Shoppers who frequent Sam’s Club are now receiving a distinct and tangible advantage over their friends who prefer Costco—an extended opportunity to browse, shop, and save on Sundays. This adjustment grants Sam’s Club members additional hours of access to the warehouse club’s extensive range of products, a change that underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to customer convenience and satisfaction.
The retailer, which operates under the Walmart corporate umbrella, announced on Friday that beginning this upcoming weekend, all of its stores across the nation will adhere to a new daily schedule: open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The most noticeable change takes place on Sundays, a day that has traditionally seen shorter operating hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This two-hour expansion on each end of the day effectively allows shoppers to fit their trips into a wider range of personal schedules. By comparison, Costco warehouses continue to open their doors to their Executive Members at 9 a.m. each day, leaving Sam’s Club with an earlier and broader window of accessibility.
According to an official statement provided to *Business Insider* by a company spokesperson, the decision was driven primarily by extensive input from members who voiced a clear preference for longer shopping hours. The timing of this announcement is strategic, coinciding with the fast-approaching holiday season—a period characterized by high demand, crowded schedules, and an increased emphasis on convenience. The company emphasized that the extension aims to alleviate time pressure on customers and offer greater flexibility during this particularly busy part of the retail year.
Certain major holidays will continue to serve as exceptions to this expanded schedule. On Christmas Eve, stores will close earlier than usual, at 6 p.m., allowing employees to spend valuable time with family. Complete closures will remain in place on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Easter Sunday, in accordance with longstanding operational tradition within the warehouse club industry.
Similar to Costco’s structure, Sam’s Club continues to grant its Plus Members exclusive access to the store during the first operational hour each morning—an added benefit that caters to its most loyal and premium-tier shoppers. For all other membership levels, access to the store begins at 9 a.m., maintaining a clear sense of hierarchy in benefits. Sam’s Club also maintains a pricing advantage in its membership model: a standard membership is priced at $50 per year, while the Plus Membership costs $110. In comparison, Costco’s equivalent membership tiers cost $65 and $130 respectively, creating a more cost-effective option for value-conscious shoppers who still seek premium benefits.
In tandem with these extended hours, the company’s fuel stations will continue operations from early morning until 10 p.m., offering ample time for members to refuel their vehicles at competitive prices. Additionally, curbside pickup services will now begin as early as 7 a.m., further catering to consumers who prefer an efficient, contactless shopping experience. These logistical enhancements reflect Sam’s Club’s heightened focus on strengthening its e-commerce and omnichannel capabilities—areas that have become increasingly vital in the modern retail landscape.
Earlier this year, Sam’s Club’s forward-thinking integration of advanced technology—from digital checkout processes to app-based shopping features—enabled the company to surpass Costco in customer satisfaction rankings. This achievement highlights not only its growing competitive edge but also the success of its member-centric innovations in streamlining the warehouse shopping experience.
Costco, however, is not standing still. The company shared in a recent update that its own initiative to lengthen shopping hours for Executive Members has correlated with a 1% increase in weekly sales, a modest yet meaningful reflection of the high responsiveness of this customer base to greater convenience.
Both Sam’s Club and Costco have experienced strong financial and operational performance over the course of the year, consistently outpacing more conventional retail giants such as Walmart and Target in terms of sales growth and consumer loyalty. Market research conducted by analytics firm Numerator further reinforces the widespread appeal of warehouse retailing: nearly half of all U.S. households have shopped at either Costco or Sam’s Club within the past year, drawn by the enduring appeal of volume discounts, bulk deals, and the thrill of discovering exceptional value.
In essence, Sam’s Club’s decision to adjust its hours represents far more than a simple scheduling update—it reflects a strategic response to customer demand, an effort to refine the shopping experience, and a move designed to reinforce its position within the highly competitive membership retail market. As the holiday season approaches, these enhanced hours and services stand to attract both loyal members and new customers eager for more time, flexibility, and value in their shopping routines.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/sams-club-is-extending-shopping-hours-opening-earlier-than-costco-2025-10
