TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Costco Taiwan announced Monday that beginning May 25, Black Diamond members will be allowed to enter stores at 9 a.m., one hour earlier than regular business hours.

This makes Costco Taiwan one of the few retailers in Taiwan to offer exclusive entry hours for higher-tier members, per CNA. Gold Star and Business members will continue to enter at 10 a.m.

The Black Diamond card is Costco Taiwan’s highest membership tier, with an annual fee of NT$3,000 (US$95.54). In the past, its main benefit was a 2% annual rebate on purchases. The newly added early-entry privilege expands the company’s tiered membership services, CNA reported.

Costco Taiwan’s Gold Star membership costs NT$1,500 per year, while Business membership also costs NT$1,500.

Costco said its US stores have allowed Executive members, the equivalent of Black Diamond members in Taiwan, to enter one hour early since September. The early-entry measure is expected to shorten checkout wait times during certain periods, it said.

The company said Costco Taiwan’s decision to follow suit reflects the retail industry’s growing emphasis in recent years on tiered membership management, according to CNA.

Liu Heng-chia (劉恒嘉), marketing planning manager for Costco Taiwan, said the early-entry policy for Black Diamond members provides an exclusive service and helps ease peak-hour crowding.