Costco is forging ahead with its initiative to automatically scan customers’ cards at the entrance to curb membership sharing.
The wholesale giant recently announced that scanning devices will be installed in all its warehouses in the coming months. These card scanners have already been spotted at several California locations, such as Huntington Beach and Inglewood.
Stores in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania are set to implement this verification method soon, though specific dates have not been disclosed. A Texas location is expected to start next month. Now, guests must be accompanied by a member, preventing parents from sending their kids on solo Costco trips.
Additionally, Costco is now requiring customers to present a photo ID along with their membership card. “If your membership card lacks a photo, please be ready to show a valid photo ID. We encourage you to visit the membership counter to have your photo added to your card,” Costco stated.
This policy aims to increase profits, which reached $1.68 billion in the third quarter ending in May 2024, marking a 29% rise from the previous year.
In the past, customers entering Costco weren’t always checked by employees for membership verification. However, last year, company executives instructed staff to start spot-checking shoppers.
Despite earning nearly $58 billion in revenue for the third quarter, Costco announced in July that it would raise the membership fee by September. This is the first increase since June 2017, with the standard membership fee rising by $5 annually, from $60 to $65.
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