Costco CEO confirms the two major changes announced this year are here to stay

The retailer hopes to make shopping experience a lot smoother for its loyal members.

PUBLISHED DEC 18, 2025

Shoppers outside a Costco store (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Martin Chavez)

Costco's deals and return policy, among other things, are already so popular that people are ready to pay for memberships. But it keeps evolving to cater to the changing needs of consumers, and in doing so, the retailer has made a few changes to benefit its Executive Members. As the year comes to an end, the retailer has announced one more change, but this time, it is not as controversial. Costco makes a big chunk of its revenue from subscriptions, and it does everything possible to benefit customers and make their shopping experience smoother.

A Costco store. (Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by ShaunL)

According to a report in The US Sun, Costco CEO Ron Varchis has said that they have permanently sped up their scan-and-go technology by 20%. The retailer said that it had been testing the technology out, which would save time for a lot of shoppers. The new practice will now be permanent, and in a recent meeting, Varchis said that the change was a part of Costco’s digital vision and sounded proud about the achievement.

“This isn’t about technology for technology’s sake,” he said, before adding, “It’s about using technology to strengthen the fundamentals that make Costco who we are: increasing member loyalty, driving top-line sales, and improving efficiency in our operations so that we can bring goods to market at the lowest possible price. Our digital vision at Costco is to deliver a seamless experience that builds trust and loyalty with our members, both in-warehouse and online.”

A customer moves through the checkout lane with his groceries at a Costco | Getty Images | Robert Nickelsberg) — A customer moves through the checkout lane with his groceries at a Costco. (Image source: Getty Images | Robert Nickelsberg)

The other change in store timings was first announced in June. Back then, the retailer said that it would open its doors an hour earlier than usual for Executive customers. They would also stay open for an hour longer than usual on Saturdays. As far as CFO Gary Millerchip was concerned, this move would help spread out traffic inside the stores, making for a more relaxed shopping environment for many customers.

Apart from this, Costco has taken measures to make its online shopping experience better. The Sun report states that the retailer has updated its digital personalization capabilities online. This means that the online platforms now provide more relevant product recommendations based on recent search history. Varchis, however, did not give any proof of this, resulting in higher sales.

A Costco storefront. (Image Source: Getty Images | Steve Heap)

Of course, when it comes to sales figures, Costco is in a league of its own at the moment. Millerchop claimed that Costco‘s website traffic was up 24% during the first quarter, while app traffic increased by 48%. According to the company’s earnings report, sales rose 5.9% year over year during the first quarter of 2025. Net sales increased 8.2% year over year to $65.98 billion. That’s not a small figure, and in this economic climate, it is truly impressive that Costco is able to record such extraordinary numbers.

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