The membership increase, set for September 1, 2024, will impact around 52 million memberships, a little over half of which are on the “Executive” plan.

The annual US and Canada “Gold Star” memberships, Business and Business add-on members will see fees increase by $5. The annual fee for a “Gold Star” member currently sits at $60 plus sales tax, Costco said in an announcement this week.

Higher-tier “Executive” members in the US and Canada will see annual fees increase from $120 to $130. The maximum annual 2 percent reward, associated with the Executive tier, will increase from $1,000 to $1,250.

This is the first membership price hike Costco has announced in seven years.

“To clear up some recent media speculation, I also want to confirm the $1.50 hot dog price is safe,” Costco’s new chief financial officer, Gary Millerchip, said in May.

"I came to [Sinegal] once, and I said, ‘Jim, we can’t sell this hot dog for a buck fifty. We are losing our rear ends.’ And he said, ‘If you raise the ef**** hot dog, I will kill you. Figure it out,” Jelinek recalled in a 2018 presentation, 425 Business reported.

  • baggachipz
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    4 months ago

    It’s not just discounted goods, there are many other perks of the membership. For instance, I have a $0 annual fee credit card from them which does a cash back on purchases. Last year, just through regular spending, I received $1200. That alone paid for the membership many times over, not to mention all the other things.

    • Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      Ah yes, some billionaire just gave you $1200 at his own expense, with no profit for himself aye

      • baggachipz
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        4 months ago

        They make plenty of profit off of me when I shop there. And the credit card company makes profit off me too, by the fees they charge merchants when I use their card. (though none off of balance APR, as I pay it off every month). The net result is that we both benefit from the exchange. This is a mutually-beneficial relationship. Not everything is zero-sum.

        • Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee
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          4 months ago

          You pay 3% extra to the retailer because the card company charges him 2.5%. The card company gives you back 2%, keeps 0.5% of what you already paid extra, and you bleat about how it’s mutually beneficial? Fuck me mate, open your eyes, there’s a reason that shit never took off in other countries

          • baggachipz
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            4 months ago

            I pay a little extra, but so do you. So if you really want to split hairs, my card situation means I’m taking advantage of you, especially if you don’t use a rewards credit card. But yes, we all pay for credit card fees. I may as well minimize my personal impact from this. That’s the game, nothing we can do about it.

          • ccunning@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            Very few retailers charge different prices for cash vs credit. As long as they don’t, just pay with credit and get your free money 😝

            • Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee
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              4 months ago

              Do you honestly not realise they’re charging you the credit price even when you pay cash?

              It’s not free cash, you already paid for it

              Holy shit no wonder credit cards took off in the US, your grasp on basic finance is infantile at best

              Fuckin hell 😂

              • ccunning@lemmy.world
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                4 months ago

                Do you honestly not realise they’re charging you the credit price even when you pay cash?

                I do realize it. That’s why I get the cash back by using the credit card.

                Do you not realize it? You’re admitting you pay the fees when you buy with cash but refuse to use a card to get the fee back.

                …but go ahead and act like the smart one with your smaller back account if it makes you feel better about yourself.