Changes at Costco have arrived. If you’re a regular Costco shopper like me, you’ve surely noticed the new level of security to prevent membership sharing. Several months ago, Costco stationed an employee just outside the self-checkout lanes. This employee asks to see membership cards and matches the picture to the customer in an effort to crack down on membership theft.
The big box retailer has taken yet another step. Gone are the days when you could simply flash your card at the entrance—at least at my local warehouse. Now, each member is asked to insert their card into a scanning device at the door to insure their card is valid. I use the store in the Carolina Park section of Mt Pleasant.
During my last visit, I encountered an employee on either side of the entrance, each equipped with a scanner. The process took only a second. I was again asked to show my card at checkout, and as usual, my receipt was checked as I left the store.
Costco has 128 million members and did $4.6 billion in revenue from membership fees last year.