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Shopping inside an empty Costco warehouse sounds like a dream, but it will cost you double or nothing. ZikG/Shutterstock

Costco members push back on new shopping rules set to hit this week — here’s the 1 big change that’s causing a stir. Does it bother you?

Victoria Vesovski
Sep 11, 2025
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There are hidden perks to having an Executive Membership. And Costco is now giving its top-tier members something regular shoppers can’t buy: an empty store.

Beginning this week, the warehouse giant’s executive members will be allowed to shop an hour earlier than everyone else, with doors opening at 9 a.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, the perk is pared back to a 30-minute head start. Those without a premium membership [1] will be turned away.

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The executive membership crowd is not small. The company earned more than $237.7 billion in sales last fiscal year, according to Business Insider [2].

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Costco insists the exclusivity is a reward for loyalty.

"Our Executive Members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco,” a Costco spokesperson said in an email to Business Insider [3].

Still, not everyone is applauding the change, including staff and non-executive members. Here’s what the preferential treatment means for Americans.

Executives only

Costco first rolled out the change on June 30, allowing a short grace period before officially enforcing it on September 1. To access the retailer’s top-tier perks, shoppers need an Executive Membership, which costs $130 annually. That fee comes with extras, including annual rewards [4] and a $10 monthly credit on eligible online orders over $150. By comparison, Gold Star and Business memberships run $65 annually.

Most shoppers approve of the upgrade. Half of Costco’s U.S. members pay for Executive status, and they’re responsible for 73% of the warehouse giant’s sales, according to Costco [5] data. The initial response has been positive, with customers saying it has made their shopping experience smoother.

“It is such a relaxing shopping environment and not survival of the fittest,” one Reddit [6] user, ReasonableCucumber10, wrote on the CostcoWholesale forum.

Another member, posting under the name my4thfavoritecolor, added: “I used it for the first time today. I could make a return without waiting in the giant line and then went and spent $200 elsewhere. Win, win!”

But not everyone is cheering. When Costco announced the policy change, some shoppers accused the warehouse giant of favoring big spenders.

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Does the upgrade pay off?

At $130 a year, Costco’s Executive Membership costs twice as much as its Gold Membership. The return on investment depends largely on a customer’s shopping frequency and spending habits.

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With inflation still squeezing household budgets, bulk shopping has become a strategy for many. A Lending Tree [7] analysis found that bulk purchases can reduce costs by an average of 27% across 30 everyday products, including essentials such as paper towels, bottled water and batteries.

Costco’s Executive Members also get 2% back on most purchases for up to $1,000 a year. That means if you need to spend at least $3,000 annually — about $250 a month — just to break even on an Executive Membership compared to a standard membership. Anything beyond that, and the membership starts paying for itself.

Perks like the $10 monthly credit on eligible online orders can tip the math in your favor if you frequently shop online. If your Costco runs are limited to just gas, snacks and the occasional rotisserie chicken, the upgrade might not be worth it.

Article sources

At Moneywise, we consider it our responsibility to produce accurate and trustworthy content people can rely on to inform their financial decisions. We rely on vetted sources such as government data, financial records and expert interviews and highlight credible third-party reporting when appropriate.

We are committed to transparency and accountability, correcting errors openly and adhering to the best practices of the journalism industry. For more details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

[1]. Economic Times. “Costco’s new policy takes effect: Who will be denied entry and what are the major changes” [2]. Business Insider. “Costco's average customer shops there at least twice per month and spends around $100 on each visit” [3]. Business Insider. “Costco is bringing back a perk to help shoppers beat the crowds — if you have an executive membership” [4]. Costco. “What is the difference between each type of membership?” [5]. Costco. “3rd Quarter FY 2025 Supplemental Information” [6]. Reddit. “New Executive Hours:” [7]. Lending Tree. “Buying in Bulk Could Save Shoppers 27%, on Average — Led by Paper Towels, Water and Batteries”

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Victoria Vesovski Senior Reporter

Victoria Vesovski is a Toronto-based staff reporter at Moneywise covering personal finance, lifestyle and trending news. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University, and her work has appeared on platforms including Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Apple News.

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