this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2024
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Bad news if you’re mooching off of someone else’s Costco membership: The retail giant is cracking down.

When you enter Costco, you need to show your membership card to an employee to shop. Costco membership cards are non-transferable, but the company allows members to give a second household card to one other person in their home. Anyone with a card can bring up to two guests to the club during each visit, the company stipulates.

But Costco has noticed that non-members have been sneaking in with membership cards that don’t belong to them — particularly since Costco expanded self-checkout.

Costco recently started asking for shoppers’ membership cards along with a photo ID at the self-checkout registers, the same policy as regular checkout lanes, to crack down. “We don’t feel it’s right that non-members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” Costco said in announcing the change.

And now, Costco is testing out a system that requires members to scan their membership cards at the store entrance — instead of just flashing the card to employees. Shoppers have spotted the new scanners at a store in Washington State and posted photos on Reddit.

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Keep going… imagine that every Big Mac you buy now is 25% cheaper. If you buy enough Big Macs, you might save money over the course of the year. At some point, the 25% cheaper thing is going to be far more than the $50.

I swear people have no math or finance skills anymore…

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

You're still paying for the privilege of shopping there. I have no idea why you think that is how things should run.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I’m not. I’m paying for the benefits they provide.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What if I wanted to buy something from Costco without the discount?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Since you can’t buy items not in bulk, you can only buy things that don’t have that discount, as I already mentioned. The discount is the benefit you’re paying for, amongst others.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What if they didn't charge you money for the discount? Do you really think they would go out of business?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago

I don’t know but that’s not relevant. Since membership fees are their primary and largest source of revenue, they might.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

When I go shopping I pay for the goods I'm buying. Not anything else.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yes… at a higher price than you would otherwise. That’s why you’re not paying for a membership.

I don’t see why this is so hard for you to understand.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

We shop differently, I'm not here trying to convince you that you're wrong. I don't need a 400 pack of bog roll for the 2 souls in my home... I guess get over yourself?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I’m not telling you that you have to shop at Costco, my guy. Sounds like you’re the one that needs to get over yourself. The world doesn’t revolve around you. I’m just explaining why other people might choose to get a membership at Costco since you seem incapable of doing basic math.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

The world doesn't revolve around me? No shit, it revolves around it's axis...

You're trying really hard to get me to unleash an emotional retort but I just don't care enough. It doesn't make sense for me to buy a membership to a bulk retailer because I have a small family. But do go on and tell me I don't know how to do basic math or I feel like the center of the world..

I don't like corporate dipshits milking people for profits. Sorry that offends you, but I hope you stay mad about it for at least the rest of your day 🤣

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I’m not trying to get you to do anything. You have a real self-centeredness complex. I’m only pointing out that you’re wrong to suggest that it’s not worth it to have a membership to a store.

As for the last bit, that would require me to be mad. Unlike you, I don’t wish ill will on people for no reason.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

How is it wrong (using your words here) for a family of 2 to not be able to justify a Costco membership? You say I can't do basic math so I want to see your breakdown. Clearly you're right and that's why you keep responding 🤣

We use about 5 rolls of tp a month and don't drink excessively so let us see those numbers fly.

Be sure to clear it with Costco HR, wouldn't want to misrepresent your products.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I never said it was wrong for a family of 2 to do anything. You’re just being dishonest now. You said that this is akin to Amazon adding ads or some other nonsense or Netflix backtracking on account sharing. I’m just pointing out that that is incorrect. Costco has never allowed you to share a membership outside of the household and the membership provides benefits that people are paying for. That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

Also, the fact that you think the only way someone would disagree with you is that they literally work for Costco is telling. Says a lot about how you view the world.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

you’re wrong to suggest that it’s not worth it to have a membership to a store.

This is what you commented earlier.

You're just being dishonest now

This is in your last comment. Gaslighting is a terrible way to debate.

Also, I read your whole comment and saw ZERO mathematical functions.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I don’t see how what I said and what you claim are at odds or how anyone is gaslighting you. No one is gaslighting anyone. You’re just being dishonest.

If it’s worthwhile for even a single person, then your initial statement was wrong. I never said anything about a family of 2, you did.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

My initial statement about my moral stance on corporate interests was my opinion. Opinions can't be wrong you dense fuckwit.

directly quoting your comment is "being dishonest". Right, enjoy your Costco card lmao.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

You quoted it and then claimed I said something I didn’t. It is dishonest. Get outta here with that dumb “bet” shit. Use your words.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

This you?

This you? I must have directly quoted some other asshole with the exact same name. That or I edited the image to implicate you, cuz all I do is be dishonest. Fuck yourself.

Lastly, "Outta" isn't a word, use REAL words like 'bet'.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Yes… and then you said that I claimed it wasn’t worth it for a family of 2. I never said that. You’re being dishonest.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

You said it was wrong and that I couldn't do basic math. You had forgotten that people exists in a myriad of states and not every person has the same requirements as you.

So not only are you WRONG, you're being ignorant and doubling down on your bad-takes while pointing at me like I'm somehow to blame for the shame you feel. If you can admit you slipped up you may still learn something. Until then you can go fuck yourself in that Costco parking lot (assuming you have a valid membership card which I am beginning to doubt).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

You're still paying for the privilege of shopping there. I have no idea why you think that is how things should run.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I’m not paying for that. I’m paying for the benefits the membership provides.

It’s why you can use the pharmacy and buy certain items without a membership. Those aren’t benefited in the same way as the rest of the purchases you can make there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

It’s why you can use the pharmacy

Wrong, Costco cannot legally prevent you from using the pharmacy. All health services are available to the public by law. Alcohol too although that law is because they are issued a public license.

Can you provide an example of anything Costco makes available to the general public the same as their members when they don’t have to?

The closest I can think of is online shopping but that adds a 5% surcharge and I don’t even know if you still can do that.

Your membership is paying to be able to shop there, the advantage being the lower prices they achieve by purchasing wholesale and limiting markup, no more than 14% for regular and 15% for Kirkland I think.

Edit: I looked at your comment history. Don’t bother replying, I’m not interested in anything you have to say and I can go to a Costco if I want to be pitched on their membership.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago

I’m not sure what you’re arguing against. You’re just making my point for me that the membership is paying for benefits that normal non-members don’t get.