No more mooching at Costco! America’s favorite membership retailer is coming down hard on non-members who have been shopping at their stores with strict new in-store policies.
Costco Cracking Down
Stealth shoppers at Costco may have to rethink their shopping strategies because the membership-only warehouse retailer is officially cracking down on any non-members who have been shopping at their stores.
An Old Strategy
For years it has been par for the course for Costco members to lend their cards to friends and family, giving them access to all the exclusive discounts and deals that the chain has to offer.
New Membership-Scanning System
Back in January Costco began testing a new membership-scanning system that requires members to swipe their cards before they enter stores, catching out any shoppers who walk in without a card.
Coming to Every Location
Now, the retail giant will begin installing these membership scanners at the doors of every Costco location across the US and Canada, according to a statement given by the company earlier this month.
Company Statement
“Over the coming months, membership scanning devices will be used at the entrance door of your local warehouse,” the statement reads.
“All Members Must Scan”
“Once deployed, prior to entering, all members must scan their physical or digital membership card by placing the barcode or QR Code against the scanner,” it continued.
New Photo ID
The chain has also implemented photo ID on their membership cards, so store workers can confirm that the person using the cards to shop is the same person to whom the membership belongs.
To the Membership Counter
Costco members who do not already have photo ID on their membership cards will be encouraged to get their photo taken at their store’s membership counter. Otherwise, they will be asked to show a valid photo ID before entering the store.
Non-Members Restrictions
Any shoppers who do not have a valid membership must be accompanied by a member with an active membership. Customers with an inactive or expired membership card will also be asked to visit the membership counter before entering the store.
Stopping Fraudulent Membership Use
The company hopes these new rules will help stem the flow of non-members who try to sneak into stores with someone else’s membership, or no membership at all.
No Further Comments
Costco has not provided any further comments or responded to requests for comment beyond the post made earlier this month. It noted that any questions or concerns from customers should be directed to “an attendant at the door” of their nearest Costco location.
Stricter Each Year
Store policies for non-members have become incrementally more strict in recent years. Last year, the company introduced a new feature to self-checkout machines, which required shoppers to present membership cards and photo ID before they could complete their purchases.
Non-Members Should Not Receive the Same Benefits
“We don’t feel it’s right that non-members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” the company had announced in an accompanying statement.
More Staff at Self-Checkout
The company also announced plans last year to add more staff to self-checkout areas to make sure that all photo IDs were properly checked.
Only Recently Enforced
While Costco has always asked shoppers to show their membership cards at check-out, it was not strictly enforced until the announcement of the new nationwide policy this month.
Some Customers Frustrated
The changes are already underway, but some customers have expressed disappointment and frustration with the announcement on social media, claiming that card scanners were a redundant measure and could lead to long queues at the entrance to stores.
Increase in Non-Member Visitors
These new in-store policies began ramping up after Costco executives noticed a marked increase in non-member shoppers using membership cards last year.
Membership Fee Increases
This newest policy also comes shortly after the company made the decision to raise its membership fee, which was announced last month.
First Increase Since 2017
Costco is raising its standard membership fee from $60 a year to $65 – a nominal increase, but a notable one considering the chain has not raised its membership fees since 2017, even in the face of record-high inflation.
Executive Membership Too
It will also be raising its ‘Executive Membership’ from $120 to $130 per year, while simultaneously raising the maximum annual reward threshold for executive members. These price increases go into effect on September 1.
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