‘They’re way too strict’: Costco customers use family card to grocery shop in-store. It backfires

Photo byElliott Cowand Jr/ShutterStock @huseina.basrai/TikTok Brett Hondow/ShutterStock

One Costco manager shocked two sisters when they tried to check out at the register.

Listen up so this doesn’t happen to you.

Costco operates on a membership system, requiring shoppers to possess a current membership card to gain entry and complete their purchase. Several other stores follow this same membership policy, such as BJ’s and Sam’s Club, which, similar to Costco, offer products in large quantities.

However, there's a growing dissatisfaction with Costco as the company has been enforcing stricter rules against the sharing of membership cards. (Kind of like how Netflix implemented a policy that prevents sharing account access with people who don't actually reside with you.)

In an effort to enforce stricter policies, Costco is testing the idea of making it mandatory for members to swipe their cards when they come into the store. Typically, customers simply swipe their cards in front of the cashier without much effort.

However, there's confusion among customers about how this actually alters the process. It appears that there's no additional check at the door to confirm that the person with the card is the one making the purchase.

Rather than at the door, this policy is being implemented at the checkout in certain areas, where customers are now asked to present their photo ID in addition to their card, according to CBS.

“We don’t feel it’s right that non-members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” Costco said when it announced the change.

Without that card holding up, customers are forced to leave their items behind or enroll in a membership on the spot.

That’s what happened to this duo.

A grocery run gone wrong

In a video that has garnered over five million views, Huseina Basrai (@huseina.basrai) and her sister shared their shopping experience, mentioning they had spent two hours at Costco. They were attempting to use their family's membership card for purchases, but faced rejection at the checkout counter.

“The manager denied us access to buy anything after THYE LET US IN since it wasn’t specifically our card,” Basrai said.

Some cashiers may look the other way, even if they know you’re not the cardholder. That’s definitely a better scenario if you don’t want to leave empty-handed.

This happened to one woman, and she was offended that the cashier thought she could pass for her dad. Another tried to pass as his mom, whose photo is on the card, but the worker didn’t even check the card.

The standard membership for a Costco card is the Gold Star membership, which costs $60 a year, as stated by the retailer's website. It offers a complimentary card for family members to use and is accepted globally. The higher-tier membership, costing $120, provides 2% rewards on Costco items and additional perks for certain Costco Travel offerings.

Viewers had mixed reactions

“Love Costco but they are doing way too much lol why am I getting carded in the store, in the lines, and asked for my ID. I’ll stick to Sam’s club,” the top comment read.

“Like my son always tells them, you don’t get paid enough to care who the hell uses a card,” a person said.

“Costco is very clear with their membership rules. You buy a membership you get two cards. The person purchasing has to be a member on the card. Why is that so hard to follow?” another added.