General Discussion

northlake9

(65 posts)

5. Not new

Wed Jul 19, 2023, 03:26 PM

Jul 2023

I have been a Costco Member for 40 years and have been “carded” two or three times. I have never been offended or had problems doing so.

It is the people who don’t want to follow rules of Membership who ruin the experience for those who do.

I have seen people getting all the way to checkout and not being able to complete the purchase because they were using someone else’s card. They of course complained all the way out the door empty handed.

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I'd Never Heard of "Membership Cheating" or "Membership Sharing" at Costco until today. [View all] Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 OP

But only the member on the card can pay using anything besides cash intrepidity Jul 2023 #1

They sell loss leaders and make their money on memberships AZSkiffyGeek Jul 2023 #4

same with my wife obamanut2012 Jul 2023 #9

When I got my Costco membership, I put my husband on it, too csziggy Jul 2023 #11

I'll always fill-up at Costco IF THERE IS NOT A LONG LINE!! Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #45

Yep! ProfessorGAC Jul 2023 #12

You *can* pay with a bank card used as a debit (you have to use your PIN). keep_left Jul 2023 #63

This must vary from state to state SCantiGOP Jul 2023 #2

I used to take a friends kids to Costco using her card lapfog_1 Jul 2023 #3

Apparently, now... it can result in your friend being banned for life. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #43

Seems like a dumb move edisdead Jul 2023 #64

I suppose they view membership theft seriously and would rather make an example of someone. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #73

Not new northlake9 Jul 2023 #5

They should have walked to the membership counter and paid the $60 or so spooky3 Jul 2023 #14

LOL. Membership STARTS at $60.00, NOT $30 ($120 for Executive Membership) hlthe2b Jul 2023 #16

I've always had to flash my card at the entrance, then show it at the checkout AZSkiffyGeek Jul 2023 #19

Ever since Covid, they stopped holding/keeping/examining the card. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #40

Costco's business model is very different Earl_from_PA Jul 2023 #6

Wow, I had no idea there were so many members. Nt spooky3 Jul 2023 #15

My numbers are wrong Earl_from_PA Jul 2023 #18

Still a large number. Nt spooky3 Jul 2023 #22

What I heard is that... bif Jul 2023 #21

I've seen people doing this in Florida...and Costco is now checking Sancho Jul 2023 #7

I wonder how many borrowed membership cards are used at costco.com? Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #37

You don't need to use a card online AZSkiffyGeek Jul 2023 #69

We were there two days ago. There was no I.D. required whatsoever. spanone Jul 2023 #8

Same here... over the weekend. No ID required. Today was a different story. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #36

I show my card both sides. ProudMNDemocrat Jul 2023 #10

I get the need to crack down, but I've had my sister as my one/only alllowed family member on my hlthe2b Jul 2023 #13

I'm certain they've already considered that some long time customers might get angry. Goodheart Jul 2023 #24

We both have cards. Do NOT accuse me of being a card cheater. Costco STILL allows one designated hlthe2b Jul 2023 #27

Yes, we do to. One for each of us. And at the end of the year we get our 2% rebate check. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #33

I didn't accuse you of being a card cheater. Goodheart Jul 2023 #74

I'm guessing that every membership renewal means that you agree to the rules in effect at that time. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #34

This - you agree to a new contract with updated rules every year when you renew FreeState Jul 2023 #39

No. Costco provided no updated "contract" nor do they contact you before auto-renewal. hlthe2b Jul 2023 #60

Same here inthewind21 Jul 2023 #55

It's unlikely that will be an issue unless she loses the card. Renew Deal Jul 2023 #75

If someone's sharing a membership, Costco isn't losing profit; they're making less profit. WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2023 #17

Semantics, but okay. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #28

Ohhhh, I have a story about this! Sympthsical Jul 2023 #20

"I've been cheating you for years, how dare you call me out on it now!" MichMan Jul 2023 #25

No, his card was legit! Sympthsical Jul 2023 #30

But if they're checking EVERYONE what was his problem? Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #32

He didn't see it Sympthsical Jul 2023 #46

Those kinds of confrontations frighten me. Who knows WHAT may have happened next?? Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #50

I didn't see the full resolution Sympthsical Jul 2023 #58

Well, that was decent of you. (And who knows what may have happened next.) Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #61

And so what if they are checking? 2naSalit Jul 2023 #48

Signs would be better. Are they trying to CATCH offenders, or PREVENT offenders? Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #29

That's what I'm saying Sympthsical Jul 2023 #38

NO. Costco doesn't. Everyone knows what Costco's policy is. It's sad that MEMBERS have abused dem4decades Jul 2023 #35

My card's photo is in color. My husband's original card photo has the resolution of a fax. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #41

I had one of those, it was a Price Club card that then became a Price Costco card. Was just there dem4decades Jul 2023 #49

My husband used to be a "Ralph Lauren Polo" shirt guy for years. Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #52

When shopping at Costco, look around, there's Costco shirts, shorts, skorts and shoes on everyone. dem4decades Jul 2023 #56

Everything! Undewear, socks, tops, bottoms, sandals, shoes... at this stage in my life, Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #59

When the pandemic hit, Costco was the go to place for supplies. All supplies. dem4decades Jul 2023 #66

You rock! Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #70

lol my card is like your husband's obamanut2012 Jul 2023 #67

There's no question his reaction was inappropriate Sympthsical Jul 2023 #44

They have in every Costco I've ever been in... 2naSalit Jul 2023 #51

Really? Sympthsical Jul 2023 #62

Hmm... 2naSalit Jul 2023 #65

I totally agree with their new policy of photo verification. Goodheart Jul 2023 #23

The honor system works until it doesn't. We bought our first Costco electronics right after they... Hekate Jul 2023 #26

That makes the most sense. Helping out a friend/neighbor and BEING PRESENT is different... Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #31

I have no idea about the gift cards, sorry -- I'm sure someone else does, though Hekate Jul 2023 #42

I found it at this link (someone provided the link elsewhere in this discussion thread.) Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #47

Thanks! Hekate Jul 2023 #53

I refused to participate in any membership stores for decades as a matter of principal. MichMan Jul 2023 #57

costco.com prices are great too. I like that they say "shipping included" instead of "free shipping" Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #72

Costco is a great place. They pay their workers a fair wage and give their members a fair price. dem4decades Jul 2023 #54

And give all their workers health insurance obamanut2012 Jul 2023 #68

I agree that Costco is a good retailer and they treat employees and customers well FakeNoose Jul 2023 #71

It seems to have started with the self checkout Renew Deal Jul 2023 #76

I guess that makes sense. At the regular checkout, it's part of the standard routine and not noticed Oopsie Daisy Jul 2023 #77