SOME Costco members worry a change in store policy could cause turmoil during store trips.
Executives at the warehouse retailer have been clamping down on its subscription-based experience in recent years.
They have implemented several measures to ensure that shoppers who go to Costco to shop are paying members rather than those who try to share cards to get benefits for free.
Costco membership is offered through personal or business accounts and at two levels.
The first is Gold Star membership, which charges $60 annually and allows two customers per household to shop online and in-store.
Buyers can also opt for an Executive Membership upgrade priced at US$120, with the same perks, plus exclusive offers and a 2% annual reward, among other benefits.
Once customers have arrived at the store, they must simply show their membership card to the employee waiting at the door before entering.
Earlier this year, Costco began testing a new system at select locations that would allow membership cards to be scanned and verified rather than just briefly shown, according to the Los Angeles ABC affiliate. KABC-TV.
While the added security measure apparently kept the only subscribed customers in the store, some members felt it would cause more harm than good.
A longtime Costco customer noted that it’s already necessary to scan membership cards at checkout when purchasing groceries, so additional scanning could make things more complicated.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
“You already need to scan your card to pay,” they wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“The only thing this will cause is more chaos and long lines to get into the store.”
The member further argued that the lines are already long due to popular demand at Costco, and the possibility of more processes to make the experience even longer would cause them to “limit” their time at the retailer.
“I already try to limit my Costco runs to once a month because I hate all the crowds,” they fumed.
“This will NOT improve my customer’s experience.”
Other Costco locations are also testing different methods for customers to validate their membership when entering the store.
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
DIGITAL CONFIRMATION
One customer claimed that his Costco location “required” all members to download the retailer’s mobile app for digital scanning upon entry.
Several members noted a similar experience, with one claiming it was even employees who “tried to force him to get an app, create an account, etc.”
There is no evidence to support that Costco digital membership card scanning is being enforced, but it is an active feature in the retailer’s app.
The US Sun previously contacted Costco for an official comment on the matter but did not receive a response.
Some members also claimed they were overcharged on Costco products recently.
One said he paid at least 10 times the total on his purchases due to an error and warned others to “check their statements”.
Another argued that they were overcharged by at least 78% when ordering meat from the store.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
