Retail giant Costco Wholesale is reportedly testing ways to help customers maintain elite status.
Costco Insider, a website that claims to be inspired by readers, posted on social media on January 8th a photo of what appeared to be a tablet mounted on a stand with a sign that read, “You will be asked to scan your membership.” Shared. Please submit your card before entering the warehouse. ” at our store in Issaquah, Washington.
“They're checking to see if the photo matches the person. What do you think?!” Costco Insider wrote in an article on both Facebook and Platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Great for all of us who have regular memberships,” one Costco shopper told X.
“I'm so happy about this. I don't want to be assaulted when checking out my card,” said another woman.
But not everyone is on board.
“I think that would lead to long lines and annoy people!” one Facebook user wrote.
Another woman commented: “I'll be backing up at the entrance soon.”
Some social media users pointed out that their member photos were so old that they no longer looked the same.
According to Costco Insider, Costco's headquarters is located next door to the store where the membership card scanner is being tested.
Non-members can purchase prescriptions from Costco pharmacies with cash, debit card, Costco Shop Card, or Visa card, “but you must be a paying member to enter the warehouse and purchase other items.” The answer is Costco customer service website Say.
According to a Jan. 4 Costco press release, the company currently operates 871 warehouses, the majority of which are located in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The company is also an international retailer, with warehouses in Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden.
Costco reported net sales of $26.15 billion for the December retail month, an increase of 9.9% year over year, according to a press release.
Costco did not immediately respond to Fox Business' request for comment, but a spokesperson told McClatchy News that membership card scanning is done at “several locations.”
Costco membership costs $60 per year for Gold Star and $120 per year for Executive Gold Star.
