Costco has recently sparked outrage among its customers due to the warehouse retailer's crackdown on people using someone else's membership card. One particular customer faced consequences as she was permanently banned from ever returning to the store.
Costco Is Cracking Down on Membership Sharing
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In a now-viral TikTok video, Angelo Castillo (@profitplug), a personal finance content creator, shared his speculation about why Costco is tightening its grip on membership sharing.
With a caption that reads "My Mom Got Banned From Costco," Castillo’s video has already accumulated over 2.2 million views and 145,500 likes as of July 15th.
A Stricter ID & Membership Check
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Castillo shares that his mother attempted to purchase groceries at Costco's self-checkout area using her husband's membership card, resulting in a less-than-smooth experience. "As soon as she scanned the card, employees rushed her and started asking for her ID and membership," the TikToker says.
Zero Tolerance
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Once they knew that the membership card didn't belong to his mother, Castillo claims that the staff told her that she could never go back to that particular store again.
Gold Star Membership Is Less Strict
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Castillo further mentioned that Costco's Gold Star members are allowed to have two individuals on their account. However, when he went off to college, he took his father's second slot on the family card.
Customers Can't Elude Forever
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The TikToker explained that his mother managed to get away with Costco trips for some time, but he noticed that the store has been “more strict” lately, implementing thorough checks both at the entrance and at the self-checkout area. "The jig is up," he remarks.
How Non-Members Can Shop at Costco
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Castillo pointed out that, depending on the specific state regulations, people without a membership might still have the chance to shop at Costco if they use a Costco gift card or simply purchase alcohol.
Costco and Netflix's Similar Strategies
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Castillo's video addressing the recent strict regulations at Costco sparked a wave of responses in the comment section. One viewer remarked, “Not Costco acting like Netflix,” highlighting the similarity between the two companies' approaches to sharing and access.
‘Crazy’ Costco Policy
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One commenter described Costco's policy of not allowing card sharing with people living at the same address as "crazy," while another viewer urged, “They should allow everyone who shares the same address to use the card bc I have like 6 ppl at home who shop at costó but only 2 have the card.”
Sharing their personal experience with the company's policy, one commenter wrote, "They're doing too much I went with my mom&I was buying her groceries she has a Membership I don't they wouldn't let me pay for her groceries."
Warnings Before Bans
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Another commenter in the discussion hinted that Castillo's mother might have received warnings before being banned from the store. They commented, "Costco usually gives you a few warnings before completely banning you or taking away the membership."
No Surprises Here
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On the other hand, not all commenters expressed surprise or outrage regarding the warehouse club retailer’s strict policies. "Costco has always had this policy though,” one commenter wrote. “Im confused why people are saying they are like Netflix when they have never allowed membership sharing."
Finding Common Ground
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A commenter in the discussion proposed a potential middle-ground solution to the issue, suggesting, "They honestly just need to add authorized users for like an extra $20 or something smh."
Potential End of Using Gift Cards
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While Castillo suggested in his video that using Costco gift cards could be a viable option for non-members to make purchases, someone in the comments shared bad news: "My aunt is a supervisor at Costco and she just told us that the gift card thing is going to be ending soon too."
‘Sam's club is better honestly’
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In response to the perceived strictness of Costco's regulations, some commenters suggested that Sam's Club, a competitor of Costco, could serve as an excellent alternative. "Sams club is cheaper, has variety, has scan and go and they don't care who uses your membership," they suggested.
“Sams club is better and you can pay on your phone so win win,” another chimed in.
Membership Crackdown Is due to Self-Checkout's Rise
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According to a June 28 CNN report, the crackdown on memberships is a result of the growing use of self-checkout lanes in Costco stores. As Costco has expanded its self-checkout options, the company has become increasingly aware of non-members attempting to gain unauthorized access by using membership cards that do not belong to them.
Only Members Can Receive Benefits
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Costco has implemented a new policy where shoppers using the self-checkout registers will now be required to provide both their membership cards and a photo ID, mirroring the same requirement as the regular checkout lanes. "We don't feel it's right that nonmembers receive the same benefits and pricing as our members," the company stated.
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