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A FURIOUS shopper has called out Costco for its self-checkout area this month.
The consumer argued that the kiosks offer virtually no added benefit for paying members and begged for a Sam’s Club perk instead.
Costco and Sam’s Club are both notably warehouse retailers that offer merchandise in bulk for a discount, so long as shoppers pay an annual membership fee.
The current rates for Costco memberships are $65 annually for Gold Star, the base level, or $130 for Executive, where there are elevated bonuses and discounts.
For Sam’s Club, a basic Club Membership is $50 per year, and a Plus Membership is $110, per its site.
While the costs are similar, some Costco members are starting to sway toward Sam’s Club after negative self-checkout experiences, membership ID crackdowns, and the lack of a Scan & Go feature.
This was the case for a particularly peeved member recently.
“Hey @Costco, your self-checkout is basically just regular checkout but with extra steps and more judgment,” they fumed in a February 7 post to X.
“Meanwhile, @SamsClub lets me scan & go like I’m in Ocean’s Eleven. Do better.”
Costco has yet to respond to the complaint, but it wouldn’t be the first time customers have called for the retailer to implement a Scan & Go-like offering.
WHAT IS SCAN & GO?
Scan & Go is currently offered to Walmart Plus and Sam’s Club members.
It allows them to use the Walmart or Sam’s Club mobile application while shopping in-store to scan the barcodes of all their groceries while placing them in the cart.
This then generates a single barcode for all of the items, which they can then use at self-checkout and have verified by an employee quickly before leaving.
It’s supposed to save time spent waiting in lines and also scanning each product individually at checkout.
Some Sam’s Club locations have even begun implementing advanced arches that allow customers to simply walk right through and have the items instantly charged to their card on file.
While this is certainly tempting for Costco shoppers to switch over and opt for Sam’s Club instead, it’s the membership-sharing crackdown that has made some tempted to leave.
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
VERIFICATION REQUIRED
In August, Costco began scanning membership cards at the entrance of stores and at the checkout area, but some claimed it happened to them more than that.
“The one time I went [to Costco] I got card checked entering, in a random aisle and at the register. WTH,” a shopper, Lucy, wrote in an X post.
Lucy also claimed that Sam’s Club did it better with only one ID check.
“Sam’s? Show card on entering and that’s it! And no register. Friendly,” she added.
Several others have agreed in recent months, saying Costco’s membership crackdown has made them “absolutely detest” going to the warehouse retailer.
Others warned that they’re “liking the company less” due to the move.
