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Jan 20, 2025
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Discover how Costco is tightening up their membership policies to prevent unauthorized sharing and save money.


Discover how Costco is tightening up their membership policies to prevent unauthorized sharing and save money.

Costco Implements Stricter Policies to Crack Down on Membership Moochers

Costco is no longer turning a blind eye to non-members using friends' membership cards. To prevent embarrassment at checkout, Costco is now taking steps to catch membership moochers before they even enter the store.

According to a statement released by Costco, the retailer will be implementing membership scanning devices at the entrance of warehouses. Before entering, all members must scan their physical or digital membership cards to gain access.

For members without photo IDs on their cards, Costco advises bringing a valid photo ID or visiting the membership counter to have a photo taken. Additionally, guests now need to be accompanied by a valid cardholder to enter Costco stores, making it harder for non-members to sneak in.

This new rule is an extension of a system Costco tested earlier this year, requiring members to scan their cards at machines near the store entrance rather than just showing them to employees. The crackdown also affects self-checkout machines, with shoppers now required to present their membership card and a photo ID to use the registers.

Costco's decision to tighten up on non-members comes after announcing a membership fee increase of $5 to $65 in the US and Canada, the first increase since 2017. The company's profits heavily rely on annual fees, with $4.6 billion in revenue coming from membership fees in the previous year, an 8% increase from the year before.

What do you think?

  • Do you think Costco's crackdown on non-members is fair?
  • Should membership fees continue to increase to maintain exclusivity?
  • Have you ever encountered issues with non-members at Costco?

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Marcus Johnson
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Marcus Johnson

An accomplished journalist with over a decade of experience in investigative reporting. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Marcus began his career in local news in Washington, D.C. His tenacity and skill have led him to uncover significant stories related to social justice, political corruption, & community affairs. Marcus’s reporting has earned him multiple accolades. Known for his deep commitment to ethical journalism, he often speaks at universities & seminars about the integrity in media

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