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Costco crackdown: Membership scanners to be added at warehouse entrances

Ohio is still a liquor control state. All hard liquor can only be purchased from a state run liquor agency. And since all purchases are from a state run liquor agency the liquor prices are near universal (and more expensive than almost all of our neighboring states!) no matter which agency you purchase from.

So no Costco's in Ohio have liquor at all. That said every time I am in Cincinnati i cross the river and hit the Costco in Erlanger, KY to stock up. The 1.75L bottles there are $10-$20 less per bottle than what you pay for the exact same bottle in Ohio.
 
I still can't believe more club stores AT LEAST aren't doing Sam's scan and go. It's amazing IMO - I love it so much. I think Sams used to spot check memberships for decades - I recall the first time I wanted to get my own membership they wouldn't let me in to inquire about purchasing one because no one with me was already a member. Seemed like a mistake to me, but the next time years later they had changed the policy.

What I don't like about Sams is now they're starting to charge shipping when you have a plus membership unless you order $50 worth of stuff. I need to look into if there's a similar thing without plus, as I only keep plus for that benefit really.
 
In Minnesota the liquor store is a separate area with its own entrance. I really like the Kirkland Sauvignon Blanc, but the availability can be spotty because it's so popular.

Our store did away with self checkout some time ago. I stop in every week for fresh fruit and a few items, so I loved the quick self service.

They now have the regular registers where you unload your items onto the belt. In addition there are 8 registers clustered together, each with an employee holding a scanning gun. You don't unload your cart; they just rearrange your stuff in the cart to scan each item. Unfortunately, they don't put any item limits on who can use these lines, so you can sometimes end up behind some annoying person with a cart overloaded with stuff and wait for a long time while the poor clerk tries to shuffle everything to scan it. I can usually line my few items up in the bottom of the cart and try to place them with the UPC codes up, so the check out person can quickly scan them without having to rearrange. I get lots of thank yous from the workers.
 
Oregon is also a backward State where you can only purchase Liquor at State Controlled Stores. We stock up at Costco whenever we travel to Nevada or California.
 
I was used to the Costco in California where you could buy liquor any time....well you could do that in any store in California that carried liquor. I know one of my out of state friends was amazed when she first visited California to see how widely available it was.

Now in New Mexico the liquor section in Costco is not separated, but it is roped off on Sundays until noon.
 
joestein said:
I am less and less enamored with Costco all the time. I think the prices have risen dramatically (Yes - everywhere - but more so at Costco) and the quality has dropped off.

But what really gets me is the poor check out. I have to wait on a line with 20 or so people waiting to use the self-check out. Costco employees are asking to check everyone's card, but how about helping to scan instead. OR MAYBE... just put handheld scanners at each kiosk, so I don't have to unload and re-load the cart. Especially with the size and weight of some of the Costco stuff.

Why can't they get their act together in regard to technology. Maybe have store inventory online, so I don't go to a store looking for a specific item to find they don't have it. Maybe get the app scanning and paying like Sam's Club.

I do appreciate when they get some interesting 'internet' food for a price that is much less than sold on the internet - because I would never order that stuff and not have a chance to try it otherwise. I know my wife likes the clothing.

If it was up to me - I would cancel our membership.
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Kind of where I am. Unless something is on sale, their prices aren't that great. Hate the sampler stations where a bunch of rednecks hoard around for a snack, while stymieing me from getting through the aisles quickly. And so much processed food...
I used to keep my membership mostly because of their decent prices on tires, but with Discount Tire nearby, Costco doesn't even really compete there anymore. Need to re-evaluate my membership.
 
All manner of alcohol is available in grocery stores in California, including on Sundays, and has been that way for years. I remember when moving to Colorado 45+ years ago, I was surprised that you had to visit a liquor store (closed on Sundays) to buy any alcohol except 3.2 beer, which was available in grocery stores. And the 3.2 beer area was taped off on Sundays. There was a ballot initiative around that time to allow beer and wine sales in grocery stores, but it was defeated.
 
Elan said:
Kind of where I am. Unless something is on sale, their prices aren't that great. Hate the sampler stations where a bunch of rednecks hoard around for a snack, while stymieing me from getting through the aisles quickly. And so much processed food...
I used to keep my membership mostly because of their decent prices on tires, but with Discount Tire nearby, Costco doesn't even really compete there anymore. Need to re-evaluate my membership.
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How many tires do you buy? We only bought a set of 4 tires once in 15 years.
 
We had the scanners in Poway last week. It didn't slow us down at all - there were two. When we were leaving there was an older guy arguing with a manager about not being able to go inside without his own card. The manager said that he couldn't use someone else's card. Then the guy would yell "what does that mean"??. Three time in the time that it took us to exit and head towards our car. Lol. Dude. Just pay the ~$50 per year and save more than that on gas. Or move on. Those are your choices.
 
dioxide45 said:
Yeah, not sure if it still the case, but I recall Ohio having no sales before noon on Sunday. Had to go to church first.
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Do you have to show your offering plate receipt before purchasing your booze on Sunday afternoons? :ROFLMAO:

Kurt
 
Elan said:
Kind of where I am. Unless something is on sale, their prices aren't that great. Hate the sampler stations where a bunch of rednecks hoard around for a snack, while stymieing me from getting through the aisles quickly. And so much processed food...
I used to keep my membership mostly because of their decent prices on tires, but with Discount Tire nearby, Costco doesn't even really compete there anymore. Need to re-evaluate my membership.
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We use Costco more than I thought but it's definitely less now. We were buying all of our fuel at Costco but a Sinclairs opened near Costco and with the Sinclair app the gas is about 25 cents less than at Costco. We now have a Discount Tire and the last set of wheels and tires I bought was at Discount tire.

What makes it worth it for us is the extended warranties and the Michelin tires.

Bill
 
klpca said:
We had the scanners in Poway last week. It didn't slow us down at all - there were two. When we were leaving there was an older guy arguing with a manager about not being able to go inside without his own card. The manager said that he couldn't use someone else's card. Then the guy would yell "what does that mean"??. Three time in the time that it took us to exit and head towards our car. Lol. Dude. Just pay the ~$50 per year and save more than that on gas. Or move on. Those are your choices.
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$65/year starting next month for the basic membership and $130/year for the executive.
 
klpca said:
Close enough. We have the executive membership and it pays for itself.
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Me too, and I have the Costco Visa. That 4% back on all gas purchases can't be beat.
 
I have a Costco routine, I arrive before rope drop, motor through in a pattern then head for check out. I put all the boxed stuff in the cart with the bar codes facing up so the checker can quickly scan most of the purchase. I only put a few things on the belt. I'm usually out the door ordering a hot dog by 10:30am. I refuse to go in there any other time, it's a zoo here in CA.
 
TolmiePeak said:
They need to weed out the moochers somehow. Seems like they are trying scanners.
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Same with pharmacy, you can go in for free in most states.

Many stores allowed non members to shop with a gift card, wonder if they have reigned in on that.
 
TolmiePeak said:
I couldn't imagine the maintenance fees on 6 cars... I'm cheap and cut our family back to 1 car.
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I can't imagine doing with only one car. If I want/need to go someplace I want my car available. If it gets to the point where one, or the other of us can't drive then we'll downsize to one car.
 
joestein said:
But what really gets me is the poor check out. I have to wait on a line with 20 or so people waiting to use the self-check out. Costco employees are asking to check everyone's card, but how about helping to scan instead. OR MAYBE... just put handheld scanners at each kiosk, so I don't have to unload and re-load the cart. Especially with the size and weight of some of the Costco stuff.
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I have to agree with this. The lack of self use wand scanners is annoying. About half of the self checkouts at our store have an employee at them. I would much prefer to go to one of those than one where I have to unload. We don't usually buy a lot at a warehouse. Maybe 8-10 items. I always put them in the cart so the bar code is facing up. Usually making it easy for an employee to scan them at the self checkout. Except the one time when the employee was turning the stuff every which way to find the barcode that was already facing up.
 
Luanne said:
I can't imagine doing with only one car. If I want/need to go someplace I want my car available. If it gets to the point where one, or the other of us can't drive then we'll downsize to one car.
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Well I too cheap to drive somewhere and pay for parking. I would rather ride my bike, take the subway, or walk. Of course you have to drive if we go to Costco.
 
SmithOp said:
I have a Costco routine, I arrive before rope drop, motor through in a pattern then head for check out. I put all the boxed stuff in the cart with the bar codes facing up so the checker can quickly scan most of the purchase. I only put a few things on the belt. I'm usually out the door ordering a hot dog by 10:30am. I refuse to go in there any other time, it's a zoo here in CA.
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I'm the opposite, but with similar results. The Costcos around here close at 8:30pm, and I arrive about 7:45-8:00, do my shopping, and there is never a line at the checkout. It is practically a ghost town when I leave, including no traffic around the area. Works perfect for me.
 
PigsDad said:
I'm the opposite, but with similar results. The Costcos around here close at 8:30pm, and I arrive about 7:45-8:00, do my shopping, and there is never a line at the checkout. It is practically a ghost town when I leave, including no traffic around the area. Works perfect for me.
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I was just going to say that. Costco near us is dead after 7:30 PM or so. No wait for anything, even gas.
 
My local Costco implemented the new entrance requirement at the beginning of the month. When I asked, they said that people often try to enter without membership.
 
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