Getting Gas at Costco Could Soon Be a Little Easier. Here's Why

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Getting gas at Costco can be great for your bank account , as you typically save around $0.20 per gallon compared with other stations. But there's one potential downside to buying fuel at some club locations.

Costco has taken steps to make things flow as smoothly as possible at its stations, including one-way entry with long hoses so traffic can flow through more easily. But the pumps can still get crowded.

There's some good news on the horizon, though, for those who want to get Costco gas without having to worry about waiting. Getting gas at the warehouse club could soon be faster and easier, even in busy areas.

That's based on a recent statement from the company's CEO during a third-quarter earnings call.

Here's why getting gas at Costco could get easier soon

When speaking in the third-quarter earnings call about some upcoming changes planned for Costco stores, CEO Ron Vachris made a statement about future plans that should have Costco gas fans smiling. The CEO mentioned that the company is trying to speed up processes for shoppers with several new initiatives, one of which includes "gas expansions where those are needed."

Numerous news articles in recent years have highlighted Costco's efforts to increase the size of gas stations across the country, including in Sacramento, California, Potomac Mills, Virginia, and Rochester, New York, among other places. With the CEO on board with gas expansions, Costco shoppers can expect more of this.

Bigger gas stations could be a huge relief for those who appreciate the low credit card bills that come with fueling up at Costco, but who aren't a big fan of sitting in traffic just to put gas in the tank.

How to beat the crowd at Costco gas stations

If you're tired of long waits for gas, perhaps the CEO's words will bring you some hope of a better future -- but not every store is immediately going to offer more pumps you can visit to fill up your vehicle. If you're stuck dealing with big crowds and your store isn't part of the expansion, there are still some techniques you can implement to buy cheap gas with minimal hassle.

Costco gas stations usually open around the same time as the warehouse, but some stay open a bit later. Since many people like to combine gas and a club trip, shopping after warehouse club hours could result in shorter wait times. Many stations are also emptier during the middle of the week, as well as during the mid-morning on weekdays when many people are working.

If you have the Costco app, you may also be able to pinpoint good times to visit the warehouse club's gas station. The app sometimes displays real-time data on how long you can expect to wait at your station before a pump becomes available.

These techniques can help you unless or until the planned expansion of Costco gas stations hits your area and provides more opportunity to fuel up fast without the long delays.

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