A Costco customer and his wife encountered a huge and surprising policy change at the warehouse.
The customer took to Reddit to compare their experience with others.
Customer shared an experience highlighting a surprising change to Costco’s membership policy, raising questions and concerns among the community.
This person says he has been a Costco member for several years and decided to get a membership card for his wife during a recent shopping trip.
Upon arriving at the membership desk, the couple was greeted cordially.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when the associated employee asked the user’s wife to download the Costco app.
When asked why, the employee insisted that it was a new requirement.
The customer, surprised by this sudden policy change, questioned what would happen if a member didn’t have a smartphone.
The employee responded that such cases would require manager approval.
Determined to obtain clarification, the user requested to speak to a manager.
This request was received with visible annoyance on the part of the employee, according to the customer’s post.
The manager, who was within earshot, the customer added, walked over and whispered something to the employee, then the two scoffed and looked even angrier.
This unusual interaction made the user and his wife uncomfortable, especially since their previous experiences with Costco staff had been “excellent.”
The user took to Reddit to share the ordeal and seek responses from the community, questioning whether the app’s “requirement” was in fact a new permanent policy and whether others had encountered similar issues.
Several users had a similar experience to the original poster, one person writing that they went to the warehouse and employees “tried to force him to get an app, create an account, etc.”
Another user said that found a similar problem, but the employee “took my card and made me update my app, which I rarely used because it was so slow and glitchy.
“After I paid, he said he would destroy my card and that I could use the app from now on.”
Costco Membership Sharing Guidelines

Costco has strict rules for subscription usage that shoppers must follow and has been cracking down on violators in recent years.
- Core Member Usage: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. It is not allowed to share it for purchases, as the photo on the card must correspond to the person using it.
- Domestic Card: Each Prime Member can add one free Household Cardholder who lives at the same address. That person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per Costco visit. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by a member.
- Authorized cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who does not reside at your address. They will receive their own card and will be able to make purchases independently.
Credit: Costco
Meanwhile, other users asked the original poster to “file a complaint” as the policy is “no“real or for to speak with the assistant general manager or general manager of the store.
SO IS IT REAL?
While the Costco Digital Membership Card is currently active on the Costco app, there is no evidence that this is a policy being enforced.
The Costco app, in addition to serving as a card in-store or online, also allows you to renew your membership and check your 2% reward balance right on your phone.
The US Sun contacted Costco Wholesale for comment on this matter to confirm or deny the claims, but received no immediate response.
Meanwhile, a Costco employee warned of potential consequences for customers who exceed limits at the returns counter.
And Costco shoppers are surprised to discover there may be a way to shop at the discount megastore without purchasing an annual membership.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story