A FRUSTRATED member has criticized Costco for its self-checkout operations, leading them to opt for Sam’s Club.
The warehouse retailer has had the kiosks for some time, but they continue to cause controversy.
Costco has been criticized for its self-checkout by a frustrated member (stock image)[/caption]
They prefer a popular Sam’s Club feature while shopping (stock image)[/caption]
“@Costco is ridiculous with self checkout,” a shopper fumed in a post on X earlier in January.
While self-checkout is meant to create a swift and efficient payment process for customers, they argued this wasn’t the case at their local store.
Instead, they were consistently stopped by Costco staff for ID verification and receipt checks.
“The few times I’ve attempted to use it I’ve been interrupted by an employee. Why even have it?” the shopper asked.
MEMBERSHIP MANIA
While it’s been common for Costco employees to verify receipts, the company has been adjusting its self-checkout and store entrance processes recently after cracking down on membership sharing.
Signs posted near the kiosks at many of the retailer’s over 600 stores nationwide require that customers present their membership card so it can be matched to their government-issued ID.
“Members are required to show their membership card when entering any Costco warehouse and when checking out at a register,” it reads.
“Member cards are not transferable. Only paid members are allowed to shop.”
Customers are additionally now required to stop and scan their membership cards and show their ID at the store entrance, which has caused some uproar in recent months.
While it’s necessary for any membership-based retailer to verify that the person shopping is the same person who paid to be there, competitors like Sam’s Club are offering measures to continue making the process streamlined.
QUICK SCAN
This includes Scan and Go, a feature accessible by members through the Sam’s Club mobile application.
It allows them to scan every item they place in their cart while shopping in-store, generating a single barcode for everything.
They can then head to the checkout area, scan the barcode, pay, have a staff member briefly check it, and leave.
Some locations have also installed new scanning arches that Sam’s Club members can walk under instead of employee verification.
Costco membership sharing guidelines
Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they’ve been cracking down on offenders in recent years.
- Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
- Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
- Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn’t reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.
Credit: Costco
NOT GOING BACK
Given this benefit, the Costco shopper said they might be ditching their membership for good.
“I prefer shopping at Sam’s Club and using scan and go on my phone, no need to visit a register at all,” they wrote.
Some Costco members agreed recently, noting that an addition of a Scan and Go-like feature would take the retailer to “the next level.”
Others have threatened to leave Costco for Sam’s Club for other reasons this year.
A price hike this summer for memberships left some members saying they were “not renewing.”
Someone else asked why Costco was “so far behind” with security measures and insisted Sam’s Club got it right.
