Costco Members Could See Card Scanners at Store Entrances

Existing and new Costco members could see card scanners at store entrances in the near future.

A recent update on the Costco website reads, “Over the coming months, membership scanning devices will be used at the entrance door of your local warehouse. Once deployed, prior to entering, all members must scan their physical or digital membership card by placing the barcode or QR Code against the scanner. Guests must also be accompanied by a valid member for entry.”

It continues by adding that if customers have any “questions or concerns, there will always be an attendant at the door to assist you.” Finally, it states, “If your membership is inactive, expired, or you would like to sign up for a new membership, the attendant will ask that you stop by the membership counter prior to entering the warehouse to shop. Additionally, if your membership card does not have a photo, please be prepared to show your valid photo ID. We encourage you to stop by the membership counter to have a photo taken to have on your card.”

This new business tactic is how the wholesale seller plans to stop the flow of non-members using cards that do not belong to them. The club has been frequented by those who do not have cards who eat at the food court, purchase alcohol, and pick up prescriptions, reports CNET.

Costco is now cracking down on its store entry parameters to avoid non-members from slipping inside under a false pretense. https://t.co/FeBwoaVzrz

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) August 8, 2024

According to The Orange County Register, scanners were seen at California Costco warehouses in Tustin, Laguna Niguel (Cabot), Aliso Viejo, Irvine, La Habra, Cypress, Signal Hill, San Dimas, Alhambra, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Santa Clarita, (north) Fontana, Palm Desert, La Quinta, San Bernardino, and Victorville.

In January, Costco confirmed it had begun testing scanning membership cards at the entrance of some locations. This was to help with the overall member experience so cards would not have to be scanned at checkout. The crackdown comes after the store announced that it was raising its membership fees for the first time since 2017.

The new fees, set to take effect Sept. 1, will boost the price of Costco’s basic Gold Star membership from $60 to $65 annually, while the cost for the premium Executive membership will rise from $120 to $130.