Poll: Costco Membership Fee Going Up

Issaquah-based  is raising its annual fee Nov. 1, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. The annual fee will be $55 per year for Goldstar (individual), business, business add-on and Canada Business members.

In addition, the maximum two percent reward associated with executive membership will increase to $750; it was $500, according to a statement on Costco’s website.

Costco announced its fourth-quarter sales rose to “$27.59 billion, an  increase of 17 percent from $23.59 billion in the 16-week fourth  quarter of fiscal 2010 ended August 29, 2010. This year's 16-week period  included sales from the Company's Mexico joint venture; otherwise the  increase would have been 14 percent.

Net sales for the 52-week fiscal  year 2011 were $87.05 billion, an increase of 14 percent from $76.25  billion last year; excluding Mexico sales, the increase would have been  11 percent.”

The question is, with the company’s sales up, will members be willing to pay an increased fee?