4 Big Changes Costco Is Making Now for Shoppers

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Whether you’re loading up on lunch-box snacks or searching for fall gardening supplies, there’s a good chance you’re hitting up your local Costco this month. If you don’t have a trip to the warehouse club planned, these announcements might have you changing your mind. From new, lower prices (even on cars!) to extended hours (for certain members), these are all the changes Costco is making now for shoppers.

RELATED: 4 Big Changes Walmart Is Making Now for Shoppers .

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It’s been 30 years since Costco first introduced its in-house Kirkland brand, and even after three decades, Kirkland Signature products continue to outperform other items at the warehouse store.

According to Store Brands , this year, Costco lowered the price of some of its most popular Kirkland products by $2 each, including:

• Kirkland Signature 3-Liter Refined Olive Oil
• Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter
• Kirkland Signature Tortilla Strips

“These items typically offer members 15% to 20% more value compared to national brand alternatives, with equal or better quality,” Gary Millership , Costco’s chief financial officer, said during an earnings call earlier this year, adding that Costco is committed to producing new Kirkland items.

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Costco recently announced that it partnered with pharmacy benefit management company Navitus to offer a new cost-plus pricing model at its pharmacies and for mail-in prescriptions.

“Drug costs will reflect what Costco pays to acquire a drug, plus a fixed markup and fee for the pharmacy services provided,” states the announcement.

When the new program becomes available on Jan. 1, 2026, Navitus clients will receive the following advantages, according to a press release :

• Visibility into drug costs and dispensing fees
• Access to brand, generic, and non-specialty medications
• Expanded cost-plus options, including Lumicera Health Services for specialty medications
• No cost same-day prescription delivery with Instacart for those who live within an hour of a Costco pharmacy (even non-Costco members can take advantage of this)

RELATED: 7 Ways Costco Tricks You Into Spending More Money .

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Costco announced back in June that it would begin offering VIP shopping hours for its Executive members. It was soft-launched over the summer, with a grace period for other member tiers, but as of Sept. 2, the change is officially in effect.

Now, those with an Executive membership—which costs $130 a year, as opposed to $65 for Gold Star and Business members—can shop at Costco during the following earlier hours:

• Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Executive members can also receive a $10 monthly credit on select SameDay.Costco.com or Costco via Instacart deliveries, as well as a 2 percent annual reward (up to $1,250).

However, all members can take advantage of Costco’s extended Saturday hours, as the store will now remain open an hour later, until 7 p.m.

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Last week, Costco Auto Program announced a limited-time promotion , running from Sept. 2 to Oct. 31, 2025, on Certified By Volvo pre-owned vehicles.

As Costco explains, “Each Certified by Volvo vehicle has to pass a rigorous test with more than 170 points, have less than 80,000 miles, and receive a detailed CARFAX Vehicle History Report. Only Authorized Volvo Dealers can certify Volvo vehicles.”

Costco Executive members can receive a $1,250 incentive on Volvo hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and BEVs from the years 2022 to 2025, while Gold Star and Business members can get a $1,000 incentive.

4 Big Changes Walmart Is Making Now for Shoppers

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Walmart has been shaking things up this summer—expanding its drone delivery services, rolling out merch trucks, and even landing a new partnership with Major League Soccer. Now, a spate of new announcements is making it clear that the company is far from done growing, innovating, and helping customers save. By keeping up-to-date with the retailer’s latest changes, you’ll be able to make the most of your spending. Read on to learn the four biggest changes Walmart is making right now, so you never miss a deal or perk.

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The change involves partnering with more third-party sellers through Walmart Marketplace to fulfill orders on popular products using Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS). Customers can expect improved delivery speed as more cities adopt the system.

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As of September 15, Walmart members can also take advantage of a new streaming perk at no extra cost.

In celebration of its fifth anniversary, Walmart+ will soon allow customers to choose between ad-supported Peacock and Paramount+ plans, the latter of which has been on offer since 2022. Members can switch their service of choice every 90 days. A news release says this new offering will further enhance “the value and flexibility” of membership.

RELATED: 7 Ways Costco Tricks You Into Spending More Money .

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Walmart will embrace artificial intelligence as a means of keeping costs down for customers amid inflation.

At its recent Retail Rewired innovation event, the company rolled out four “super agents” designed to “save time and effort for both workers and shoppers,” CNBC reports . Tailored to meet the varying needs of sellers, suppliers, and shoppers, they unveiled four main agents with an “Associate Agent” to streamline the experience.

Additionally, Walmart will now use spatial AI technology, which allows machines to perceive and interact with three-dimensional environments (you know, the real world). A new Digital Twin System—essentially a computerized copy of physical retail environments—will now help Walmart recognize maintenance and management problems weeks sooner.

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Sometimes Walmart shoppers are also Walmart staff—which is why the company is now offering a 10 percent employee discount on groceries. A previous policy covered general merchandise as well as fresh produce, so the change marks an expansion of the retention scheme.

Effective immediately, this will cut costs for Walmart’s 1.6 million U.S. employees after their first 90 days of working with the company. Thanks to the expansion, 95 percent of regularly priced items at the store will now be eligible for the discount.