Costco Is Testing a New Policy, and Customers Are Not Happy About It

Paying a visit to Costco, as all members know, is a process. Not just anybody can go in and shop for bulk LaCroix and huge blocks of cheese — upon arrival, you have to show your member ID card to an employee, who then lets you in the store. As a long-time Costco member myself, I’ve never had a problem with this system. It makes sense to screen customers in a membership-based model, and I’ve never had to wait in a long line to get in.

The New Policy, Explained

Now, the entry policy is changing in some store locations. According to the Instagram account Costco Insider, the store next to Costco headquarters in Issaquah, WA, is requiring members to scan their cards at an entry kiosk before an employee checks to make sure that the photo on the card matches the person holding it. It remains to be seen whether other locations will follow suit, but as you can imagine, word has spread and Costco fans have some pretty big feelings about it. 

Costco Shoppers Have Lots of Questions

Some shoppers think the fact you have to show your ID at all is way too strict. You have to prove you’re a member in order to check out, and most people probably wouldn’t waste their time sneaking in to fill up a cart if they can’t actually buy their groceries. Plus, in some states, you don’t need to be a member to use the pharmacy or eat at the food court. “So what will those people scan?” one Instagram user commented on the Costco Insider post.

Costco Is Discontinuing a Fan-Favorite Food Court Item (It's Devastating)

The policy could potentially negatively affect Costco, too — another person makes a good point that the new policy could keep potential members from signing up if they’re interested in the store: “What if someone is wanting to scope things out before becoming a member?? You can’t purchase without a card so is it really necessary??”

On the Other Hand…

While some see the extra step of showing their card as a hassle, some members don’t mind at all, especially since the practice could keep non-members out of the store. “I don’t understand why this is such a big issue for people. It’s the same thing as having a gym membership. To the ones that are upset, the same people that are trying to use a card that’s not registered under their name,” an Instagram user commented. 

The new process could also slow down entry in some cases, especially when the store is busy — but it could help Costco keep prices low, which is why most people shop there in the first place. “If it helps them keep prices lower by keeping non-members out using friend member cards then that’s fine,” said an Instagram user. “Anything to keep prices lower as they trend ever higher.”