Costco is testing out a new system for entering stores

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Costco is testing out a new system for entering stores | CNN Business
cnn.com

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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Mine has always done this? You have to show your card to enter... And they do it at check out too

...along with photo ID...

Yes - at checkout at the self service - they make us show your id and your card

Huh, they haven't been doing that here... I figured that must have been the new thing. How annoying.

The cards already have a photo on them as does the app’s digital card. You only have to show Photo ID if you have a “COVID card”.

"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."

"The scanners also mean employees don’t need to ask customers for their membership cards at cash registers and self-checkout."

Look man - don't assume I can read. I'm like every other red blooded American that looks at a title and makes glaring assumptions and gives opinions that no one asked for. Okay?

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