this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2024
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Bad news if you’re mooching off of someone else’s Costco membership: The retail giant is cracking down.

When you enter Costco, you need to show your membership card to an employee to shop. Costco membership cards are non-transferable, but the company allows members to give a second household card to one other person in their home. Anyone with a card can bring up to two guests to the club during each visit, the company stipulates.

But Costco has noticed that non-members have been sneaking in with membership cards that don’t belong to them — particularly since Costco expanded self-checkout.

Costco recently started asking for shoppers’ membership cards along with a photo ID at the self-checkout registers, the same policy as regular checkout lanes, to crack down. “We don’t feel it’s right that non-members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” Costco said in announcing the change.

And now, Costco is testing out a system that requires members to scan their membership cards at the store entrance — instead of just flashing the card to employees. Shoppers have spotted the new scanners at a store in Washington State and posted photos on Reddit.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They started this here months ago. My wife kept her maiden name when we got married. I'm sure you can figure out why our 2 hour customer service call ended in cancellation. FUCK Costco

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

In a decade you’re the first person I’ve ever met who had a problem with Costco.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago

Meh, I cancelled for similar reasons. They have tilted over to being way too aggressive about the card shit and it's gotten annoying. Plus, I don't think a lot of the deals are actually very good these days.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

So a family can't bring their multiple kids and the grandparents to Costco? WTF?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Read the article, silly. This isn't about family members, it's about non-members flashing cards that don't belong to them. x3

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I hate going to costco so many people and the suv carts.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I mean the carts are specifically designed for what they sell. Sam's and BJs are the same way. A smaller cart would be filled with just a couple items.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

From the article, as I didn't see this being mentioned in the OP summary...

Costco is testing out a system that requires members to scan their membership cards at the store entrance — instead of just flashing the card to employees.

So it seems like there's two different things going on, per the article, when you're entering the building, and when you're trying to use a self checkout machine.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Costco UK has been scanning cards for months, we don't have self checkout, though.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Costco UK has been scanning cards for months

In the US it's still visual verification by an employee, as stated in the article.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Just providing some extra info, not refuting anything in the article...

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago

Just providing some extra info, not refuting anything in the article…

Just noting the differences on each side of the Pond.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

When you enter the building I've never had anyone check if it's actually my card, they only do that at the checkout. You just need to flash the card so they can tell you have one on your way in. They check the photo and address at the checkout though. I guess people were getting by that with the self checkouts.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'm just repeating what was said in the article.

Having said that, each and every time I've had to flash my Costco card at the employee at the front door, as it also states in the article.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Well, not renewing my membership, hell with this horseshit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Why is this a problem for you? In the UK, they scan your card at the entrance, and it affects my day in absolutely no way whatsoever.

What's wrong with a business wanting only paying members to enter the members only shop?

Why does scanning your card make you feel like a shoplifter?' (Sorry, i read your chat with the other person in this thread)

This is such an odd take to me.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Their entire model is based on assuming everyone is probably a thief, and I've just had it. That receipt checking of everyone as they leave is bad enough, and my last (literally last, i decided not to go back, wasn't going to renew and just now realized it would have expired in December) trip there, the woman held everyone up by meticulously counting and comparing every single item in everyone's cart. took 15 minutes to leave with goods i had paid for, finally just said fuck it and left while they screamed at me like fucking morons. "Touch me and see what happens". Aside from that, I don't want my movements documented and recorded by a card reader, for example, this whole incident, no I don't want people actively trying to fuck with me know who I was.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Damn. You've got issues. Your mind is warped.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

No, it's just remnants of when people had pride and manners.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

No seriously, you are getting mad at a shop (a private business) that has its own rules to protect its own stock (Probably based on their experience of past issues), its your choice to shop there or not. I appreciate that you dont like the idea of being tracked (although not wanting to use a bank card due to worries about tracking you is a bit strange. I assume you have a mobile phone of some description, or a computer or laptop maybe? What about a satnav or a car built after 2010? If so you are being tracked anyway) But getting mad at them because their rules exclude your ideals is way over the top. Your custom would be lovely but i dont think they really care about one person who rather shop somewhere else than scan a membership card at the door.

Tbh you walkkng away from the recipt checker as they shout after you just makes you sound like an impatient and entitled brat.

Sorry but im trying to be understanding but the more i read of what you say here the more and more i find myself being unable to sympathise.

I guess i dont blame costco for being protective of its stock, i blame the people who tried to steal and made them paranoid and protective about it. Whereas you seem to blame the shop and claim its because you dont want anykne knowing what you are doing when, frankly, no one cares.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I paid for the goods. They are mine. The want to waste a half hour of my time acting like I'm shoplifting, they no longer deserve my money. Not many other businesses actively treat you like a thief so blatantly

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I've never waited more than 5 minutes in line to have my receipt checked at costco. Also, what most businesses do is not any of costco's concern. And i have never felt like im being treated like a thief.

The entitlement is all over your comment. "I paid for them, They are mine" "no longer deserve my money" "waste half an hour of my time"

What a karen.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Because you can't give your card, which has your picture on it, to anyone you want? That really doesn't make sense. How many people do you think your membership, that you pay for, should cover? I doubt you actually had one bc this will literally only affect people who don't have memberships.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You saw the answer to that right here, and you wrote this anyways.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

User name checks out, you do sound weirdly furious at the world.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, they don't care. They want everyone buying to have a membership, as it's been for decades. This isn't some new crazy way they're screwing people. It's making sure the rules their members agreed to are followed.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm sick of being treated like a shoplifter at their store, and now they're doubling down. They can fuck off at this point.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Well, now you just sound like you wanna shoplift! 😆

Seriously, though, what does this have to do with shoplifting? It's like you're making up excuses to be mad. Just say you don't wanna pay and leave it at that. No excuses are needed.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

You think it's normal to have your ID checked against your card, at the entrance, at the till, and then have your receipt checked as you leave? Our grandpas' generation wouldn't have stood for it, and I've come to agree.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They sure did. The damn company was founded by my grandfather's generation. How much shit are you gonna talk out your ass today?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Where I come from, you don't count money in front of people, and you just told me how young you are. You wouldn't remember things like this being an active insult.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

One of the last times I was in, I was asked for my photo ID and Costco membership card no less than 5 times by employees. I literally got asked while I was in an isle looking at items. I've never had this happen before and made me honestly a bit irritated having to constantly pull my ID out of my wallet. This policy needs to chill.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Just tell them to fuck off.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You can’t. They are a private, membership-only business. If you tell them to fuck off, they can escort you out and disable your membership.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

You CAN still say it, just with consequences.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago

Fuck off, then.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah exactly, people are so afraid of confrontation these days, you can tell people to fuck off and they generally will.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

And then they can tell you to fuck off, because it's their store.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I’m sure they would try but if you’ve already shown the damn member card they can eat shit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

It's literally their property, it doesn't matter if you have a membership card, they can kick you off their property for any reason or no reason.

You don't have an inherent right to shop at Costco.

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