Costco to soon do something it only does 7 times a year | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

As a consumer, you’re probably aware there are plenty of retail stores that would be happy to take your money. But there’s a good reason to give more of yours to Costco.

Costco is a company that prides itself on outstanding customer service. Granted, it has to be.

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At Costco, members pay a fee just to get in the door. So in exchange, Costco has to make sure it’s offering an unparalleled shopping experience.

Not only does Costco offer some of the lowest prices in retail, but it also has a downright fantastic return policy.

For the most part, you can take any item back to Costco at any time for a full refund — no questions asked. This extends to clothing you’ve worn, kitchen gadgets you’ve opened, and food you’ve tasted.

Costco to soon do something it only does 7 times a year.

Image source&colon; Bloomberg/Getty Images

Costco hours could be improved upon

Although Costco hours vary by location, for the most part, the store opens its doors between 9 and 10 a.m. and closes around 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Weekend hours tend to be even more limited, with Costco opening later and closing earlier. It’s no wonder, then, that Costco stores tend to get pretty packed on Saturdays and Sundays.

One common gripe among Costco members, though, is that the store isn’t open early or late enough.

Costco has taken steps to address that concern to some degree by expanding its fuel station hours.

Thanks to a recent change, most Costco gas stations now open at 6 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends, Costco fuel stations typically open at 6 a.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 7:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Costco closes on occasion, despite potential backlash

Because Costco members pay a fee to get into the store, they expect those warehouse clubs to be open most days of the year. And Costco does try to limit the number of days it closes to members.

But Costco also believes in treating its workforce fairly. In addition to paying a generous hourly wage, Costco is known for its comprehensive benefits package, which includes paid vacation time and retirement savings.

Costco also understands that its staff needs to enjoy a decent work-life balance. To this end, Costco makes the tough decision to close its doors to customers on seven occasions during the year.

July 4th is one of them. So members who are hoping to stock up for their July 4th barbecue will need to do so ahead of time.

The other holidays Costco closes for are:

New Year’s Day
Easter Sunday
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

The good news is that many retailers will be keeping their doors open on July 4, so buying last-minute groceries shouldn’t be an issue. But shoppers won’t be able to rely on Costco for their day-of July 4th needs.

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There’s also a good chance that in light of Costco’s upcoming July 4 closure, the store will be pretty packed on July 3. Those needing groceries or other products may want to get there early, before the crowds start to form.

Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.