Costco is doing everything it can to entice both new and current members, and it is no longer about joining, their standard membership stands on its own and has proven time and time again to be a worthwhile investment, but to become an Executive member. The thing is that, for many regular Americans, the premium memberships do not offer enough upgrades to be worth it, and those who have it, do so because of the frequency that they shop at the warehouse and the perks that come with the extras, not necessarily because they have a need for it.
But now, Costco is aiming got change this by offering even more perks for those who decide to take the plunge and splurge on one of these upgraded memberships, and they are announcing some of the perks this week.
Since both members and non-members can shop at Costco (there are gift cards that the store uses and that many people get to try out the warehouse before committing and departments that do not require a membership for someone to shop there) the experience can often feel not as exclusive as some would like, but they are an open establishment that needs to serve their customers, so giving it a premium feel for those who pay a premium price is a struggle, one that they may have figured out how to solve.
The new Costco perks for those who have purchased an Executive membership
Starting on June 30, Costco Executive members will have an extended schedule to shop at the warehouse. Since this perk will only be available to a very select few, it will give the illusion of exclusivity and allow the employees to give the members a bit more of a personalized attention that they otherwise will not get, as the few that are milling around between tasks are usually corralled by non-members that have a million questions.
The extended period will be an “exclusive early-bird shopping hours” type of deal, as at the end of the day everyone just wants to go home and it is easier to control entrance to the store than it is to kick out people in waves over megaphone announcements. Costco’s new hours for Executive members will be:
- Monday through Friday and Sunday: 9:00 am to 10:00 am.
- Saturday: 9:00 am to 9:30 am.
While this gives a generous window for Executive members to get the bulk of their shopping done, Gold Star customers will have to stay behind and wait until after this new period to enter the store and start their day of shopping. Whether or not this will be enough to entice some of them to upgrade their membership is something that remains to be seen, as the difference in price is substantial enough and the new incentive is small enough that it may not be worth it for them to pay an extra for a few more hours of calm shopping per week.
Having said that, many Costco stores are getting overcrowded, which is why they have been launching a very aggressive expansion plan, and if you are one of those individuals that use the warehouse to purchase some of the items in bulk for a business or specific ventures, it may make sense to make the upgrade just so that you can be in and out before the general public comes in and crowds the checkout lanes.
Of course the time you save must still be worth the extra price, but if you think that you may still benefit from some of the added perks of the Executive membership, this last incentive may be the one to tip the scales for you.