We have a Costco membership, but my wife & her brother split it, so they have the 2 member cards.

New policy has you scan your card when you go in, to include access to the food court.

We probably get a whole pizza 2-3 times a month, usually on a Friday or Saturday & every other time, I've been able to enter via the exit, pay & pick up to go.

Last time, they have scan her card, and no problem, for a pizza & left.
Tried today & got stopped by the door guard/greeter.
Card holder must be present for entry.

Yep. All membership based businesses are cracking down across the board. Netflix, Costco, all of them. I don't recall ever having to scan my card at the food court, just the entrance to the building.

They’re also getting really strict about the membership cards at the checkouts. I was at my local Costco a few weeks ago, and the woman guiding the lines insisted that she check the picture on my membership card against my face before I was allowed to proceed to the self check out. Never saw that before, I guess the days of lending your membership card out to someone are over.

I can understand why they are doing it if I have to pay a membership why should others cheat the system but some of the employees can be real dicks about it.

One time my Mother was with me and she forgot her card so I gave her my card while I went to use the bathroom, when I came back she was standing in the corner upset because they checked the Costo card and said she was using it when it wasn't hers. I then chewed out the employee told her my Mother is the other name on the card and for fu*ks sake I had to use the bathroom I'm here now and they didn't have to scream at my Mother. Paid for my stuff and left.

The other time when they really got me livid, they just started using the scanners at the doors and I accidentally scanned my drivers license grabbed the wrong card. Realized what happened and before I could get my Costo Card out the door girl cursed me out that I wasn't allowed inside. I freaking lost it scanned the right card and said as loud as possible is that Fu*king good enough for you and strolled right in with no one stopping me.

I just tried their pizza after 9 years.
Casey's gas station pizza is better .

Back when it was Price Club they used to shred the cheese, instead of using the nasty pre shredded stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by dfens:

One time my Mother was with me and she forgot her card I then chewed out the employee told her my Mother is the other name on the card and for fu*ks sake I had to use the bathroom

When you got home, did Momma wash your mouth out with the yellow soap?

I find it interesting that dfens takes umbrage to a Costco employee "cursing him out" after scanning the wrong card, yet he himself apparently has no issue actually cursing at two different employees himself...

(And while I guess it's technically possible that the employee actually did "curse him out" for that, it's rather unlikely because such an employee would quickly lose their job if they spend their workday swearing at customers entering the store.)

It appears he holds store workers to a higher standard of behavior than he holds himself?

Or perhaps he's simply fantasizing/posturing, because he thinks that we're the type of folks that will agree with those actions, or that we'll consider him a badass for behaving like that? A "dark and stormy night" type of story like we get from time to time here, just involving cursing at Costco workers rather than drawing cold steel with the quick snick of a kydex holster releasing.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

drawing cold steel with the quick snick of a kydex holster releasing.

Trying to remember the quote ... "I was born to live by the gun?"

Not a verbatim quote (too many years ago), but that's definitely the type of post I was referencing.

"... As the Costco employee meekly apologized for their mistake, that's when I realized I was born to live by the curse words."

Look I have to serve customers every day and unless you really want to be difficult I'll tip toe around peoples BS and kiss there asses not to make one upset or lose a sale. I get it working with the public is not a easy job and I too don't want to be treated like shit and for the most part I always comply or walk away to avoid a incident.

But the two incidents I mentioned I normally would have kept my cool but the way the person at the self-checkout talked to my Mother basically calling her a thief for what she thought was a woman borrowing a card because she was too cheap to purchase one.

The other incident was warranted. I scanned the wrong card and apologized right away, as I was looking in my wallet for the right one she muttered something under her breath and I heard it. If she would have kept her mouth shut then it wouldn't have been a problem. At my job I don't go out of my way to give customers attitude without given them a chance.

Costco likes to take my money but can't teach employees to bite there tongue over a minor issue. They want to crack down on people to increase there bottom line fine no problem they are a business.

I'm not some entitled customer and I'm not the most important person in the world. If I cause a scene that's not warranted feel free to ask me to leave. But I can assure you after many years of having a Costo membership not once until this aggressive crack down on checking cards did I ever have a problem shopping at there stores.

I have never experienced a Costco employee be anything less than courteous.

In my area lots of folks getting all sorts of upset over what seems to be a cascade of changes. First, opening self check aisles, then card checks at the self-check, membership price increase ($10 ) then refusing no card entry for food court, and now just this week entry scanners.

I jokingly commented about the scanner the first time I used it having heard all the heartburn on social media. The person at the door said folks are making their life hell complaining about it. Show your card to an employee or show your card to a scanner - what difference does it make?


While generally not a fan of self-checkout it makes sense at Costco where frequently people have loaded flat beds and overflowing carts if you have a lessor number of items. They also staff the self-check with associates willing to quickly scan the items in your cart making it more of an “assisted self-checkout”.

Self-check card check? One more failsafe against the card sharing crowd. Pay to use like the rest of us.

$10 membership increase? I save that much with 1-2 gas fillups considering my area Costcos are $.40 to $.60/gal cheaper than other area gas stations.

Card for food court? All the local high school kids no longer use it as their lunch hang out. No line for my hotdog and a place to sit as well as more open parking spaces.


I simply don’t understand the inability for folks to treat each other civilly. Newsflash for the easily irritated with poor impulse control - the Costco employee had no say in the decisions and are merely performing their assigned job duties.

If it really sticks in your craw, stop by the membership desk and they will cheerfully cancel your membership and refund your current annual fee.

My wife & I went to Costco in Brentwood, TN Friday. I noticed no change, just flashed my card about 10ft away as I entered. They may have looked at my photo when I checked out but I did not notice.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I've been able to enter via the exit, pay & pick up to go.

Last time, they have scan her card, and no problem, for a pizza & left.
Tried today & got stopped by the door guard/greeter.
Card holder must be present for entry.

Do they have someone checking memberships at the exit for people who doing returns? I've never seen that before. If you can enter through the exit for returns, then you should be able to sneak over to the food court as well w/o someone for checking membership cards.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
I have never experienced a Costco employee be anything less than courteous.

In my area lots of folks getting all sorts of upset over what seems to be a cascade of changes. First, opening self check aisles, then card checks at the self-check, membership price increase ($10 ) then refusing no card entry for food court, and now just this week entry scanners.

I jokingly commented about the scanner the first time I used it having heard all the heartburn on social media. The person at the door said folks are making their life hell complaining about it. Show your card to an employee or show your card to a scanner - what difference does it make?


While generally not a fan of self-checkout it makes sense at Costco where frequently people have loaded flat beds and overflowing carts if you have a lessor number of items. They also staff the self-check with associates willing to quickly scan the items in your cart making it more of an “assisted self-checkout”.

Self-check card check? One more failsafe against the card sharing crowd. Pay to use like the rest of us.

$10 membership increase? I save that much with 1-2 gas fillups considering my area Costcos are $.40 to $.60/gal cheaper than other area gas stations.

Card for food court? All the local high school kids no longer use it as their lunch hang out. No line for my hotdog and a place to sit as well as more open parking spaces.


I simply don’t understand the inability for folks to treat each other civilly. Newsflash for the easily irritated with poor impulse control - the Costco employee had no say in the decisions and are merely performing their assigned job duties.

If it really sticks in your craw, stop by the membership desk and they will cheerfully cancel your membership and refund your current annual fee.

Pretty much the same opinion. I’ve used them, not just locally, but all over the states, even the islands. Probably 25 stores or more with the 3-4 I’ve been in locally. My 2 main vacation spots, a big reason I go back, Costco is there. So gas is cheaper than anywhere else on the island and I prefer keeping my diet similar to home and skipping the tourist trap eateries with the ridiculous costs. Never, ever, had an issue with the employees. For me, it’s the complete opposite, the stupid customers are the ass holes. I even lip off at them when I can. I did just that a few weeks ago, a month, whatever it was. Longshoreman strike. Paper towels and TP completely gone. There were people with 2 carts loaded with water. I asked them if they were buying all that to drive to the hurricane victims in Florida. I got zero response. Fucking idiots think the tap is going to turn off at home? I saw 3-4 different people with the 2 cart thing stacked 7 feet high with plastic bottle water packs. Those are 30 packs and they had 4-6 of them each. It was ridiculous. It took weeks for paper products to even be available. Last week the paper products were back on the floor. The employees I talked to said corporate is probably going to put Covid type limits on all this stuff, because people are this fucking stupid. Good. And sad at the same time that our society has turned into this. Sorry mam/sir, you’re only allowed to buy 2 of 30 pack rolls of Charmin toilet paper. You can buy these 2 but them other 8, you’ll have to put all that back. Fucking hoarders.

I’ve watched people do the card scam for years. Trying to bring their momma, their brother, cousin, friend, whatever, in there to buy shit, with no card. It’d be one thing if they got a few things and that’s that. Nope. Every time it’s the pallet deal loaded up to the hilt. The H1B’s abuse the fuck out of this. Abuse isn’t a strong enough word. You are supposed to have your card. If you don’t, no big deal, go to customer service, they’ll look it up, and give you a temp card. But people don’t think. I cannot count how many times this bricked a busy and long line. I’m supposed to wait around because you forgot, or lost your shit, or you couldn’t be bothered to go to customer service first and spare the rest of us? I’m sorry, I’m sick of entitlement. The people who don’t even have a membership then act like they didn’t know and request a membership at checkout. I’ve seen the checker, not say a word, but tired of it. Each time I yell out “Hey entitlement, you see this long ass line you are causing?” Everyone and their entitlement think they are Moses parting the Red Sea anytime they go anywhere. Nah, you’re just another idiot.

I’m not on and never have been on social media apps. Really? They are getting upset over the card scanner? LMAO. Dude it’s faster. I grab a cart, and before I’m entering my local store I have my CC out, pointed at the shit, it’s instant. It’s not like we are trying to land SpaceX rockets back on a landing pad returning from space. And it’s faster because I don’t have to wait behind idiots who have to stop and dig through all their shit to find their card. I don’t even have to wait for the acknowledgement or “OK”. Yes the place is membership only. Yes you are supposed to have your card. Which one of these things is difficult for a grown adult again? You have to drive to Costco. Wouldn’t it be prudent before you drive to someplace like that, that you have your card, DL, keys etc? Wow.

Food court? First I’m hearing of this and I like it! Mine is closed. I guess they are renovating it. People indeed scam. I’ve been there on a weekday afternoon and there isn’t a seat in the place so this should clear some riff-raff out and make that a thing of the past.
Every time I’ve seen this, people don’t have a shopping cart or anything so they are just coming off the street and clogging the entire thing up. Go scam somewhere else, I’m paying for this shit and you aren’t so GTFO.

Membership cost increase? Hadn’t heard that either, but like you couldn’t give 2 shits. I make whatever the membership costs, back in spades when Costco sends me my checks for shopping there. I make money off that deal. And like you said, best gas there is, Tier 1, for way cheaper than anywhere locally or when I’m out of town. The price is probably going up due to all the freeloading going on, hell this thread is proof. My goodness I hear Gny. Sgt. Hartman screaming at Pyle after seeing the footlocker unlocked. If Costco is locking that foot locker, great, it’s about time. If Netflix is doing it too, good. These are all cost containment strategies actually. Freeloading Costco memberships, Netflix memberships, well it may not be prosecutable, but you’re thieving. And you’re driving up costs for everyone else.

Same thing with using someone's phone number at Home Depot or Lowe's for the discount. Now need to also scan your drivers license at Lowe's and have the HD app.

Costco is too far from me to be convenient . We use Sam's instead . I flash the card at the girl when I enter . I use the Scan and Go app while shopping and when done hit the " Check Out " button . I get an acknowledgement on the screen and head for the door .A quick check by the nice lady at the door and I'm out of there . I never go through a cash register which is awesome on a busy day .

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
Costco is too far from me to be convenient . We use Sam's instead . I flash the card at the girl when I enter . I use the Scan and Go app while shopping and when done hit the " Check Out " button . I get an acknowledgement on the screen and head for the door .A quick check by the nice lady at the door and I'm out of there . I never go through a cash register which is awesome on a busy day .

No Sam’s Club in my area. While in Iowa visiting my daughter we went to Sam’s and she did the sane thing. Very slick, except for waiting 3 minutes for someone to check ID for alcohol purchase.

quote:

Originally posted by iron chef:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I've been able to enter via the exit, pay & pick up to go.

Last time, they have scan her card, and no problem, for a pizza & left.
Tried today & got stopped by the door guard/greeter.
Card holder must be present for entry.

Do they have someone checking memberships at the exit for people who doing returns? I've never seen that before. If you can enter through the exit for returns, then you should be able to sneak over to the food court as well w/o someone for checking membership cards.

We usually went in the exit for the food court. Now it's enter the main entrance, scan card, and go through the checkout to order a pizza.
They're catching you on your way in to ask where you're going. Guess you could lie & say returns or member services, then proceed past it to the food area.

The Costco on Nevada in Colorado Springs has become such a Charlie Foxtrot to shop at I hardly ever go there anymore. Always absolutely jammed with people. IMO Sam’s has better pizza anyway. Plus more than the 2 varieties Costco offers. I got over pepperoni pizza when I was about 11 years old.

My wife and I have a membership, and we each have a card. No big deal. The closest Costco is about 45 minutes away in the "big city", so we only go when we have some other reason to go to town, but it still saves us money on bulk groceries, gas, and lunch. We have four kids, and there's nowhere else we can eat out for less than $20.

Costco doesn't make their money on the products they sell. Some stuff, like the $1.50 hot dogs, they actually lose a little on. Their profit comes from the membership fees, so I understand why they are cracking down on people cheating the system, especially in the food court.

The Fat Electrician did a video on Costco's business plan about a month ago on his other YouTube channel "The Fat Files". I'm not on a computer right now or I'd embed it, but it's pretty interesting and worth a watch (just NSFW).