Costco Member Privileges and Conditions
- Thread starter grasscutter
- Start date
Yeah, Costco already knew that there was a lot of membership sharing going on and apparently figured the loss in membership revenue was too much to ignore.
If your business model involves charging admission to shop, then you have to ensure that you enforce that charge.
It is their rules, they are there for reasons like:
1) Discourage traffic if the people are not members. More traffic means more cost like parking lot and security, insurance and energy, etc.
2) They don't want people to go in opposite direction to cause flow issue.
3) They don't want you to "not pay" a membership. They use a model that reduce profit margin on the items but make it back in membership fee.
4) That discourage people from "sharing" memberships without photo proof. That's why they hire a human to look at you and verify you if you look suspicious (i.e. a Latino first and last name when you obviously look South Asian or the other way around).
5) Once you scanned your card you are less likely to steal things because they can always find out who you are before you even enter.
I hate going into the store, and I hate parking there even more, but that's their rules and their stores. I don't think I would continue their membership if they are too much to deal with but entering using a scanned card is less of my concern than anything else.
1) Discourage traffic if the people are not members. More traffic means more cost like parking lot and security, insurance and energy, etc.
2) They don't want people to go in opposite direction to cause flow issue.
3) They don't want you to "not pay" a membership. They use a model that reduce profit margin on the items but make it back in membership fee.
4) That discourage people from "sharing" memberships without photo proof. That's why they hire a human to look at you and verify you if you look suspicious (i.e. a Latino first and last name when you obviously look South Asian or the other way around).
5) Once you scanned your card you are less likely to steal things because they can always find out who you are before you even enter.
I hate going into the store, and I hate parking there even more, but that's their rules and their stores. I don't think I would continue their membership if they are too much to deal with but entering using a scanned card is less of my concern than anything else.
You can also just tell them you are going to the pharmacy or optometrist. You don't need a membership to use their pharmacy.
These days they are self checkout so many can just make a photo copy of the card or use card with one member while the other use the smart phone app: 3 members to share the cost of 2.
D*** I love costco. Since I got my myron mixon smoker. I go 2 times a month for carnivore treats.
Last summer on my exit. I saw a pro steal safe on one of the dollies at returns. I asked the girl someone went to a lot of work to return that safe.What was wrong with it. She said nothing it wouldn't fit in his closet.
I asked about the safe because. I'd never seen it in the store. She said it was online only I asked how much. The assistant manager heard me and told me they didn't want to deal with the safe in the store and if I wanted it i would take it away right now , she would give it to me for half price. I said deal let's load it up.
Last summer on my exit. I saw a pro steal safe on one of the dollies at returns. I asked the girl someone went to a lot of work to return that safe.What was wrong with it. She said nothing it wouldn't fit in his closet.
I asked about the safe because. I'd never seen it in the store. She said it was online only I asked how much. The assistant manager heard me and told me they didn't want to deal with the safe in the store and if I wanted it i would take it away right now , she would give it to me for half price. I said deal let's load it up.
I like Costco and have do problem going in through the in door or showing my receipt. I buy my filet and other steaks along with all sorts of stuff which more than covers the membership cost, I do miss the book section though. I usually go on Tuesday or Wednesday AM, there is not a big crowd.
I just call it the way I see it.
I doubt it's as much of an issue as you think. Just the 'threat' or setup that they are at the entrance and could check will stop people that were previously using other people's membership cards.
I didn't look, I'm just speaking from my personal experiences. We actually just got back from Costco, we went to buy groceries. My wife reminded me that #6 actually happened in SoFlo, not here in Canada.
Non members pay higher prices at the pharmacy.
I understood it to be - and that it is state-specific by law - that retailers can't restrict these services (pharmacy and optometrist) to only members. Never realized they charged more but it makes 100% sense.
Regarding the optometrist, you can get your eyes examined and your RX but you can't buy glasses or contacts without being a member.
JHZR2
Staff member
I’ve got no issue with the direction of traffic flow, but it’s just another impediment to quickly going in.
The business model of paying for a membership, if that’s really an actual thing, to me is somewhat silly… in fact, now I buy far less at Costco then I used to, because of the hassle on top of the crowds. I didn’t appreciate it, it I didn’t have a big issue walking in and flashing my Costco cc that had my photo on it as I walked past the greeter. Now having to stand in line, yes “only” another ten seconds of hassle… on top of the rest, makes me think about not shopping there. So thousands of dollars in lost revenue from me. And I’ve bought more than I ever have before from a number of other companies… doesn’t seem to be an issue for Costco as they’re growing, but I think the growth is part of the issue actually. They’ve gotten popular enough that their standard store setup doesn’t work anymore if you live in an area that has a lot of population and a lot of shoppers. It may still be ok in rural areas and on low traffic midweek days.
Your point on #5 is very sensible. I bet that’s actually a big part of it.
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JHZR2
Staff member
It’s not the interaction, it’s the impediment. It’s not the people, it’s the process that has gone from a minor bump to a full stop and line. I never complained about the people doing their work.
It’s no longer “can I see your membership card” as I stroll in. It’s wait in line to scan it. Something that I also have to do to actually make a purchase, since it is, you know, a membership store. And it can be a line because they have two scanners and two people sitting there watching each one. It was far faster with the flash my cc and walk in.
Ditto on walking out. They have two, and a very narrow chute to walk through… and this is consistent at multiple stores, both ones that have been there for a long time, and ones that were built just in very recent years. I’ve counted 15 people per line, and no more space to even add a third checker.
No, I don’t appreciate being treated like a criminal (essentially you’re guilty of theft and cannot leave until being proven innocent by the checker). Especially when stores aren’t really serious about stopping theft by taking it out on criminals, instead just inconveniencing the rest of the public immensely. That’s not just Costco, certainly, but I can leave a Walmart or target or supermarket at the speed of my choosing without being stuck in a two care wide chute with 30 people waiting on two to validate the number of items in a cart matches what is said on a receipt. I’m not free to leave, and my movement is impeded by people and design.
That said, I do appreciate efforts at loss prevention, especially if they result in lower prices. But that’s the rub… I won’t say that Costco is genuinely lower price than anyplace else for most things besides gas. I bought a new MacBook Pro. I bought it at Costco because the price considering the credit card rebate was better. Without that, have had the same price in the end at apple or Best Buy or even some of the deals in the chase portal. Is Kirkland generic motor oil truly better than super tech? I got a Napa battery cheaper than a Costco interstate. Tires and gas, and a few other large bulk items are really the only reason to shop there.
I don’t think it’s that some stores aren’t run worse. I’ve seen the same issues in stores in NJ, DE, VA, FL, and NV. I do think the growth and popularity is part of it. There are times where there are no parking spots in the lot at my closest one, and the one by my brother much farther north in the state. And these were purpose built Costco locations, with the same self-implemented issues… Two scanners for entry, two checkers for exit, both funnels and choke points. The issue isn’t their policy to check credentials, or their people. It’s the compounded impedances that have just gotten worse in the last few years as compared to before that. And because I don’t like it, I vote with my wallet, so I get gas (also only at certain times because the lines are so long), tires (which can be handled almost entirely online), and buy most everything else elsewhere unless there is compelling benefit. Indeed, vote with my wallet unless their existence serves me.
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Two points- you are experiencing this because of the abuse of the membership of others. People using other members cards at check out. At my store this scan system has visibly cut down on the practice. In addition, we differ when it comes to purchasing tires at Costco. I think its absolutely the worst place to make such a major expenditure. I have no desire to go out of my way to be the first one at their tire department in the morning to avoid a multi hour wait just for a tire rotation. So I paid a $100.00 more elsewhere. Costco sells premium items, especially their Kirkland brands at competitive prices. My wife needed vanilla for holiday baking. They had their Kirkland brand so much cheaper per ounce than anywhere else. And also a premium bottle of it at a good price as well. So basically- you put up with the inconvenience when it suits you. And then rant about it when it doesn't.
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JHZR2
Staff member
YMMV…
Maybe some Kirkland stuff really is tops, that’s great. But I don’t have a real good objective way to compare unless I know actual origin and can validate that it’s better and what I want. Or have a review/hearsay.
If they wanted to stop the abuse they could check it at checkout. One already has to prove membership at checkout, and they have a database of all members photos. It’s not like I can go to checkout and buy something without scanning membership… since the verification process is already in place, and they have umpteen more checkout staff than the two people sitting at the door, it would be efficient and effective.
I don’t always rotate tires, but when we do, the bigger issue is time wasted as a captive at Costco. Even our local one that is in a big shopping center with other stores, requires quite a hike to go anyplace else. Tire planning has been way, way improved since they allow scheduling online. I’ve had nothing but good experiences, and if your thought about the waiting game for rotations is based on old experiences, you may want to reconsider, since the scheduling approach works. I just got tires for our van there.
Are you sure about that?
I've watched the Costco associates that man the card scanners. They are watching faces of those approaching the scanners, and then glance down at the screen on the back side of the scanners, after you scan your card or phone. I'm quite sure that at least at the Costco locations that I visit, pictures are being compared to faces.
Well, pretty sure.
I do self checkout most of the time. Unless it flashes up on some remote computer with a camera on the checkout line, I'm not sure how they would.
