Coscto Increases Membership Fees: MA Customers To Pay More

DEDHAM, MA — For the first time in seven years, Costco is raising fees for its 52 million members.

Regular annual memberships are rising from $60 to $65, while premium memberships will go from $120 to $130, the warehouse retailer said this week. The Washington-based company also said the maximum annual 2 percent executive member reward will rise from $1,000 to $1,250.
The new fees go into effect Sept. 1 and will keep Costco fees higher than those of competing warehouse chains. A regular annual membership at Marlborough-based BJ's Wholesale Club is $55, while the fee at Sam's Club is $50. Sam's Club does not have any locations in Massachusetts anymore.

Costco currently operates 882 warehouses, including 609 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The chain has a scant six locations in Massachusetts in Dedham, Everett, Danvers, Avon, Waltham and Springfield.

While the membership increase might be bad news for Costco customers, the company recently announced that it has no plans to raise the cost of its $1.50 hot dog combo. The price of that item has stayed the same since 1985.