Membership Verification Scanning Device Installed at Store Entrance
Enter After Barcode or QR Scan... ID Required
Costco, a major U.S. retailer, is strengthening its crackdown on membership sharing. As a result, it will no longer be possible to enter the store by borrowing a friend’s membership card.
On the 7th (local time), CNN Business reported, "Costco plans to use member scanning devices at store entrances over the next few months, and once these devices are deployed, all members will need to scan the barcode or QR code of their physical or digital membership card before entering the store."
It added, "If you have a membership card without a photo, store staff will verify your identity in person," and advised, "You should prepare a valid photo ID in advance." To avoid inconvenience, it recommended visiting the membership counter to have a photo taken.
CNN stated, "Costco has tolerated the use of other people’s membership cards for entry until now, but with stricter membership policies, it has become more difficult for non-members to sneak in using someone else’s card."
Meanwhile, this move is notable as Costco tightened its membership policies following a membership fee increase last month. Last month, Costco raised its annual membership fee from $60 to $65 in the U.S. and Canada, and the premium membership fee from $120 to $130.
Most of Costco’s revenue comes from membership fees, and it was reported that last year it earned $4.6 billion from membership fees alone.
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