can differ.
If you’re making a targeted run (say, prescription pickup plus rotisserie chicken), it’s worth confirming your
warehouse’s service hours.

Costco didn’t stop at early hours: other Executive perks got a boost

The early access is the flashy perk, but it’s not the only value-add floating around the Executive tier lately.
Costco has also highlighted additional benefits that can matter more than an extra hourespecially if you shop often
or use Costco services.

$10 monthly credit for same-day delivery (yes, really)

Executive Members can receive a $10 monthly credit toward eligible same-day delivery orders placed
through Costco’s same-day platform or via Costco on Instacart, typically on a minimum $150 order.
If you already use delivery for heavy items (cases of water, giant pet food bags, party supplies) this can be a
surprisingly practical perk.

A few important “fine print, but make it useful” notes:

• The credit is generally once per month, not per order.
• It typically applies to one qualifying order with a minimum basket amount (commonly $150+).
• The credit generally doesn’t roll overuse it that month or it disappears into the retail void.
• You may need to link your membership to the delivery account for the credit to apply cleanly.

If you use this credit consistently, that’s up to $120 per year in delivery credits. For some households,
that’s the kind of math that makes an upgrade feel less like a splurge and more like a strategy.

The 2% annual reward: the “this can pay for itself” part

Executive Membership also includes an annual 2% reward on qualified purchases (with a cap). If you’re
a frequent Costco shopper, this is often the core reason people upgrade. The early hour is the cherry on top; the 2% is
the cake, the frosting, and the reason you walked into the bakery section in the first place.

Here’s the simplest way to think about the upgrade math:

• The Executive tier is typically $65 more per year than the base membership.
• At 2% back, you’d need about $3,250 in eligible annual spending to “earn back” $65.

For a family that buys groceries, household essentials, school snacks, pet supplies, and the occasional “we came for
toothpaste and left with a TV” purchase, $3,250 per year isn’t as wild as it sounds.
But if you only pop in for gas and a hot dog combo, you might not hit the break-even pointand that’s okay.

Extra value on Costco services and travel

Costco also promotes added value on select services for Executive Membersthings like certain insurance
offerings, auto-related programs, travel benefits, and other member services that can vary over time.
These can be the hidden MVP if you already plan to use those services anyway.

The key question isn’t “Are there perks?” It’s “Would I actually use them?” Because the only discount that truly helps
is the one you’d have paid for without needing a pep talk.

Costco also extended Saturday hours for everyone

Not all changes are locked behind the Executive velvet rope. Costco has also noted that many U.S. warehouses
stay open an extra hour on Saturdays, often closing at 7:00 p.m. instead of earlier.
That’s helpful for every membership tier, especially if you’re a weekend shopper who prefers a late-afternoon run when
the midday rush finally chills out.

Is the Executive upgrade worth it just for the early hour?

It depends on your shopping style. The early window is a lifestyle perklike TSA PreCheck, but for rotisserie chicken.
It saves time, lowers stress, and makes Costco feel less like a contact sport. But whether it’s “worth it” comes down to
what you value most: money, time, or sanity.

Upgrading makes the most sense if you’re one (or more) of these shoppers

• The morning optimizer: You like shopping early, you hate crowds, and you want to be done by 10:15 a.m.
  with the rest of the day still intact.
• The big-basket regular: Your cart routinely looks like you’re preparing for a mild apocalypse (in a fun way).
  You’re more likely to earn enough 2% reward to cover the upgrade fee.
• The delivery user: You order same-day delivery often enough that the $10 monthly credit actually gets used.
• The business or event planner: You buy in bulk for an office, a team, a side hustle, or family gatherings.
  Quiet aisles = faster restocking.

You might skip the upgrade if you’re more like this

• The occasional browser: You shop Costco a few times a year for special items and don’t rack up much eligible spending.
• The weekend-only shopper: Saturday’s Executive window is shorter, and if you never shop weekday mornings, the perk may not
  match your schedule.
• The “I enjoy the chaos” type: Some people love the buzz. If that’s you, congratulationsyou’re emotionally stronger than most of us.

How to use the perk without overthinking it

1. Confirm your membership tier. Check your digital membership or ask at the membership counter.
2. Check your warehouse’s store details. Hours can vary slightly by location and services (pharmacy, optical, etc.).
3. Show up a few minutes early. The whole point is less waiting and less crowding, not a new line at 8:59 a.m.
4. Plan a “quiet-hour cart list.” This is the perfect time for fast staples: eggs, milk, produce, protein, household goods.
5. If you use delivery, link your accounts. Make sure your Executive membership is connected to your delivery platform so credits apply smoothly.

FAQ: The questions everyone asks in the parking lot

Does every Costco warehouse offer the same early shopping hours?

Costco indicates there can be variations by warehouse, and it encourages members to check local store details.
In practice, many locations follow the published Executive shopping window, but verifying your warehouse’s exact hours is the safest move.

Can Gold Star or Business Members enter during the Executive hour if they’re “just grabbing one thing”?

Generally, no. The whole perk is that it’s exclusive. If you want that early entry, upgrading is the intended path.

Will the food court or pharmacy be open during the Executive hour?

Many warehouses aim to have key departments available, but service hours can differespecially on Sundays, and especially for the pharmacy.
If your trip depends on a specific service, check your warehouse’s service hours before you go.

Conclusion: A perk that sells peace and quiet (with a membership caveat)

Costco’s new Executive-only early shopping window is a genuinely meaningful perk because it targets the biggest pain point many shoppers share:
crowds. If you shop frequently, spend enough to benefit from the 2% reward, or use same-day delivery often, the Executive tier can
make practical financial senseand the early hour is a quality-of-life upgrade you’ll feel immediately.

But if you’re a casual Costco visitor, the base membership still delivers the core value: big savings, big packages, and big vibes.
Either way, the next time you see someone cruising through an empty aisle at 9:07 a.m. like they own the place…
well, they kind of do. They paid for the quiet.

Extra Experiences: What the “Executive Hour” Feels Like in the Real World (About )

For shoppers who’ve tried the Executive-only window, the biggest difference isn’t just “fewer people.”
It’s the way the whole trip changes when the warehouse isn’t operating at full-volume. You’re not mentally negotiating
every aisle like a four-way stop. You can actually read a label without performing a cart ballet. You can double back
because you forgot coffeewithout feeling like you’re reversing a bus.

One common “Executive hour” story sounds like this: a parent drops the kids off, swings by Costco, and suddenly the
trip becomes a clean, controlled mission. Produce? Easy. Dairy? Easy. The snack aisle? Still dangerous, emotionally,
but at least you’re not pinned in place by three carts and a debate over granola bars. The quiet window is especially
useful for grabbing school-lunch basicsfruit, yogurt, bread, cheesebefore the building turns into the noon rush.

Small-business owners and office managers love it for a different reason: speed. When you’re buying bulk supplies,
you don’t want to “wander.” You want to execute. During the early window, it’s easier to load a flatbed cart with
drinks, paper goods, and snacks without stopping every 20 feet. Parking is typically less intense, toomeaning you
can get in, get out, and get back to running your actual business instead of starring in a documentary called
Humans Searching for Parking Near the Entrance.

Then there’s the delivery crowd. The monthly $10 same-day credit may not sound dramatic, but people who use delivery
for heavy items feel it. If you’ve ever tried to wrestle a case of water into your trunk on a hot day (and then
carry it into the house like you’re training for a strongman contest), delivery starts looking less like laziness
and more like “preventative back care.” Many shoppers treat the credit as a monthly “heavy-stuff coupon”:
paper towels, detergent, pet food, drinks for a partyitems that are annoying to haul but easy to add to a cart online.
Because the credit typically doesn’t roll over, it also becomes a little monthly reminder to plan ahead:
“If I’m going to use it, I should schedule one big delivery order this month.”

The funniest part? The early hour can make Costco feel… civilized. You can browse seasonal items without being
shoulder-checked by an oversized cart. You can compare prices on olive oil without a line forming behind you.
It’s still Costcothere will still be a 10-foot teddy bear and a surprise display of 48 croissantsbut the early
window turns the experience into something closer to “pleasant errand” than “strategic expedition.”
And for certain shoppers, that’s a perk worth waking up for.