FrumCA

Shopping at Costco might be a tad different soon, with the retail chain testing out a new procedure. The company, which left members raging at a "nightmare" security measure implemented due to self-checkouts, is once again changing the rules for shoppers.

Now, shoppers will be required to scan their membership card before entering a Costco warehouse. A recent Reddit thread showed a photo of the possible policy change in action at a Costco location in Issaquah, Washington.

In the photo, you can see a Costco member scanning their card on a machine placed at the store's entrance.

The device appears to be run by a Costco employee, and below the scanner, there is a sign that says: "You will be asked to scan your membership card before entering the warehouse."

This may keep Costco's prices on the lower end. The reason Costco's items are so affordable is because Costco has a yearly membership fee, and it could deter people who don't pay the membership fee from entering the store.

In recent times, Costco has been having an issue with people using other people's membership cards to enter the store despite them not taking on the burden of the yearly fee. The new scanning device may lead to smaller lines too, with fewer nonmembers flooding the store.

While Costco's store item prices may stay low as a result of this possible new scanning policy, they recently announced that membership prices could go up in the future.

Richard Galanti, Costco's chief financial officer, has said in recent months that Costco memberships are bound to go up sometime in the future.

During a quarterly earnings call on September 28, Galanti previously said that in regards to the membership price potentially rising, it's a "matter of when, not if."

At the time he mentioned that Costco's last membership price increase was in June 2017. He described this as being "a little longer" than increases executed by the retail giant in prior years.

In a following earnings call on December 14, Galanti reemphasized that raising prices is likely, but it seems that for now their membership sales and renewals are strong.

"If you ask the question, 'What are the variables we would look at?' We would want to look at strong renewal rates, strong new signups, strong loyalty, and we have all that," Galanti explained.

"We haven't needed to do it. We like providing extreme value. Certainly, while we've gone a little longer than the average increase, we feel we certainly have driven more value to the membership."

He repeated his "standby answer" of "it's a question of when, not if."

"But at this juncture, we feel pretty good about what we're doing," he concluded.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/costco-making-massive-change-to-store-policy-with-membership-card-rule-enforced-by-staff/ar-AA1mM7qE?ocid=msedgntp&pc=EDGEDSE&cvid=73299b1a0b274144966b40828a377439&ei=51

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

As long as they keep the price of pizza and drink low, renewals will be strong.

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

1/2# hot dogs and pop/soda!

jimvanells Loc: Augusta, GA

At our Costco, we must show our card for entry. That one card grants entry to whom ever is with you. They don't ask my grandkids for their card when I take them out to lunch.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

I really don't get it with these "you have to pay us" to shop at our store. You can do better if you shop around.

When my first daughter was born I bought into this, but soon realized that it's not for small families, unless you don't care the type of products you're buying, and throwing away food because the quantity were too big for a family of four.
With calculator on hand I went to the various stores and supermarkets in my area, all within one to two miles and check their prices against Costco. I ended up buying Pampers from Publix, powdered milk from Target, and the various items such as baby oil, talc powder, wipes from Walmart. I could choose the brand and type I wanted at lower price per unit over Costco.

To me Costco is for big families, small business, and those that don't care about the type of food you ingest.

Since most hormones, preservatives, and all type of chemicals are mostly deposited in your fatty tissues I prefer to buy as much organic and/or no preservatives, additives, colorants, pesticides, etc., as I can, which at Costco you're extremely limited with choices. TV, jewelry, stuff like that are mostly the lower tiered models. If I need to buy a TV that actually has all the features I want I would have to go to Best Buy, or online. People say is so cheap at Costco, of course it is, your buying the lower to some middle tiers models from any brand.

Actually, some of the things where Costco is very competitive as far as regular household items is concerned is items like Paper towels, toilet paper, wipes, their Kirkland brand are not bad. The big packages are a good deal.

Overall, I prefer to get my stuff somewhere else due to choices. I'm lucky enough that in my area I have a lot of very small produce producers that have their small markets, like "farmer markets", and the various places where I can get organic meat, cheese, milk, butter, etc.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

We have the same sort of issues here with 'deals' etc. Most of the problems resolve themselves when you add in the cost of fuel. The biggest scam here is when shops have sales of 20-60% off (some will do this 50 times during a year). I only ever buy when a sale is on. I ask staff when their next sale is and will leave the shop then and come back later. If you buy outside a 'sale' then you know you are paying way too much.

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

Add chicken to the list of things Costco needs to keep low.

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

Sure, it's easy to beat Costco's prices but also consider how much money and time you spend going to various stores. With the new scanner system, I'll wait to see what happens the first time one of the scanners break down and shoppers can't get into the store.

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

First, we pay the annual fee, so if you don't, shop elsewhere. Costco has been and still is our number one source even being nonagenarians. However, I do wish they were still in the Photo Business, their service, quality, and pricing was first class.

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

Having someone check or scan membership cards at the store entrance is a total waste of time and manpower.

If you are not a member you wouldn't be able to buy anything. Maybe Costco just wants to restrict access to their food samples.

Vladimir200 Loc: Beaumont, Ca.

I must admit, I agree. So, why are they doing it? So you walk in and are not a Costco member. Like SteveFranz says, you are NOT getting past the register without your Costco card. Try getting their gas with the Costco card. Your "non" card is refused and a message saying to "insert your Costco card".

BebuLamar

They don't want you to see what they have to offer because after you see them you may not think it's worth while to shop there.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Their gas price alone is well worth the membership cost.

bwa

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Come on guys, it is Shoplifting. Costco is trying to keep your purchasing cost under control. Way, To Go Costco!!
Why can't stores stop shoplifters?
More than 41% of companies in the NRF survey said no employees in their stores are allowed to stop or apprehend shoplifters. The reason for this is usually a fear of the violence and liability that could come from such confrontations. dated Nov 29, 2023. Our DAs will not enforce laws, so merchants are closing stores in troubled neighborhoods.

Give Costco credit for trying

ad9mac

We show our card to an employee at the entrance when entering. And an employee checks our bags/boxes/purchases on the way out. The self-checkout registers have a blus stripe tape so the checkout employee has an alert.
You could walk in the exit and hit the snack bar for a hot dog, pizza I guess. Not sure about that anymore as I don't think they accept cash.

A lot of Costco's prices and quality are better than grocery stores. A lot of their meat is better quality . And the rotis chicken, $6 for a big bird. Wife and I can get 4 meals off one.