Racing for rotisserie chicken at opening time gets easier—if you’re willing to pay double for membership. Costco just divided its membership base into early birds and everyone else, launching Executive Member-only shopping hours that start September 2, 2025, at all U.S. warehouses.
The New Membership Hierarchy Takes Shape
Executive members get exclusive store access one hour before regular opening times.
Executive members now enter at 9 a.m. on weekdays and weekends, while Gold Star and Business cardholders wait until 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. The early access covers everything—food court, bakery, optical, and pharmacy services (though pharmacies remain closed Sundays).
This means first dibs on those legendary $4.99 rotisserie chickens and shorter lines at the food court, where that $1.50 hot dog combo remains retail’s most stubborn price anchor.
The Premium Price for Premium Access
Executive membership costs $130 annually but delivers substantial perks beyond early shopping.
That $65 upgrade from standard membership includes 2% cashback on purchases (capped at $1,250 annually) plus a $10 monthly credit on delivery orders over $150, according to ABC News. For families spending serious money on bulk groceries and household essentials, the math works.
The early shopping alone eliminates the weekend parking lot nightmare that resembles Black Friday at a Taylor Swift concert—chaotic and slightly dangerous.
Following the Competition’s Playbook
Costco mirrors Sam’s Club’s existing premium member benefits in an escalating warehouse club arms race.
Sam’s Club already offers similar early access to Plus members, making this move less revolutionary than necessary. The warehouse giants are betting that exclusive perks justify higher membership fees as they chase that $3.6 billion in annual membership revenue.
Saturday hours also extend one hour later for all members, closing at 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.
If you’re already maxing out Costco visits, the Executive upgrade makes financial sense. But this policy creates a clear divide: premium members get convenience while standard members get whatever’s left. That’s retail evolution—or just good old-fashioned class warfare in bulk packaging.
