Costco continues to experience an increase in customers using membership cards that are not their own when purchasing items at self-checkout. In response to this, the wholesale retailer has implemented a new policy to put an end to this kind of membership sharing.
Starting soon, members will be required to present their membership card when making purchases at their local store’s self-checkout lanes. Read on to find out more about this new policy and how it will impact shoppers at Costco.
No More Sharing Allowed: Costco Enforces New Policy on Self-Checkout Purchases
As fans of Costco know, there are many benefits that come with having a membership. At many of their self-checkout lanes across the country, the company said it is noticing more cards being used that don't actually belong to the customers swiping them. A Costco spokesperson told McClatchy News this month that the retailer aims to put a stop to this with a new policy.
"Costco is able to keep our prices as low as possible because our membership fees help offset our operational expenses, making our membership fee and structure important to us," they said in a statement. "We don’t feel it’s right that non members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members."
As seen on its website, a basic Costco membership costs $60 per year. It grants the option of adding someone from your household. For $120 per year, however, a premium membership allows the same added benefit, with other rewards and discounted services as well.
In the future, as The Sacramento Bee reports, Costco members "will be asked to flash their membership card when using the self-service checkout lanes." For those of us whose cards don't include a photo, they will be asked to show a photo ID, the outlet notes.
Shoppers on Twitter have been reacting to this new policy and sharing their experiences. "I noticed signs at my local Costco for the first time ever near self checkout. They even checked my membership ID before I went through it," one wrote. Another added: "So that’s why that @Costco employee was harassing me to see my membership card at checkout."
Someone else chimed in, sharing their dismay: "Mom has a Costco membership I went with her and wanted to pay for what she was getting." The user noted that the store didn’t allow it. "Like bro I’m trying to do something nice for mom."
