This Costco Change Might Benefit Members in More Ways Than One

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As a self-proclaimed Costco superfan, I not only shop at the store weekly, but I constantly read up on Costco news. And I can tell you that recently, the chain has made a number of changes, some of which are more positive than others.

One bummer of a change is that membership fees for Costco just rose. A basic Gold Star membership now costs $65 a year, up from $60 prior to Sept. 1. And an Executive membership recently increased from $120 a year to $130, which means I'm stuck paying $10 more for my annual membership.

Another thing Costco's been doing lately is cracking down on non-members. It has been installing membership card scanners at the front of its stores so non-members can't just waltz in and shop.

Costco also recently made the decision to limit food court access to members only. It used to be that anyone could walk in, buy a cheap hot dog or slice of pizza, and be on their way. But now, those deals are limited to members.

I'm convinced that this food court change is a good thing -- for a few reasons beyond a shorter wait to get a cheap lunch.

Fewer crowds are a positive thing overall

Despite my frequent shopping at Costco, I don't visit the food court often. I tend to do my Costco shopping when the store first opens, and I'm often done by mid-morning. At that time of day, I'm generally not in the mood for something from the food court.

But I'm also really stoked about Costco's decision to ban non-members from accessing the food court, and it's not just because it could lead to shorter wait times on those rare occasions when I do want a snack or meal before leaving the store. Rather, limiting food court access to members should keep more people away from Costco in general. In my book, that's a big change.

Even though I love Costco, the one thing I can't stand is the fact that the store is often crowded. This not only means long lines to check out, but it means having to squeeze my way through the aisles and struggle to find a parking spot in the perpetually filled lot outdoors.

If non-members can no longer enter Costco to eat, it should thin out the crowds just a bit and also free up more parking spots. That could, in turn, lead to a more pleasant shopping experience for those of us who need our personal space.

Plus, a less crowded store could lead to smarter shopping decisions. When I'm stressed over the throngs of people at Costco, I tend to rush through my purchases. In doing so, I sometimes spend money on the wrong things or forget to buy something on my list, which then forces me to pay more at my local grocery store when I don't have time for another Costco run that same week. So avoiding those mistakes could be a big money-saver .

More changes may be in the works

Earlier this year, Costco's long-term CFO Richard Galanti stepped down and was replaced by Gary Millerchip. And it may not be a coincidence that soon after, a membership fee hike was announced.

Granted, Costco was way overdue for a fee hike, so that may have happened without a major management change. But it wouldn't be surprising to see more changes arrive in the coming year as Millerchip settles in.

My hope is that more of those changes are positive ones that lead to a better shopping experience. For now, I'll ideally have an easier time navigating those aisles, especially if I happen to be doing my shopping around lunch time.

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