Costco Cracks Down on Membership Sharing with New Scanners

Costco is making some changes to how you get into their stores. No more just showing a card to the attendant at the entrance. Starting soon, shoppers will need to scan their membership card or use a digital QR code before they can step inside.

This new rule is all about tightening up store policies and making sure only paying members get in. If you have a membership card that doesn’t have your photo, you’ll need to show a valid ID too. Costco wants to make sure every shopper is legit.

Guests who want to shop must be accompanied by a member, and yes, that includes grabbing a bite at the food court or getting one of those famous $1.50 hot dogs. There’s no side entrance for pals who tag along without their own membership!

Costco plans to roll out these scanners in the coming months, with some stores in areas like Ontario, B.C., and Alberta already testing them out. This move follows a rise in card-sharing since the pandemic, as more people borrowed friends’ memberships to save a few bucks.

According to Richard Galanti, Costco’s finance chief, having members scan their cards at the door will streamline the process at checkout. They hope this will help speed things up for shoppers who are in a hurry.

To further encourage people to use their actual memberships, Costco is also planning to raise membership fees next month. Whether you have an individual or business membership, the price will go up by $5, while elite memberships will see a $10 bump.