‘Made me feel like a criminal,’ says Costco shopper after being forced to prove ID twice – membership wasn’t enough

COSTCO members have hit out at the retailer for its entrance and exit policies that have recently had an upgrade.

The exclusive wholesale retailer recently launched a crackdown on membership-sharing which has been cited by bosses as a key issue impacting profits and paying members.

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“We don’t feel it is right that non-members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” former chief financial officer Richard Galanti said in a company statement last year.

Previously, all stores had staff members at entrances checking membership cards, but this has now changed.

Shoppers have fumed about the process, saying that it makes them feel like criminals due to the excessive checks which see them also showing their ID cards.

“It is a bit off-putting to be shopping and have an employee randomly ask you for your card and ID to verify membership,” Facebook user J.B. Montgomery wrote in the comments to a post .

“I even have one of the photo cards and they still wanted to see my ID to compare. It made me feel like some kind of criminal.

“I have to show my card to get in. I have to show my card to check out. The rest is ridiculous!!”

“I experienced the same and also felt like a criminal,” a fellow Costco shopper replied.

“It’s like pulling you out of the line to show proof you are not a liar.

“It’s like them looking at you and making a false accusation or judgement for no reason.”

“Pretty soon there gonna want a birth certificate, [sic]” a third joked.

However, the change rolled out by Costco will hardly impact this issue as shoppers will still be required to show their membership cards when confronted with scanners .

Members have to scan their cards while an employee looks at a screen that shows the personal membership details including a photograph.

One shopper who has already experienced the scanners said they are “not impressed” by the change.

“The[y] should learn from Sam’s club,” a member of the rival retailer said on the Facebook post.

“I have everything on my phone, no one else could use my info that way. Scan and go keeps the lines down at the register too.”

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

Costco is also receiving backlash after a customer was told he could not purchase a pizza with his shop card after he waited for almost an hour.

Not only are there individual issues facing customers, but all Costco members will be hit with a major change in just a few months.

The retailer is raising its annual fees for the first time in seven years from September 1.

For the basic membership, annual fees will increase by $5 to $65 and the Executive membership will rise by $10 to $130.

However, some members have already vowed to back out before the hike takes place.

Meanwhile, it is not smooth sailing at rival Sam’s Club either as members are raging about changes to a major membership perk .