Costco's website is a hot mess of an impenetrable labyrinth of products, seemingly uploaded at random and with no regard for things like inventory, availability, or ease of search — but those days might be over now because of a new feature on their app.
The wholesale giant has quietly rolled out a new feature on the mobile app that allows customers to "search warehouse inventory."
The latest and long-desired feature is in beta testing, meaning not everybody has it yet. However, those who can access it can do so at the bottom of the screen, where a new button for "warehouse" has been added between "account" and "cart."
This will allow customers to search their store's specific inventory to be sure everything on their shopping list is in stock at their local warehouse.
More changes are coming, too. You can still head to the retailer to save on everyday essentials , but you may find a few differences in the store. Check for these changes coming to Costco in 2024.
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1. Membership fee change
It’s a big change and one that most people will not love. Costco recently officially increased annual membership prices by $5 for its business and business add-on member rates and U.S. and Canada Gold Star memberships for individuals. Those memberships now cost $65 annually.
In the U.S. and Canada, executive membership prices went up from $120 to $130. The company also raised the maximum annual 2% Reward from $1,000 to $1,250.
With about 52 million memberships, about half of which are executive-level memberships, that’s a price jump that impacts many.
Own a car? Here's 7 warning signs you're paying too much for car insurance. 2. Changes at the food court
After a few hours of walking the endless aisles, you may want to reward yourself with a hot dog and soda combo deal (the price is just too good to pass up!) That’s not changing.
What is changing is that you now need to have a membership to the club to order from the food court. While many stores make it hard for non-members to make food court purchases since their eateries are located in the store, others are outdoors, providing locals with great deals. It may be time to pay for that membership if you haven’t done so yet.
3. Changes at the helm
It’s worth noting that 2024 brought two significant leadership changes for the retailer. Craig Jelinek stepped down from his 12-year role as CEO to be replaced by Ron Vachris, who has a 40-year career with the company.
Also notable is the resignation of CFO Richard Galanti after nearly 40 years in that position. Will these changes lead to substantial differences in the Costco culture? Outgoing CEO Jelinek states that the company is in good hands.
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4. Lower prices
If you expected to see price increases at Costco, you might be surprised to learn that the retailer cut pricing on numerous products in March 2024 to make essential groceries more affordable. They dropped prices on everything from produce to Kirkland batteries.
That doesn’t mean that all prices are falling, nor that you will not see price increases on other products.
5. Changes to rotisserie chickens
You didn’t want to see anything change about the famous $4.99 rotisserie chicken deal at Costco. There’s good and bad news. The good news is the price isn’t changing.
For those who love to repurpose the plastic containers for leftovers, though, there‘s a change on the horizon. The company is moving to replace those plastic containers with more environmentally friendly plastic bags, which use about 75% less plastic.
6. New locations opening their doors
If you’ve always wished for a Costco near you, the company may make you happy very soon. Company leadership announced plans to open 30 new locations throughout the year, including relocating two existing stores.
New locations are opening in the U.S., China, and Japan. If you’re in California, Texas, Tennessee, Minnesota, or Florida, expect to see a new warehouse pop up.
New warehouses opened in August in Louisiana, Washington, and Texas, and openings will follow in October in Oregon, California, and Alabama.
Costco Insider's Guide: 12 little clever ways to get more out of your Costco membership 7. App improvements
Costco’s app is pretty basic, but the company is planning some significant upgrades to make it easier to find what you need.
A few notable changes include a larger search bar and a digital membership card. The move is foundational, but the app still lacks some functionality that other retailers integrated into their apps, like barcode scanning. The addition of an inventory search is a big improvement in quality of life for those who enjoy the ease of shopping via mobile app.
8. Blending online and in-store shopping
Costco is planning big things for its new Fresno, California, location, including making it a mega-warehouse. The significant difference is that the location — which would span 241,000 square feet, which is nearly 100,000 square feet larger than the average store — is that they will combine shopping and online order fulfillment.
There will also be an on-site car wash, a 32-pump gas station, and 900 parking spots. That’s going to be one busy Saturday morning.
9. Menu changes
Costco is all about introducing us to new products and concepts, which means changes are necessary. Two core changes include updating its food court menu, replacing the churro with a Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie, and adding chocolate ice cream. There are even rumors of the pizza deal returning, which many shoppers will be happy to hear.
Also notable is the inclusion of sushi. The company is said to be planning to add a fresh sushi menu to some of its warehouses, which, with its extensive selection of fish, is a fantastic idea for sushi lovers.
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The good news is that it is still easy to save money at Costco , and these changes will only make you more excited to visit your local store. Change doesn’t always have to be hard and can often mean bigger and better opportunities. The new inventory search is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
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