Costco has a loyal base of customers who shop at the chain solely for the great deals and the ability to buy in bulk. For many families, that makes sense, but not everyone can just walk into Costco and take advantage of the bargains. To get into a Costco, you have to be a member, and it seems that over the years, certain customers have pushed the limits of membership policies and shared and transferred memberships, even though Costco doesn’t allow it.
Management must have had enough of card sharing, because a new policy was just implemented at Costco stores across America, and customers are not happy. Read on to find out more.
@neiduuuh Costco, I’m going to Sams! #costco #sams Original sound – Neybabez
New membership policies at Costco
Requiring a Costco card to shop at Costco is nothing new, but Costco seems to be making these rules more and more strict. There is now a scanner at the entrance of every Costco, operated by an employee. All customers must scan their Costco card at the entrance, and if the picture on the Costco card does not match that of the person holding the card, they will be denied entry without exception.
This means, as one TikToker pointed out, that shopping is now impossible for sick or elderly family members who have a membership. “They don’t care if you’re shopping for your grandmother,” user @neybabez posted on TikTok. “I’m going to Sam’s!” she wrote in the caption. The Costco website confirmed this in a statement: “Guests must also be accompanied by a valid member to enter.”
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Angry Costco members react to new policy
Even the most loyal Costco members are upset about the new policy. Customers are sharing their complaints about the crackdown on members on social media. “Wow, they found a way to make things even slower and create a line out the front door!” one person commented on an Instagram post about the policy. “How nice!”
“This is ridiculous. I’m thinking about canceling Costco,” another shared.
“Not a fan,” agreed another. “They wouldn’t let me stop and pick up my stepdad’s medication right after he had surgery unless he was present. We switched to Sam’s Club and will never go back.”
“Literally communism,” declared another. “Publicly traded companies must be stopped.”
“I think this is what strengthens my loyalty to Walmart,” said another customer. “No joke.”
