Personal Finance

Costco Membership Card: Membership prices could increase soon

Costco is testing a new system requiring customers to scan their membership cards before entering some locations to combat card-sharing, rather than having to present their card to warehouse staff.

Costco Membership Card: In an effort to combat card-sharing, Costco has started testing a new system at a few of its locations that requires customers to scan their membership cards before entering.

A Costco representative emailed Kiplinger to inform her that, in some cases, you would encounter testing card scanners instead of having to present your card to a warehouse staff in order to shop.

The spokesman said, “This test is to match members to their cards at the door prior to shopping for an improved member experience.”

Axios reported on January 18 that the retailers testing scanners are in West Plano, Texas; Issaquah, Washington; and Sterling, Virginia. This story also stated that U.K. warehouses are already using the scanners.

The article claims that Costco took action in response to an increase in non-members checking out at self-checkout kiosks and accessing shops with cards that do not belong to them. According to Costco, the scanners expedite the checkout procedure.

The action comes after Disney and Netflix started using similar measures to cut down on password sharing last year.

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Costco Membership Card

When asked if Costco planned to raise membership fees shortly, Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said, “It’s a question of when, not if,” during the company’s most recent quarterly earnings call.

There are two membership tiers offered by Costco: Gold Star, which costs $60 a year, and Executive, which costs $120.

Costco has added new products in several industries in the past year. For instance, Costco started selling gold bars early last year. Costco and Sesame, a healthcare marketplace, teamed in September to provide outpatient healthcare services with a starting price of $29.

More recently, the Costco Auto Programme revealed a special offer that would save buyers or lessees of certain new Cadillac models $1,000 when they bought or leased the car.

In the meantime, the cost of the business’s well-known hot dog and Coke combo hasn’t changed from 1984 to the present day—$1.50.

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Costco Auto Programme

In an effort to combat card-sharing, Costco has started testing a new system at a few of its locations that requires customers to scan their membership cards before entering.

A Costco representative emailed Kiplinger to inform her that, in some cases, you would encounter testing card scanners instead of having to present your card to a warehouse staff in order to shop.

The spokesman said, “This test is to match members to their cards at the door prior to shopping for an improved member experience.”

Axios reported on January 18 that the retailers testing scanners are in West Plano, Texas; Issaquah, Washington; and Sterling, Virginia. This story also stated that U.K. warehouses are already using the scanners.

The article claims that Costco took action in response to an increase in non-members checking out at self-checkout kiosks and accessing shops with cards that do not belong to them. According to Costco, the scanners expedite the checkout procedure.

The action comes after Disney and Netflix started using similar measures to cut down on password sharing last year.

The cost of memberships may shortly rise

When asked if Costco planned to raise membership fees in the near future, Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said, “It’s a question of when, not if,” during the company’s most recent quarterly earnings call.

There are two membership tiers offered by Costco: Gold Star, which costs $60 a year, and Executive, which costs $120.

Of hot dogs, gold bars, and medical care

Costco has added new products in a number of industries in the past year. For instance, Costco started selling gold bars early last year. Costco and Sesame, a healthcare marketplace, teamed in September to provide outpatient healthcare services with a starting price of $29.

More recently, the Costco Auto Programme revealed a special offer that would save buyers or lessees of certain new Cadillac models $1,000 when they bought or leased the car.

In the meantime, the cost of the business’s well-known hot dog and Coke combo hasn’t changed from 1984 to the present day—$1.50.

Sweta Bharti

Sweta Bharti is pursuing bachelor's in medicine. She is keen on writing on the trending topics.

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