Costco cracks down on non-members entering its warehouses.
The wholesaler is installing card scanners at store entrances nationwide; several were recently spotted in Tustin, San Dimas, Sherman Oaks and Santa Clarita.
On its online customer service page, the company said the scanners would be available in the coming months.
“Once deployed, all members will be required to scan their physical or digital membership card by holding the barcode or QR code to the scanner before entering,” Costco explained.
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As a “see you” reminder for guests who enter Costco warehouses while flashing someone else’s membership card at the doorman, the company announced that it will begin attaching photos to membership cards. So if your Costco card or credit card doesn’t have a photo (or the photo is old, smudged or illegible), expect to be asked for photo ID as well.
Costco is trying to prevent non-member use in other ways. In April, customers reported that some food courts required membership cards for purchases.
The company’s chief financial officer told Axios in March that the policy change was intended for locations with outdoor dining options.
The door scanners are part of several changes at Costco’s warehouses.
The retailer announced earlier this month that it would raise membership fees for the first time in seven years. The new fees will take effect Sept. 1 and raise the price of Costco’s Gold Star membership from $60 to $65 per year. Executive membership will rise from $120 to $130.
Costco also replaced its popular churro with a 750-calorie chocolate chip cookie and swapped the fried chicken container for a plastic bag.
Related: Now at Costco: Ozempic recipes for some members
Not all customers were happy with the changes and some of them vented their anger on social media.
“First Costco hides fried chicken in a leaky plastic bag,” commented Long Beach Daddy on X, formerly Twitter. “And now I have to get scanned before I enter the store? What’s next? Hot dogs for $3 and 25 cents for a cart?”
See also: Make room for fried chicken, Costco’s hottest item is a $2,000 gold bar
Another X-user named Green@masterofstink was a bit bold when he called out “fewer bloodsuckers at Costco.”
Attentive shoppers will notice that Costco allows non-members to use the pharmacy in its stores and purchase alcohol. California law prohibits membership clubs from excluding the public from alcohol sales, meaning customers can just walk in and simply purchase alcohol without having a Costco card.
Costco, which says it has 128 million credit card holders in 73 million households, reports earnings in September. Analysts expect the retailer to post growth of 3% or more.
If you have seen an entrance scanner at your Costco, please let us know by emailing [email protected].
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