These 2 New Costco Policies Have Customers Raging

New things are in store at Costco, and like most change, it's being met with mixed reactions.

Latest at the retailer are modified shopping hours and stricter rules around free samples, and while some shoppers are excited about these operational changes to their Costco membership perks, others aren't so happy.

Here's what you need to know about the changes you'll now see during your Costco shopping trips.

On June 30, Costco started implementing special extended hours for Executive members, which means they can quickly and efficiently buy the bulk items they need without the hassle of larger crowds.

These hours are 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sundays. All members will also be able to take advantage of an additional hour of shopping on Saturday evenings, as the warehouses will be staying open until 7 p.m.

As more families adjust their budgets to utilize bulk-size shopping and reduce their monthly costs, it can be difficult for small business owners and others with bulk business needs to efficiently make their purchases.

It can also be challenging for professionals with conflicting work schedules to visit a warehouse during their own working hours. Costco's move to extend hours aims to make it easier for executive-level members to accomplish their business needs.

Executive membership holders are enthusiastic about the new 9 a.m. openings. Large cities, such as L.A., rarely see a time when the warehouses aren't full of shoppers, but the new early extended hours now provide a relief for executive members who want to avoid the crowds.

"In the LA area, there's NEVER a time where Costco's aren't crazy busy, but now between 9 - 10AM, they're actually bearable!" commented Redditor tieris.

But while shoppers themselves may enjoy it, employees are worried about how it will impact their workflow, especially for those who already clock in early: "Great, does that mean they will force the a.m. merchants to come in at 3 a.m. every day? Because we barely make open as is and that's too early!" said one Redditor.

"Any attempt to spin this as 'taking care of our employees' because it'll maybe decongest the stores is laughable at best. All it does is mess up our already screwy work/life balance further and stretch an already burnt out skeleton crew even thinner," said another.

Store hours aren't the only thing that has changed recently. Free samples are a staple of the Costco shopping experience, allowing customers to get a taste-test of the wares before buying an extraordinarily large size to bring home — but that experience is changing slightly.

Costco has quietly rolled out a new policy that requires children to be accompanied by an adult in order to receive a sample. Don't worry, though — you can still get as many samples as you want, which remains unchanged. ​​

The new rule is tied to safety and liability, as product samples are not always labeled in full with potential allergens. The new policy allows parents to monitor what their kids are eating and prevent any allergic reactions.

Beyond parents having to accompany their children more in store now, the new age restriction on samples has some Costco members wondering what exactly the age requirement is for receiving a free sample.

Most folks are sympathetic to the spirit of the rule, but are left questioning why a 17-year-old really can't be responsible for what they put in their mouth.

Additionally, the rollout of the policy leaves customers unclear about what the age verification procedure is. College-aged folks are finding this particularly annoying when being questioned about their age, despite being well over 18 years old.

While some parents enjoy sending their kids off to the samples while they shop, most understand the spirit of the new policy is to keep children safe.

"Imagine the flip side. Uncontrolled kid goes around eating samples, has allergic reaction…Always safer to ask age when in doubt and require parental permission before feeding a minor. Just common sense," said JCLBUBBA on Reddit.

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Costco's executive membership costs $130 per year and includes many more perks than the gold star membership ($65 per year). One of the highlights of executive membership is the annual 2% cash back reward up to $1,250, which allows members to save more on everyday essentials.

Executive members also receive additional perks such as discounted gas, bottled water delivery, and insurance (for pets, too).