As gold hits $4,000, precious metals are top sellers at Costco — and a cheat code for boosting its e-commerce business

Core Insights - Gold prices have reached record highs, exceeding $4,000 per ounce, which is significantly boosting demand at Costco [1] - Costco is estimated to sell around $200 million of gold and silver monthly, with inventory often selling out within hours [2] - Despite high prices potentially deterring some buyers, Costco continues to sell its gold supplies quickly, aided by its low markup strategy [4] Sales Performance - The company reported strong online sales for gold, contributing to its overall e-commerce growth, which was up 15.6% year-over-year [9] - Digital sales growth follows a previous increase of 16.1% in the prior year, indicating a consistent upward trend since Costco began selling gold [9] Membership and Marketing Strategy - Gold and silver sales are exclusive to members, creating additional buzz that attracts new sign-ups [10] - The relatively low membership fee of $65 is seen as negligible compared to the high-value purchases, such as gold bullion priced around $3,600 [10] Competitive Advantage - Costco's low markup on gold and silver makes it appealing to both professional and amateur collectors, positioning the wholesale club as an entry point for gold investing [4][8] - The strategy of routing significant sales through Costco.com allows the company to demonstrate strong e-commerce growth with minimal risk [9]