The American membership-only big-box warehouse club retail chain, Costco, the largest in the United States, has just announced that it will tighten entry regulations by adding a control at its doors that some customers already describe as “annoying” on social networks.
If you are a regular Costco shopper, due to its incredible prices and its gigantic and almost inexhaustible stock of products, you will see that on your next visit, you will possibly find a store employee at the door with a scanner.
This worker will be scanning the membership cards of all people who enter, according to Costco, to “improve the experience” of those who are customers and preventing people who are not from entering without permission.
In other words, you can no longer leave the card at home or in the car: you will have to carry it whenever you want to go shopping and scan it at the door. You may also be asked for photo identification to prevent people from entering with someone else’s card.
Why Will Costco Now Screen Customers at the Door?
Costco is the largest retail chain in the United States. According to the most recent data provided by the company, the company had 66 million paying customers, but in addition to those individuals who are the cardholders, they have more than 119 million customers who are family members and people authorized to use the membership.
All this only in the United States, because they have stores in other countries: it is present in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, France, Iceland, and Sweden.
The company has detected that some unauthorized people, or those who do not have membership, have managed to sneak in and enter the stores. That’s why Costco has started trialing membership card scanners, either through self-service devices or with employees using a handheld scanner.
Costco claims that the scanning system that is being implemented streamlines the purchasing experience, so the card will not have to be scanned when arriving at the checkout to pay.
The Seattle-based company is serious about protecting its customers, who left a whopping $4.6 billion in membership fees alone in 2023 alone.
Don’t Forget Your Costco Card at Home, Otherwise You Won’t Be Able to Enter
In the coming months, Costco will be installing membership card scanners in each of its warehouses. You can use the physical card or the “digital” card, through the app (using the barcode or QR code).
How Much Does a Costco Membership Cost in 2024?
It’s not just about improving security, but also increasing value for those who pay for your services. Starting September 1, the price of a “Gold Star” membership will increase from $60 to $65, while the cost of “executive memberships” will increase from $120 to $130.
Costco wants to ensure its members feel like they are getting the most bang for their buck. This increase in membership fees, the first since 2017, is accompanied by a 2% increase in the annual rewards limit for executive members, which will rise from $1,000 to $1,250.
For those who are new to Costco or need a reminder, both “Gold Star” and “Executive” memberships include two membership cards. Additionally, it is possible to download a digital version of the card through the Costco app, making it even easier to access when you arrive at the store.