Just more of the same entitled mentality: Costco Memberships

[davidvel]

People actually complaining that Costco is requiring that the person shopping is actually the member on the card. Such corporate greed. Next thing they'll be complaining that people have to pay for their purchases.

Costco CFO breaks silence on new self-checkout policy after shopper outrage

COSTCO’s Chief Financial Officer has broken his silence on the company’s new self-checkout policy after the recent outrage over a membership “stealing” crackdown. Richard Ga…

www.the-sun.com

 

[Bucky]

There are a lot of crooks out there taking advantage whenever they can. There are other ways to handle this. I would just make the self check lanes credit/debit only and put a large red light and bell that rings above 5he self check out lane. You already have to scan your membership card and when you attempt to pay and the credit/debit doesn’t match the membership the light and bells could go off like in Vegas!

Obviously these companies keep an eye on each other for advances in security and loss prevention tactics. Dicks porting goods keeps their high value clubs under lock now. When I asked why I was told pilferage is a major problem. I thought it was funny since 5heir iron sets on display are not locked up yet cost almost 3 times what a driver does now. But that’s a different scenario since it’s not self check out there. But, I was in lowes a couple of days ago and used the self checkout. There was a “Military Discount” button that told me to enter the phone number I signed up with. After doing that it told me to scan the barcode on my drivers license and 5hen it applied the discount. Pretty sure Home Depot’s self checkout is the same. Then there is Netflix. I’m sure everyone by now has heard about their sharing crack down. Like I said, there are a lot of crooks out there. Most legitimate members Will not complain since all this is doing is help them keep their price advantage but there are always going to be complainers.

 

[Brett]

I'm just glad Costco has self-checkout

 

[amycurl]

I do wish that Costco would have a wider "family membership" option. I can get membership cards for myself and my spouse, but now that my daughter can drive, it would be handy to have her be able to go to Costco on our behalf sometimes. Not sure why they limit it to just two cards. I don't really have an issue with this "crackdown" (I always use my Costco VISA as my membership card as well, and that has my picture on it) because it is the membership $ where profit is made. But this seems like it would only affect people who wouldn't want to pay, so I say---okay. Please do go to Sam's, whose average shopper, i would guess, is not a middle-aged Asian woman with a household income over $100K a year (as it Costco's.)

 

[VacationForever]

I do wish that Costco would have a wider "family membership" option. I can get membership cards for myself and my spouse, but now that my daughter can drive, it would be handy to have her be able to go to Costco on our behalf sometimes. Not sure why they limit it to just two cards. I don't really have an issue with this "crackdown" (I always use my Costco VISA as my membership card as well, and that has my picture on it) because it is the membership $ where profit is made. But this seems like it would only affect people who wouldn't want to pay, so I say---okay. Please do go to Sam's, whose average shopper, i would guess, is not a middle-aged Asian woman with a household income over $100K a year (as it Costco's.)

I bought a membership for my son and pay for it. In his case, he would never pay for his own membership because he is very frugal and set in his ways due to his disability. It is easier for us because we started as a business membership and we paid for Costco memberships for all of our office employees. We never got rid of the business profile in Costco's system even though we no longer have the business. So we can keep paying for memberships for those that are still tied to the account, out of our pocket.

 

[moonstone]

I'm just glad Costco has self-checkout

At each of the 3 (Ontario, Canada) Costco stores we have been in recently they each had a staff member at the entrance to the self checkout area asking to see the photo on the membership card. Last Thursday a woman ahead of us was told that wasn't her photo, she replied it was her daughter's card and she was in the washroom. The Costco employee asked the woman to stand to the side and wait for her daughter before checking out. The woman was still standing off to the side the whole time we were waiting for our sausage and drink after we finished checking out.


~Diane

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am okay with the rules. Even at the checkout, the lady checks the CC for the picture. We buy the kids all memberships for a Christmas present each year. We stopped shopping for everyone on Christmas and just concentrate our shopping on the grandkids. Gift giving was getting to be a chore. Rick just renews the Costco membership each year. It's a nice gift. I don't know how grateful our daughter is for the membership. She occasionally mentions how she rarely goes to Costco. That kind of made me cringe. She is closer to Costco than we are to our Costco.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Costco could save a lot of check out identity issues if they checked the pictures on the back of the card as people ENTER the store..... After all, they won't let you into the store without the card, so why would they let you in the store if you are not pictured on the card itself ? Granted, people enter the store who are not members, but they must accompany one who is a member.

About four years ago I had an issue at check out; the clerk said it was not me on the picture. I said absolutely it was, and the store I was in was the actual store in which they had taken my picture years earlier. They took my card and my drivers license and disappeared for about 10 minutes. When they came back they let me check out. No apology at all..... My guess is that they checked to verify that they had taken the picture in their store. Needless to say, I wasn't a happy camper.

On the plus side? Their stock price has done wonders for anyones stock portfolio. It's a big winner (along with their hot dog and soda for $1.50).



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[dioxide45]

Costco could save a lot of check out identity issues if they checked the pictures on the back of the card as people ENTER the store..... After all, they won't let you into the store without the card, so why would they let you in the store if you are not pictured on the card itself ? Granted, people enter the store who are not members, but they must accompany one who is a member.

About four years ago I had an issue at check out; the clerk said it was not me on the picture. I said absolutely it was, and the store I was in was the actual store in which they had taken my picture years earlier. They took my card and my drivers license and disappeared for about 10 minutes. When they came back they let me check out. No apology at all..... My guess is that they checked to verify that they had taken the picture in their store. Needless to say, I wasn't a happy camper.

On the plus side? Their stock price has done wonders for anyones stock portfolio. It's a big winner (along with their hot dog and soda for $1.50).



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The picture on the cards is always the worst pixelated piece of garbage. I don't know how they can really identify anyone from that. They would be better to ask for ID and match the name. Not sure how hard that is. What they could do instead is scan the ID at signup and use that photo to show up on the cash register when you check out. However, Costco has (or perhaps had until recently) the most antiquated POS (point of sale) system in retail. So that probably wouldn't work either.

 

[VacationForever]

Costco could save a lot of check out identity issues if they checked the pictures on the back of the card as people ENTER the store..... After all, they won't let you into the store without the card, so why would they let you in the store if you are not pictured on the card itself ? Granted, people enter the store who are not members, but they must accompany one who is a member.

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That's what my husband just said to me too!

 

[geist1223]

People cheat all the time to save a few dollars. Years ago we had a Patti Sorority Sister and her SO join us for a week at our Seaside Oregon Timeshare. We made our Annual Trip to the Eddie Bauer Outlet. The SO heard me get the Military Discount. I am a retiree. When he went to pay he said something like: "Don't you offer a Military Discount?" The new cashier said yes and gave it to him without asking for proof. He had never spent any time in the Military. They were never invited to join us after that. I wonder if they ever figured out why.

 

[JulieAB]

I have an executive membership and it says it includes one personal, but the personal is me! They said I'd have to pay to add my husband, which makes no sense to advertise that way if they can't be different people. No biggie, I'm always the one that goes. But I had my 18 year old with me this week and he just got a job and wanted to buy some snacks. Since it was about $50 worth of snacks, I figured I'd do 2 separate orders at the self check out and let him pay for his right there. The lady came over telling me I could get him his own membership for $50. I'm not sure if she was trying to imply he needed his own membership or just offering. I explained he lives with me and he's just a kid that happened to be with me buying his own snacks, it's not a regular thing and he doesn't need his own card. She kept trying to tell me how good it would be. What?!

 

[magmue]

Costco could save a lot of check out identity issues if they checked the pictures on the back of the card as people ENTER the store..... After all, they won't let you into the store without the card, so why would they let you in the store if you are not pictured on the card itself ? Granted, people enter the store who are not members, but they must accompany one who is a member.

By law, you don't have to be a member to use the Costco pharmacy

 

[dsmrp]

I bought a membership for my son and pay for it. In his case, he would never pay for his own membership because he is very frugal and set in his ways due to his disability. It is easier for us because we started as a business membership and we paid for Costco memberships for all of our office employees. We never got rid of the business profile in Costco's system even though we no longer have the business. So we can keep paying for memberships for those that are still tied to the account, out of our pocket.

I too started out as a business member years ago with my sideline hobby business ( I did have a small business license) at the time).
A few years ago I asked about changing to an individual since I no longer had a license. But the membership person told me it couldn't be changed in their system , so I could stay as a 'business'.

Also as a business member, I could have 3 additional people on my membership, so I added my son and daughter a few years ago. DH was already on.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I'm just glad Costco has self-checkout

We’re happy about that, too, but we really wish they’d implement Scan & Go like Sam’s has. DH scans everything as we put it into the cart, when we finish we pull over out of the way so he can charge it to the Sam’s card, then we get straight into the exit line. The staff person scans the QR code on DH’s phone, scans the UPC codes on some of the items in the basket, and we’re done! Sam’s has even started discounting certain items if you use Scan & Go.

The self-checkout lines at our Costco are almost as long as the regular checkout lines.

 

[VacationForever]

I too started out as a business member years ago with my sideline hobby business ( I did have a small business license) at the time).
A few years ago I asked about changing to an individual since I no longer had a license. But the membership person told me it couldn't be changed in their system , so I could stay as a 'business'.

Also as a business member, I could have 3 additional people on my membership, so I added my son and daughter a few years ago. DH was already on.

Exactly, we were told that all of our purchase history would be gone if we get rid of the "business" designation. We have "executive" business membership and it costs $180 per year which covers my husband, myself (spouse - free household card) and my son. Technically, we can add one more person to my son's membership as the free household card. He does not get the 2% Reward bonus on his spendings.

 

[VacationForever]

I have an executive membership and it says it includes one personal, but the personal is me! They said I'd have to pay to add my husband, which makes no sense to advertise that way if they can't be different people. No biggie, I'm always the one that goes.

It does not make sense. The rule is that you can add a household member for free, regardless of the type of membership, executive or standard.

 

[stmartinfan]

We had self checkout for several years, which I loved because the lines were usually shorter. Now they've changed to a system where there are checkers using a handheld device to scan your items in your cart. They only have the small terminal area and no place to unload the carts. They were able to put two of these in the same space they had a regular checkout line with a belt. It works fine for people like me who shop often and usually have less than 10 items in my cart. But they don't seem to limit who can use those lines so you can get stuck behind someone with a full cart where the poor checker has to rearrange everything to get to UPC codes—takes forever. Also means a lot of bending and crouching for the poor checkers as they try to reach stuff in the bottom of the cart or underneath it. I try to place all the stuff in my cart so UPCs are visible without having to lift or turn stuff—they can just scan each item standing up. I get lots of thank yous from checker for doing that simple step.

 

[JulieAB]

my costco's self checkouts are amazing and faster than the regular lanes. There's 8 check outs and at least 4 employees standing around willing to scan everything for you. I don't even need to pull anything out the the cart. I toss a box on top and out I go! I pack it in the box or cooler bag when I unload at my car.

 

[RX8]

By law, you don't have to be a member to use the Costco pharmacy

Or the optometrist. However, If you want to purchase glasses at the Costco optical department after the eye exam you would need a Costco membership.

 

[Mongoose]

People actually complaining that Costco is requiring that the person shopping is actually the member on the card. Such corporate greed. Next thing they'll be complaining that people have to pay for their purchases.

Costco CFO breaks silence on new self-checkout policy after shopper outrage

COSTCO’s Chief Financial Officer has broken his silence on the company’s new self-checkout policy after the recent outrage over a membership “stealing” crackdown. Richard Ga…

www.the-sun.com

Drives me nuts that so many complain about the greed of the rich or the greed of the corporations. Of course there is, but what about the greed of the takers, the selfish and the criminals? The main reason socialism doesn't work is narcissism, sloth and envy.

 

[ScoopKona]

FWIW, Costco memberships are free.
Just get the executive membership. 2% back on all purchases and 4% back on travel (after the trip). If for whatever reason, the person doesn't get as least as much back in benefits, cancel the card. I think that's an entitled thing to do. But it was the only way we could sell our Mother-in-Law on a Costco membership. "Either you save money or you get it all back, one day before the card expires."

In all the years we've had the card, we've always made at least double the card price back with incentives. And mostly we buy gas, cheese and salmon. For the people who are pushing the "industrial dolly of consumption," they'd probably make that back in one trip.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Gas prices alone save us a great deal of money while on our road trips. We search for Costco warehouse locations before we even get on the road. I like putting those into Google Maps to see how far they are off of the highway. We plan everything, including gas stops. Sam's Club gas is a great alternative as well.

 

[billymach4]

Costco is one of the most lenient retail stores. The will let you return anything without question.
Yes the Executive Member is a no brain pay for itself option!

Good for Costco cracking down on cheap skaters!

 

[dougp26364]

It seems to me the ones complaining are those who are not members. In that situation, their opinion doesn’t really matter does it?

Now if true Costco members want to cancel their memberships over not being able to “loan their card/membership” out to just anyone, well maybe Costco is better off without them.

Cheaters complaining about being caught doesn’t really bother me.