Costco Adds Membership Scanners Upon Entry to Avoid Shared Cards

(AmericanProsperity.com) – Customers of Costco were once able to walk into a Costco after flashing their membership card to the workers in the entry, but now they are cracking down and making it harder to share memberships.

The company has caught on to the popularity of shared memberships, and to combat this, they are adding in an approval at entry where people must present their membership and be scanned in the store.

Said Costco, “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.” They added, “Guests must also be accompanied by a valid member for entry.”

“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,” the statement said.

They continued to say that if the person’s account doesn’t show a photo, then for them to be prepared to show a photo ID upon entry. Members who don’t have a photo on their card can go to the membership counter to get their photo taken to add to the card.

This has been an issue for the company for years as many people have shared or borrowed memberships, but this additional step will help to eliminate the shared cards. An attendant will be placed at the doors of the retailer who will be there to answer any questions people may have on the changes.