(Source – USA Today)
In its ongoing campaign to crack down on membership sharing, Costco has introduced a new feature at the entrances of select stores across the United States. The new entry scanners aim to streamline the process and deter customers from sharing their membership cards, addressing a trend that gained traction during the early days of the pandemic.
The introduction of these scanners was highlighted in a viral Reddit post earlier this month, showcasing a glimpse of the new technology at the main entrance of a Costco location in Issaquah, Washington. The move is a response to an increase in members sharing their personal Costco cards with nonmembers, a practice that has grown since the onset of the pandemic.
Eliminating the need for additional checks at the checkout counter
Costco’s decision to implement entry scanners is part of a broader effort to enhance customer checkout experiences. Instead of customers presenting their membership cards to Costco employees, the new scanners will automatically verify membership, eliminating the need for additional checks at the checkout counter. Richard Galanti, Costco’s Chief Financial Officer, emphasized the efficiency of the new system, stating, “It speeds up the process at entry and speeds up the process at the checkout.” He further explained that the company believes in the potential benefits of this approach and is currently piloting it at various locations.
The Issaquah store is not the sole location experimenting with this new method. According to a spokesperson for Costco, several locations in the U.S. have implemented the practice of scanning membership cards at the entrance to match members with their respective cards. This step is part of Costco’s ongoing commitment to improving the overall member experience.
Although the specific Costco locations with the scanners were not disclosed, the company did confirm that this innovative procedure has been put in place to address membership-sharing concerns. The spokesperson did not provide details about plans to introduce the scanners at Costco stores in California.
Costco crack down on membership sharing
Providing an enhanced shopping experience
As of now, the new scanners have not been observed at local Bay Area Costco stores. An inquiry conducted by SFGATE revealed that locations in South San Francisco, Richmond, San Leandro, and Newark currently do not employ the new check-in process.
These scanners represent Costco’s latest initiative to curb the crack down on membership sharing. In June of the previous year, the wholesale giant began checking membership cards and IDs at self-checkout counters, especially noting instances of non-club members using those registers. Costco emphasized that membership fees contribute to offsetting operational costs and maintaining competitive pricing, highlighting the importance of upholding exclusive benefits for its members.
Costco, with multiple stores across California and several warehouses in the Bay Area, continues to adapt and implement measures to protect the integrity of its crack down on membership sharing system while providing an enhanced shopping experience for its valued members.
