Is Change Coming To Your Local Costco?

[Panhead John]

I had this news clip [30 seconds] pop up in my YouTube feed yesterday. Apparently Costco is starting to crack down on Members sharing their cards with non-members. In California they’ve starting implementing card scanning in some of their stores at the entrance. Before you can enter, they will scan your membership card and your photo pops up for the employee to verify it’s you on the card. At my local Costco, I usually walk in and just flash my card, although they occasionally ask to look at it. Curious to see how this affects wait times entering the store. A Costco membership allows you to share it with one other family member, if I’m not mistaken.

[RonB]

We all knew you did a lot of flashing John. That's why attendance at Meatups is so low.

They have been looking at photos on membership cards for some time now when ya check out at the local Costco..

[JCBBQ]

Could be awkward when they compare his head shot.

[GolfGeezer]

Yup, Costco has been rolling this out for a while around here. I haven't been to Costco recently, but one of my friends ran into the scanning at the Tustin, CA store last week. I'll be curious what happens when I go since my membership card is very old (figures, right?). And it is a Business membership card even though I dropped back to regular membership after retiring 10 years ago. Maybe they'll move on to retinal scans next....

[HawkerXP]

We've been scanned upon entry for the last few months here. Not much difference then before when you had to show your card. No backup at the entry that I've noticed.

[Panhead John]

Good to hear. Costco is usually always so efficient at everything they do.

[Finster]

I haven't noticed it at my local Costco.
Even though I only shop once or twice a month, I usually encounter the same workers every time I go, and I'm fairly certain that I am as familiar to them as they are to me. I make it a point to greet by name any workers that I come into contact with during my visits. Friendly gets friendly in return...
Maybe it has just not yet been implemented in my area, or maybe people in my area are just more honest than folks in other parts of the country 😜

[Panhead John]

I like to shoot em the finger when I go in…..😂

[jfmorris]

Maybe they'll move on to retinal scans next....

That reminds me of a story.

As an engineer, I was in a business meeting at an aerospace & defense firm in the late 90's, and we were discussing how to secure a particular classified project, and I tossed out the idea of retinal scans as one possibility. Several others picked up the discussion, but one manager in the meeting was highly adamant and totally opposed to the idea - to the point of being belligerent even. We finally asked him why, and it turns out he thought we were saying "rectal" scanning, and he was understandably confused.... turns out he also didn't know what retinal scans were either. We were all dying laughing at his expense... and started discussing how to implement rectal scanning.... the meeting continued off the rails from there...

[Panhead John]

Rectal scans are actually pretty popular……..in prison!

[Steve R.]

Dogs swear by it, maybe they're on to something.

[RonB]

I'm guessing Panhead John must of been there.

[Steve R.]

Have you seen this at all in the Houston area? My daughter and her boyfriend dog sit on the side, and one of their best clients in Katy lets them use her Costco card. My daughter looks enough like the cardholder that it probably wouldn't matter.

[Panhead John]

I haven’t seen it yet Steve. In fact, sometimes I just walk in with my cart without my card in hand and they don’t even ask to see it.

[tstalafuse]

Ours has been sporadically checking at the self check for a while now (mostly on Saturday and payday weekends). The article I first read was they were pulling back on scanning at the door because it was cause long lines to enter. If they are that concerned, the easiest way would be to either get rid of the self check, replace them with a 15 items or less, and have a cashier valid the membership, or simply have one of those roving helpers at the self check scan your card before you can either begin scanning or before you can pay.

Personally, I don't have a lot of sympathy for those scamming the system and getting busted. Pay your dues, go forth and shop.

[Panhead John]

Ever since they started the self checkout, I always go there as I normally don’t have many items to scan. Sometimes a helper will offer to scan them for me, sometimes they ask for my card, but usually I scan it myself. It’s hit or miss. But I haven’t had my card scanned when entering the store. In fact, I’m going there today, so I’ll report back.

[Jerod Broussard]

If I ever go to a Costco just call me Panhead John, Jr. and nevermind the dude with the actual membership.

[Panhead John]

You would be so proud to have me as your Dad!……🙄😂

[acorgihouse]

The Costco I go to (there are 3 or 4 in Tampa) is close by, and I'm in there often. I haven't been in a few weeks, planning tomorrow if the weather doesn't suck, but never been scanned at the entrance. I use a Costco Visa, so I usually just wave that and they nod. I sometimes think I could wave any credit card, but doesn't really matter. I also agree that, if you try to game the system, karma will get you at some point, and I'd rather just do it the right way. May not be popular, but like using someone else's Netflix account, I think at some point you will regret it, and I've caused myself enough problems inadvertently. No need to do it intentionally!

[DaveD]

I'm the same, a rule-follower. I like order and civility, and rules are there for a reason. "Good fences make good neighbors" and so on. Absolutely do not subscribe to the notion that "only suckers and chumps follow the rules".

[shush]

My Daughter was allowed entry, but denied purchasing because she had my wife's card. We have the Business membership. Anyway, it seems that this might not work in all cases because you can purchase a CostCo Gift card, and shop there without the Membership. You just need to pay with the Gift Card.

As an aside, an old friend of mine said that CostCo barely makes any profit on the products they sell. Most of the revenue is membership fees.

[Panhead John]

Found this on The Motley Fool website……

Over the past year, Costco brought in almost $4.6 billion in membership fees. And those fees represent 72% of the company's profits

[realdocBBQ]

I haven't been in a month or two, but will be going maybe tomorrow or Friday. Going to do a big cook this weekend for office folks who want some BBQ. Last time I had better luck at Sam's, but I usually still like Costco better. It's kind of a tossup these days, Sam's meat dept has improved leaps and bounds over where it was a couple of years ago.

[Panhead John]

I had to go to Costco today anyway, walked right on in, card still in my wallet in my back pocket, guy at the door just nodded. No card scanning at the entrance there. Anyway, on a side note I found these Kirkland Signature brand brats. 14 of em only $9.99 I have no doubt they’ll be good!

[realdocBBQ]

Maybe I am misremembering. I may give them another try. Hard to believe they would be disappointing compared to Johnsonville or the Sam's Choice, which are worse than J'ville. I wasnt impressed with the Kirkland bacon the one time we tried it. But I have to pick up meat tonite or tomorrow for the pit, so I may try the Kirkland again. I'll give 'em a fair shot.

[PGH_RAM]

realdocBBQ Do you have a KitchenAid stand mixer by any chance? If so, I've found the all-metal grinder attachment to be perfect for small batches of sausage. I've used it for 4 batches of 5 lbs each in one afternoon with no problems.

[realdocBBQ]

PGH_RAM no I don't have a KitchenAid, I have a... different stand mixer. Umm... Hamilton Beach, maybe? I doubt they are interchangeable, although I might look into a similar analogue. I gunno.

[radiodome21]

No card scanning in the Chicago area yet. Home Costco (Niles) is always packed and I can’t imagine how long the line would be to get in. While I try my darnedest to avoid home Costco and go to work Costco (Mettawa) it has a bigger and better meat selection. I did go to daughter’s doctor’s office Costco (Glenview) last week and it was basically empty, which could become my favorite Costco.

They do check membership cards at the self checkout line, which I always avoid because if you cut through the aisles the regula checkout lines are always a lot faster and more convenient too.

[Draznnl]

Used to live about halfway between Niles and Glenview Costcos. Went to Niles once. Glenview was a far preferable experience.

[Spinaker]

Yeah, they already do this at the new Costco by me.