Costco Member Frustrated by Aisle Checks: Rival Policy Offers Hassle-Free Shopping

According to The Sun, A Costco shopper expressed her frustration after undergoing a series of identity checks before even paying for her groceries. The member, who has been subscribed to the wholesale chain for nearly two years, revealed that she has only visited the warehouse once since her unpleasant experience.

Multiple ID Checks in Aisles

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the shopper recounted being stopped twice in the aisles by staff members who needed to check her ID. However, the inspections did not end there; she was also required to prove her identity at the self-checkout kiosks, leaving her bewildered by the entire ordeal.

Comparison to Sam’s Club

The shopper compared her experience at Costco to that of its rival, Sam’s Club, which operates 600 warehouses nationwide and is owned by Walmart. She noted that at Sam’s Club, members can use the scan-and-go app to check out items as they shop, eliminating the need to wait in long checkout lines. With this technology, customers can pay for their groceries via the store app and show a digital receipt to a worker upon leaving.

Calls for Scan-and-Go at Costco

Dozens of Costco shoppers have echoed the sentiment, urging the chain to adopt a similar scan-and-go model. Many believe this technology could address ongoing issues, such as lengthy checkout lines. One member, Brian Babin, highlighted the inconvenience of waiting in line, stating, “I’m currently in the shortest line at Costco—38 people ahead of me. A scan-and-go feature like Sam’s Club would solve this problem.”

Another shopper referred to the scan-and-go system as a “game changer,” further emphasizing the demand for a more efficient shopping experience.

Reactions to Policy Changes

While some shoppers support the identity-checking policy, provided that the self-checkout machines operate smoothly, others are less enthusiastic. Ken Lofton voiced his concerns, predicting that the new policy might cause delays.

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Costco employees are now ensuring that the photos on membership cards match the individuals using the self-service checkout registers. For members whose cards do not include a photo, staff are asking for a secondary form of identification.

A spokesperson for Costco explained, “As we already ask for the membership card at checkout, we are now asking to see their membership card with their photo at our self-service checkout registers. If their membership card does not have a photo, then we ask for a photo ID.”

Membership Price Increase

This policy change comes on the heels of a recent membership price hike, with the Gold Star membership now costing $65 instead of the previous $60.