Costco Membership Crackdown or All Things Costco 😀

[easyas123]

At least around here, the liquor stores are open to the public. You don't need a membership to shop there.

Yeah, I think it's dependent on state law - but I'm also not a expert!

 

[mumto3girls]

I agree with most here that it’s fine for Costco to enforce their policies—that’s what the member signed up for. I will admit though that I hope they don’t look at the pictures too closely. I have 3 children—2 are now actually adults—all driving and sometimes I like to send them to get things I need—particularly when we are hosting something and I’m busy. So far no issues. They all have the same permanent address as me, so I guess would be part of our household if they checked.

 

[tvguy]

Does that really prove anything? My daughter has a drivers license with our address on it and she hasn't lived here for 2 years.

And depending on the state she lives in, probably breaking the law since most states only give you about 2 weeks to update the address on your Driver's License.

 

[Christine]

I agree with most here that it’s fine for Costco to enforce their policies—that’s what the member signed up for. I will admit though that I hope they don’t look at the pictures too closely. I have 3 children—2 are now actually adults—all driving and sometimes I like to send them to get things I need—particularly when we are hosting something and I’m busy. So far no issues. They all have the same permanent address as me, so I guess would be part of our household if they checked.

Except I think that it's not enough, at Costco, to be just part of the household. There are only two members allowed per card...period. The card can't be used across more than 2 identified, specific members of that household. Your particular Costco may not feel like they have an issue so they haven't enforced it, but the enforcement is definitely happening in many stores now.

 

[easyas123]

And depending on the state she lives in, probably breaking the law since most states only give you about 2 weeks to update the address on your Driver's License.

Here in MD you can go online to Motor Vehicles and change your address. They then send you a 'change of address card' that you keep with you but your old license is still valid until it expires. At least that was how they still were doing it up until a year ago or so.

 

[barkley]

I‘ve been gold forever. My daughter has used a work around by using a Costco gift card, and then buying a new one (she lives alone are only shops there infrequently).

it's an approved means for a non member to shop and my oldest has used this method since college. costco's website indicates that a membership is not required for use-

"Costco Shop Card customers do not need to be Costco members."

i tripped upon this method of purchasing when my oldest went to college and i inquired if there was any kind of student membership available, i was told by member services that they frequently suggest this method for students whose parents have memberships so i bought multiple $10 (lowest denomination) cards so it would cover multiple entries or use at the gas pumps (the amount on the card is zerod out first but then any means of payment method costco already accepts can be used for the remaining balance).

 

[MillauFr]

I was just at Costco a couple days ago, there really was a dedicated staff member checking membership card and the pic at the self-checkout lines.

BTW, can we have a Buc-ees meet up?!

Why don’t you message the moderators and ask them to create a Bucees subforum

 

[easyas123]

In terms of memberships & how many in your household....we have a business membership. Currently it's just my Mother (in FL) and I (in MD but I shop in DE) but we can add additional people to it if we wanted, think it's $60 a person.

 

[DLgal]

I don't even understand how people were getting away with this. At all out local warehouses, they are STRICT at the entrances, making you show your membership card with the photo showing. It's so strict that my 2 boys have been yelled at more than once when they attempted to enter with the cart (that I asked them to grab) and they are more than like 2 feet away from me. The lady at the door is always like "who are you coming in with???" And I have to be like, "they are my kids."

Then at the checkout, even the self one, there is an employee there who asks to see your card before you can approach the self checkout.

It's always been like this. How have people been sharing memberships?

 

[MillauFr]

And depending on the state she lives in, probably breaking the law since most states only give you about 2 weeks to update the address on your Driver's License.

Yeah I told her that and not to exceed the speed limit but she ignored both laws

 

[Moliphino]

And depending on the state she lives in, probably breaking the law since most states only give you about 2 weeks to update the address on your Driver's License.

In MA you update the info online, but then they just have you write your new address on the back of your existing license. I bought my house in 2019 and won't get a license with my new address printed on the front until 2024. Most people don't check the back.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I don't even understand how people were getting away with this. At all out local warehouses, they are STRICT at the entrances, making you show your membership card with the photo showing. It's so strict that my 2 boys have been yelled at more than once when they attempted to enter with the cart (that I asked them to grab) and they are more than like 2 feet away from me. The lady at the door is always like "who are you coming in with???" And I have to be like, "they are my kids."

Then at the checkout, even the self one, there is an employee there who asks to see your card before you can approach the self checkout.

It's always been like this. How have people been sharing memberships?

That has not been enforced at any Costco I've been to until very recently (within a month). From what I've seen online from people complaining about this, many people lived with family members with Costco memberships and used their card. Not saying that's right. That's just how they did it.

 

[lisaviolet]

Are you not allowed to go use the Costco pharmacy without a membership, or is it state-by-state?

I found out by accident. I was coming there straight from the hospital, walked in with my niece showing her card, went to pull out my own to get the prescription & the pharmacist told me "Oh that is not necessary as anyone can use the pharmacy. A membership is not needed."

 

[easyas123]

At all out local warehouses, they are STRICT at the entrances, making you show your membership card with the photo showing.

I've just always flashed my card, they see the Costco on there and wave me in! Honestly though, that photo is from 2008, tiny, on the back & fuzzy as hell!!! I don't even recognize it as me!

Like with many other things, would be nice if a entity was consistent across the board with things, but then we wouldn't get to have these fun threads "well, MY Costco lets me do so & so"..."oh yeah, well MY Costco would never let anyone do so & so! In fact in the rules, section A, subpart 3, item abc123.2 clearly states I'm right and you are violating the law according to Costco!!!"

 

[MillauFr]

I’m the minority here but I don’t think Costco orBJs or any of those are any cheaper than shopping at lidl/target/ wherever. I have a large family and have tried all those warehouse stores and didn’t find a significant savings. And having to pay for the privilege of shopping there rubs me the wrong way

Costco isn’t interested in having the cheapest prices on low quality products. They are interested in having the cheapest prices on the highest quality products

 

[Christine]

I don't even understand how people were getting away with this. At all out local warehouses, they are STRICT at the entrances, making you show your membership card with the photo showing. It's so strict that my 2 boys have been yelled at more than once when they attempted to enter with the cart (that I asked them to grab) and they are more than like 2 feet away from me. The lady at the door is always like "who are you coming in with???" And I have to be like, "they are my kids."

Then at the checkout, even the self one, there is an employee there who asks to see your card before you can approach the self checkout.

It's always been like this. How have people been sharing memberships?

It's not like that where I live (VA). We do have to show a card on entry but I'm about 8 feet away from the checker. My card is now my credit card and there's this fuzzy picture on the back. No one is looking at it.

If I go to self-checkout, no one has ever asked to look at my card. So that's how.

 

[Christine]

Are you not allowed to go use the Costco pharmacy without a membership, or is it state-by-state?

I found out by accident. I was coming there straight from the hospital, walked in with my niece showing her card, went to pull out my own to get the prescription & the pharmacist told me "Oh that is not necessary as anyone can use the pharmacy. A membership is not needed."

Pharmacy doesn't require a membership where I am. You just tell the person at the front of the store that you're headed back there and they let you go.

 

[bcla]

Yeah, I think it's dependent on state law - but I'm also not a expert!

At least in California, retail alcohol sales can't be members only. Neither can anything prescription. So all Costcos in the state will allow people in who just claim to be buying alcohol or shopping for something requiring a prescription (including medications, hearing aids, or glasses/contact lenses.

Other states have similar requirements.

 

[bcla]

I don't even understand how people were getting away with this. At all out local warehouses, they are STRICT at the entrances, making you show your membership card with the photo showing. It's so strict that my 2 boys have been yelled at more than once when they attempted to enter with the cart (that I asked them to grab) and they are more than like 2 feet away from me. The lady at the door is always like "who are you coming in with???" And I have to be like, "they are my kids."

Then at the checkout, even the self one, there is an employee there who asks to see your card before you can approach the self checkout.

It's always been like this. How have people been sharing memberships?

I've always flashed the front of my car without issue. And I've even used my expired card to enter when shopping with relatives who had active memberships.

 

[amcnj]

Stores I have gone to have always required a card to enter, but you just hold it up and they don’t do anything but glance at it from a distance. My daughter went a couple of weeks ago and said at checkout they did check to make sure she was the card was hers. I haven’t gone to one recently.

In my state you didn’t need to be a member to get gasoline. Supposedly it was not allowed here. Hence not all warehouse club stores had gas pumps. Not long ago that changed and cards are now required. And some BJ’s recently added pumps, I assume as a result of the change. Though someone I know who is not a member says the Costco closest to them does not require the card. Maybe there is a town ban on the card requirement?

As others have stated, not everything at such stores is a bargain. But sometimes only a few items you regularly purchase can more than cover the membership fee. I have family members who can do so with just allergy relief medication purchases each year. I have done so with just travel and restaurant gift card purchases. The gas price there is currently 7-20 cents less per gallon than other stations in the area. So some people may be able to cover the membership fee that way too.