Costco Executive Membership is an exceptional choice for those interested in joining a warehouse club. It provides excellent value for the money, offering a range of perks such as two percent cash back on most purchases and free roadside assistance. However, it’s essential to note that Costco occasionally modifies its store policies, including their store time exclusivity. As a result, many people are questioning whether the benefits of Costco Executive Membership are still worthwhile.
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Are Costco Executive Membership Hours Superior to Regular Members?
In short, no. Executive members no longer receive the privilege of entering the store an hour early. All membership tiers, including Gold Star, Business, and Executive members, have the same shopping hours at Costco. While this change may disappoint some, there are still plenty of compelling reasons to become an Executive Member. This article will explore some of the perks and benefits exclusive to Executive members.
What are the Costco Executive Membership Hours?
The Costco Executive Membership hours are as follows: Monday through Friday from 10 am to 8:30 pm, Saturday from 9:30 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Exclusive Executive member hours no longer exist, ensuring that all members can shop during the same hours, regardless of their membership status. Although Executive members used to enjoy the advantage of early access to the store, this perk has been discontinued. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that operating hours may vary by warehouse due to certain precautions related to the Coronavirus.
Does Costco Have Early Hours for Executive Members?
Unfortunately, Executive members no longer have early access to the warehouse. Previously, they were granted exclusive shopping hours before the general public. However, the policy has changed, and all members now have the same shopping hours, regardless of their membership level. There is, however, an exemption for certain Costco members:
- Seniors (60 years old and over)
- People with disabilities
- Members with immunocompromised conditions
- Medical professionals
- First Responders, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs
Costco allows the members listed above to shop one hour before the usual opening time. Additionally, starting from March 2020, special hours were introduced to protect the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who are immunocompromised from unnecessary exposure to Covid19. These special operating hours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 am to 10 am, exclusively for these individuals.
It’s important to note that there are four Costco stores that do not offer special operating hours:
- Brooklyn, NY: Special hours are from 8:00 to 9:00 am, Tuesday and Thursday
- Culver City, CA: Special hours are from 8:00 to 9:00 am, Tuesday and Thursday
- Iwilei (Honolulu), HI: Special hours are from 8:00 to 9:00 am, Tuesday and Thursday
- Westbury, NY: Special hours are from 8:00 to 9:00 am, Tuesday and Thursday
Furthermore, Costco senior hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays provide better parking and shorter lines at the Costco gas pump for people with disabilities.
What’s the Benefit of an Executive Costco Membership?
Executive Costco members enjoy various benefits, with the most popular being a 2% reward on all Costco purchases, offering up to $1000 back. Every executive member receives 2% cashback on most purchases, excluding items such as alcohol, Costco gas, and the Costco food court. If you anticipate regular shopping at Costco, obtaining the Costco Executive Membership is always worthwhile. Upgrading your membership has no downsides, and they will refund the difference if you change your mind.
Here are some benefits and services offered to Executive Costco Members, both online and in-store:
- Costco Travel: Enjoy discounts on car rentals, hotel stays, airfare, cruises, tour packages, and more.
- Costco Pharmacy: Gain access to Costco pharmacy services, including up to 25% off on select prescriptions.
- Costco Optical: Receive optical services such as eye exams and glasses, with acceptance of EyeMed and VSP insurance.
- Free Roadside Assistance: Get assistance with tasks like tire inflation, tire changes, jump-starts, and even purchasing a new car battery.
- Bottled Water Service: Have drinking water refill containers delivered to your home, available in 3 or 5-gallon jugs.
- Check Printing: Order discounted business or personal checks.
- Identity Protection: Benefit from credit monitoring and protection against fraudulent credit card usage.
- Discount Auto Parts: Save 15% on auto service and parts, including car door speakers, air filters, tires, and more.
- Truck Rental: Enjoy up to 25% off when renting a Budget truck and receive one free additional driver.
- Discount Insurance: Access insurance discounts for pets, life, dental plans, auto, home, health, prescription, and vision.
- Installed Products: Explore installation services for various products, including heating and air conditioners, window treatments, carpets, and more.
Additionally, Costco food courts accept EBT SNAP for prepared food, cash, credit cards, debit cards, Costco cash cards, and personal checks with a membership card. The bakery also accepts EBT cards for donuts and custom cakes.
How Much Do You Need to Spend for Costco Executive Membership to be Worth it?
The 2% cashback offered by the Costco Executive Membership becomes worthwhile once you spend at least $3,000 annually. To ensure it is worth it, aim to spend an average of $250 per month, allowing you to earn back at least $60 to cover the additional cost of the Executive membership compared to the Gold Star membership.
Costco mails the annual 2% reward to members approximately three months before their renewal date. The reward comes in the form of a Costco business check, which can only be used in-store. You can choose to apply the check towards your shopping purchase or membership renewal. To check your renewal date, log in to Costco.com and visit the Account Details page.
On a positive note, if you don’t earn at least $60 with the upgraded Costco Executive Membership, they will refund you the difference from the standard Gold Star membership. For instance, if the cashback check you receive is only $40, Costco will refund you the $20 difference and retroactively downgrade your membership to the standard Gold Star level. However, it’s important to note that you cannot retroactively upgrade your membership if you end up spending a significant amount on items such as mattresses, cars through the Costco Auto Program, appliances, or travel bookings.
If you spend less than $2,000 at Costco in a year, the Executive Membership may not be worth it for you. However, if you spend more than $2,000, it becomes a valuable membership. In fact, if you spend over $3,000 at Costco in a year, the Executive Membership is virtually a must-have.
How Can I Add Someone to my Costco Executive Membership?
Primary Executive Members have the option to add additional individuals to their account as Affiliates for a fee of $55.00. The dues for these additional individuals will be collected annually at the time of renewal. The primary member needs to have their Executive Membership number available when adding an Affiliate.
The individual being added must reside in the same household and possess a valid, unexpired Costco membership card or Costco membership number. To add additional individuals, visit the Membership Desk and present your Costco Executive member card along with a valid photo ID for each person. Alternatively, you can call the Costco membership hotline at 1-800-774-2678.
Costco Executive Membership Hours Summary
If you frequently shop at Costco, an Executive membership can lead to significant savings in the long run. However, it’s important to consider how much cashback is worthwhile to you before upgrading and whether you anticipate spending enough money. Keep in mind that it’s easy to spend a substantial amount at Costco on various items. Additionally, budget for the $60 standard Gold Star fee your household will need to pay annually. If an Executive membership doesn’t seem worth it, you can always retroactively downgrade to a Gold Star Membership.
For additional information, check out our related article on Costco employee discounts and benefits.
