Costco’s latest policy officially kicked in on September 1, and it’s already stirring debate among shoppers.
Back in June, the wholesale giant rolled out a new perk for Executive Members: early-morning shopping before the crowds. After a short grace period, the rule is now permanent.
Starting this month, only Executive Members will be allowed inside from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, that window shrinks to just 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Everyone else has to wait until regular opening hours.
That means if you’re not paying for the higher-tier membership, you’ll be turned away at the door until 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. the rest of the week.
The decision hasn’t gone over well with many shoppers, but Costco says the change is about rewarding loyalty. “Our Executive Members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco,” the company told Business Insider.
Costco’s memberships range from a $65 Gold Star to the $130 Executive plan. Business Memberships, which also cost $65, don’t get the early access perk. Earlier this summer, Executive Members also started receiving a $10 monthly credit.
This shopping rule isn’t the only change dividing customers. Costco recently switched out Pepsi for Coca-Cola products in its food courts nationwide. The move, which became official in August, has sparked plenty of chatter online, especially on Reddit.
The soda shuffle comes full circle for Costco. The company originally served Coca-Cola but swapped to Pepsi in 2013 to keep its famous $1.50 hot dog combo at the same price, according to CNN. Now, it’s Coke-only again, with all food courts expected to be fully switched over by fall.
