(WJW) — Costco stores may see fewer customers in the mornings as a new policy for executive members takes effect this month.

Beginning in September, Costco will implement a new rule permitting executive members to shop an hour earlier than regular members. According to FOX News, these select shoppers can enter the store at 9 a.m., whereas other members will have to wait until 10 a.m.

Costco stores are closed on Labor Day – Sept. 1, 2025 – so the new policy will take effect Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Costco first notified its executive members about the change through an email sent on June 11. Although the policy began at that time, strict enforcement has been inconsistent across various locations.

FOX, referencing information from the business publication “The Street,” mentions that the deadline for fully applying this policy was set for August 31. Starting in September, non-executive members trying to shop before 10 a.m. might be turned away.

This policy enables executive members to gain exclusive early access, which could help ease the crowding issues typically seen in the mornings for other customers.

EARLY EXECUTIVE MEMBERSHIP SHOPPING HOURS:

• Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Executive members pay $130 annually versus Gold Star members who pay $65 annually.

In addition to early shopping privileges, executive members benefit from other advantages like a 2% discount on most purchases and special offers on travel, automotive, or insurance services, as a part of the premium membership fee.

Click HERE to find a Costco store near you.

All information in this article was collected by WJW journalists. It was converted from a broadcast script to a news article using artificial intelligence tools and subsequently edited and verified by WJW staff prior to publication.