That familiar yellow and red Costco card just got more expensive, and members aren’t happy about it. For the first time in seven years, Costco raised their membership fees on September 1st, bumping the regular membership from $60 to $65 and the executive membership from $120 to $130. While some shoppers are shrugging off the extra five to ten dollars, others are threatening to cancel their memberships and head to competitors like Walmart and Sam’s Club.
Members are calling the increase unreasonable
Social media exploded with angry comments from Costco members who feel betrayed by the price hike. Many longtime shoppers expressed frustration that they weren’t given enough advance notice or alternatives. One member posted on Facebook saying they’re “done” with Costco, while another declared they “won’t be renewing” their membership when it expires. The backlash reveals how protective people are of their shopping budgets, especially when it comes to fees they pay just for the privilege of spending money.
The timing couldn’t be worse for many families already struggling with inflation. While Costco’s membership increase affects roughly 52 million members across the US and Canada, not everyone sees it as a deal-breaker. Some loyal customers pointed out that the annual fee hasn’t changed since 2017, despite years of rising costs everywhere else. Still, the vocal opposition shows that even small price increases can damage customer relationships when people feel blindsided.
The five dollar increase feels bigger than it sounds
Five dollars might not seem like much, but for budget-conscious families, every dollar counts. Some members argue that while you might spend five dollars on coffee, a membership fee is different because it’s mandatory spending that doesn’t give you anything tangible in return. The psychology of fee increases hits differently than product price increases because members feel like they’re paying more for the same access they already had. It’s like your gym raising rates without adding new equipment.
Executive members face an even steeper increase of ten dollars annually, bringing their total to $130. For families who joined Costco specifically to save money, any increase in overhead costs makes them question whether the membership still provides value. The price hike forces members to do mental math about whether their annual savings still justify the membership cost, especially if they don’t shop there frequently enough to maximize benefits.
Quality complaints are piling up alongside price frustration
The membership fee increase comes at a time when some customers already feel disappointed with Costco’s product quality. Several members mentioned that food quality has declined over the years, making the fee increase feel like adding insult to injury. When you’re paying more for membership while feeling like you’re getting less value from products, it creates a perfect storm of customer dissatisfaction. This double hit of higher costs and perceived lower quality is driving some longtime members away.
Members who have shopped at Costco for decades remember when the store felt like an exclusive deal paradise. Now, with rising fees and quality concerns, some feel like the magic is gone. The emotional connection many shoppers have with their warehouse store runs deep, which makes any negative changes feel personal. When members invest years of loyalty and hundreds of dollars in annual fees, they expect that relationship to be respected.
Competitors are looking more attractive to angry members
Frustrated Costco members are actively considering alternatives like Walmart and Sam’s Club. The membership fee increase is prompting shoppers to compare benefits and costs across different warehouse stores for the first time in years. Some former customers are already making the switch, citing better value propositions elsewhere. When customers start shopping around due to price increases, they often discover they were staying out of habit rather than genuine value.
The competitive landscape for warehouse shopping has intensified, giving members more options than ever before. Online shopping and delivery services have also changed how people think about bulk buying, making traditional warehouse memberships less essential for many families. Some angry members are realizing they can get similar deals without paying annual fees, especially if they don’t need to buy in massive quantities anymore.
Membership sharing crackdowns add to member frustration
The fee increase isn’t the only thing annoying Costco members lately. The store has been cracking down on membership sharing, forcing some shoppers to abandon full carts at checkout when they can’t prove they’re authorized users. This enforcement feels especially harsh when combined with higher membership costs, creating a one-two punch of stricter rules and higher prices. Members who used to casually share cards with family and friends now feel like they’re being watched and policed.
The combination of membership restrictions and fee increases has some customers feeling unwelcome at a store where they’ve shopped for years. Being turned away at checkout is embarrassing and frustrating, especially when you’re already paying more for the privilege of shopping there. This double dose of negative experiences is pushing some members to question whether Costco still values their business or just sees them as revenue sources.
Some loyal customers defend the increase
Not everyone is angry about the membership fee increase. Some longtime Costco fans argue that the price bump is reasonable given inflation and the fact that fees hadn’t increased since 2017. These loyal customers point out that they still save more money shopping at Costco than they pay in membership fees, making the increase a minor inconvenience rather than a deal-breaker. Executive members who earn significant cash back rewards are particularly likely to stick around.
Supporters of the increase also highlight Costco’s reputation for treating employees well with above-average wages and benefits, suggesting that higher membership fees help maintain these practices. Some customers appreciate that Costco communicated the change clearly rather than hiding it in fine print. These members view the fee increase as the cost of doing business with a company that maintains quality standards and ethical practices in an increasingly competitive market.
The timing creates additional customer anxiety
The September 1st implementation date means many members discovered the increase when their memberships auto-renewed, creating sticker shock for those who forgot about the announced change. Some customers feel ambushed by the automatic renewal at the higher price, even though Costco provided advance notice. The timing also coincides with back-to-school shopping season when many families are already stretching their budgets, making any additional costs feel more burdensome than usual.
Members who signed up for new memberships on or after September 1st immediately pay the higher rates, while existing members face the increase upon renewal. This creates confusion and frustration as some people pay different amounts for the same membership depending on their renewal dates. The staggered implementation adds complexity that some members find annoying, especially when they’re already unhappy about paying more.
Executive members question their upgrade value
The ten-dollar increase for executive memberships has some customers reconsidering whether the upgrade is worth it. Executive members pay more for cash back rewards, but the higher fee means they need to spend even more to break even on their membership cost. Some members are downgrading to basic memberships to avoid the steeper price increase, potentially losing out on rewards but saving money upfront. This creates a calculation dilemma that many shoppers aren’t prepared to make.
Costco customer service representatives have reportedly been proactive about reviewing accounts and recommending downgrades for members who don’t shop enough to justify executive membership costs. While this seems helpful, it also highlights how the fee increase forces everyone to recalculate their membership value. Members who automatic-renewed at the executive level might be paying for benefits they won’t actually use, creating unnecessary expense during already tight economic times.
The increase reflects broader retail industry challenges
Costco’s fee increase mirrors challenges facing retailers everywhere as they deal with rising operational costs, supply chain issues, and inflation pressure. The company has managed to avoid raising membership fees for seven years, which is actually impressive given how much everything else has increased during that time. However, members don’t always appreciate the business rationale when they’re focused on their own budget constraints and seeing immediate impacts to their wallets.
The retail landscape has changed dramatically since 2017, with online shopping, delivery services, and changing consumer habits forcing traditional stores to adapt. Costco’s membership model helps provide steady revenue that’s not entirely dependent on individual purchase decisions, but it also means the company must balance member satisfaction with financial sustainability. The current increase tests whether members still see enough value to justify paying more for warehouse shopping access in an increasingly competitive market.
The Costco membership fee increase has clearly struck a nerve with customers who feel caught between rising costs and stagnant household budgets. While some members accept the change as inevitable, others are voting with their wallets by threatening to shop elsewhere. The real test will be whether Costco can retain enough members to justify the increase while maintaining the value proposition that made people join in the first place.
