Costco...Why such strict rules?
 

Seeing the DVD sales Costco ran last week, I was thinking about getting a membership. I went there to take a quick browse to compare to BJs, if it was better I would go there instead and let BJs expire. It would be a waste for me just for a few DVDs a year, and I'll be going to Sams when they come here so I don't need 3 memberships.

BJs never checks for cards when entering, just at the register. And I walked into a couple of Sams Clubs while on the road and was never hassled. You can't buy without a card anyway, so what's the big deal.

The guy at Costco's entrance wanted to see a card. I told him I was interested in joining and just wanted a quick look around. (10 mins at most) He said No, you can't enter without a membership and I must get a one day pass. The Service Desk was crowded, I didn't want to waste 30 mins on line. I repeated myself and stressed that I wasn't going to buy anything, just a quick tour. He snapped "NO", then something about how I ignored him when I walked in. We exchanged a few words and he backed off. But I was angry so I left before I did something I would regret. And walking in would just make it worse.

I guess this is how they attract new members. Are all Costco's like this? In a Costco Bargain thread someone commented about a nice lady there (a member) buying the Quadrilogy for him, so I assume he entered without a card.

The last time I went to Costco, the only time anyone asked for a card was at the check out.

I havn't been in about three years though, so something might have changed since then.


"The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club.


Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Repeat after me: "I am here to buy alcohol."

They have to let you in without a card if you're buying alcoholic beverage. Or so I hear. Can I get some backup on that?

Also, if it's true, the people checking cards would be aware of this fact, in a perfect world.

I went to check out Coscos tonight. I already knew that they would want to see the card so I went directly to the service desk. They gave me a card that I could give to cashier when I left, if I wanted to purchase anything and It would setup membership at that time.

I already have a Sams card, so I wanted to get a feel for pricing and items. Everything seemed about the same. It's hard to lay out the cash for second membership. I walked out with card in pocket. No deals that would make up for the $45, at least not without quite a few visits, from what I could see.

At this Costco the liquor is separate from the main warehouse. When you going in, you make a sharp left and go in the liquor store entrance. Or continue straight thru to the warehouse. It's stupid having to make 2 separate purchases.


Thanks, that's what I suspected. These places are almost the same. The Service Desk was packed so it would have been a waste. A Sams Club is opening closer to me anyway. Thanks for the info.

Yes! Let this angry man in to buy his alcohol! ;)

Our Costco checks your card 3 times. Once on the way in... once during checkout... and then they check your card and your packages against your receipt on the way out. So three lines in total... but I keep my cool and don't feel the urge to HULK SMASH ANYONE! RWARRRRRR!!! :D

We just activated our gift membership for Costco this afternoon. The people at the front did not ask for a card, nor did anyone else.

Our costco checks at the door and when you make a purchase...so two times total...evreyone in our store seems pretty cool...and I don't see them hassling anybody about just taking a tour...but everyone's costco is different I'm sure....

That's strange. At the four or so Costco places I've been to, they always asked for my card at the cashier's to punch in some info (or so I thought). This explained why they didn't always ask for my card at the entrance. Guess I'll have to rethink that one....

They do punch in some numbers or scan your card at the cashier's don't they? I thought they did...that's how costco tracks you and knows what you buy and how much you've spent at any given moment...plus, you have to be a member to complete a transaction in the computer...Hmmm...I need to pay attention next time and see...now I can't recall....

Yeah, I went to Costco several years ago and they only took a card at checkout. More recently, I decided to check it out and was surprised that they demanded a card up front. Like you, I had to go through the same hoops just to look around the store. I guess Costco's elite members don't want to be bothered by riff raff...it's just like a country club.

Anyway, I have a membership now (got it for free) and ended up really liking the store. We go about every other week to stock up and have saved a lot of money.

Costco is a private club, just like any other private club. You have to be a member to get in, and a day pass is easy to get if you want to check it out. I don't see anything wrong with being turned away at the door if your not a member.

The Costco here checks your card on the way in, and of course at check out. They just check receipt on the way out, not the card.

You would think they would want non-members strolling around as it may convince them to join.

The Service area had a big line, I wasn't going waste 30 mins getting the pass for a quick walkthrough. Being turned away is one thing, but the guy was rude about it. BJs has noone at the entrance and it's a "private club", you walk around, if you like it..join. I don't see the problem asking for a quick tour. I'll stick with BJs and Sams.


Exactly..what's the big deal. I want to spend my money there and they make it a hassle.


Are the afraid the riff raff will come in there like Zed and his gang did in Police Academy 2? (the supermarket scene)

I have a Costco membership and I usually just walk straight in... if the door police glances @ me... I point to a party/person in front of me that just showed their card [just too lazy to pull out mine sometimes]. Just play the role! Pretend that you do have membership. Or just tell the door police that your party in already in there or that you've been in and just went out to your car. No hassles @ the 2 Costco that I go to.

ps.. their Auto Insurance through AMEX has great prices. I've have Progressive... switched to Geico... now AMEX. Better coverage and lower premiums. 3 of my co-workers got quotes that were lower than their current policy and ended up switching.

Yes, that is right. There is some obscure federal law that prohibits a store from charging a membership to sell you alcohol, this is why you can buy alcohol from Sams or Costco (or other membership clubs) without a membership and without any surcharges, I buy alcohol at a membership club about once every other month or so (and I don't have a membership). I've also heard that you can buy prescription drugs at these stores without a membership, though I have never tried this.

However, the doorman probably would be unaware of this, I've found that 90% of checkers have never heard of it and even some of the managers need a reality check, so I doubt the doorman would. Besides, even if he had, he would probably make him check in with the front desk to get a one day pass.

Here's how you can get into a membership club without a membership. Time your entry to the store so that you walk in right behind somebody else. When they flash their card, the checker will look at you, point to the guy in front of you (he will be looking into the store trying to see where he wants to go and won't see what you do, thus can't say "I don't know this guy"). The checker will assume that you two are together (you can take in guests).

The Costco by me in Jersey does the same thing. You can't get past the entrance without a card. They are really rude about it as well.

:thumbsup:

The more stealthier way to gain entry is to simply walk up to the entrance, tell the door person that you want to sign up for a Costco Membership, and they'll direct you to the service desk. Go to the service desk, get in line, wait for the door person to look at other incoming members, and just slip out into the rest of the store through the cash register lines. That's it. Not a big deal, if you ask me.

I don't have a Sam's membership card, and I use this tactic if I want to just browse around.

Does Sam's club routinely check for membership cards at the register? If not, I just might try this to "see the competition". As far as Costco goes, however, it seems like many to most stores ask for the card at the cashier....

Yes, you have to show your card at the register. If you are only buying alcohol, you'll have to ask for a manager who'll come and punch in something, then the sale can proceed.

My take was that the original poster just wanted to browse Costco, not buy something from Costco, thus, my suggestion above.

OIC

:up:

I entered my local Costco in Simi Valley, CA, and the man asked me if I had a card. I said "Yes", and I continued walking in and proceeded with my shopping.

The reason I won't actually pay for a card at Sam's is that I once had a lifetime membership, then they decided to cancel all lifetime memberships and make everybody pay for memberships (thoguh I still go in every couple of months or so to buy wine).

In the past there used to be free one-day passes in the Wal-Mart ads, I would go shopping with those but would always just completely ignore the card checker at the door (there was nothing on the pass that said I needed to show the pass at the door, and there were no signs saying I had to show it). Sir. Sir! SIR! SIRRRR!!!!! Screw 'em, it's not like the lady in a wheelchair checking IDs was going to tackle me or anything. I haven't done that (or put my receipt in my mouth before being checked at the door) in years, though, like I said in an earlier post I normally just tag along with somebody else when I go in (I also have an expired Sam's card from my brother-in-law, I also flash that on occasion to get in, though I think the colors have changed).

I expect that demanding a card also reduces theft. since only members can come in you do not get the usually cheap thieves shoplifting in the store.

Instead you get those who pay to shoplift I guess :)

Shoplifting at Costco? You must be kidding. Have you ever TRIED to put a 40 pound block of cheese down your pants and walk normaly?

Just tell them you have a medical problem that causes an enlarged scrotum.

I went to the Costco at Clybourn in chicago. As I was walking in, I looked over to the person standing at the enterance, smiled at her and continued walking. So no, they didn't check my Costco membership card.-

It seems pretty hit or miss at that store. I usually have the card out anyway since I know the drill but they barely look at it.

My Costco has card Nazis working there. I bought a DVD with my dad's card and they ran off with it to the back, grilled me about it, and wouldn't give it back. After arguing, he finally gave it back with a smile. Why was he smiling? the next time my dad went to use his card himself, it was declined. The ****er CANCELLED his membership card right there on the spot and didn't tellme anything. My dad has been a member for 10+ years at least (back when it used to be Price Club) and now he goes to Sam's and will never go back.

And another thing: they don't take Visa or Mastercard? WTF?

Well, Sam's club doesn't either...each store has their own agreement with a certain credit card company...

Costco- American Express
Sam's- Discover

But you can use any debit card...they take those regardless of who it's from....

The merchant fees are much higher for Visa and Mastercard than Discover. Don't quote me on it, but I believe the merchant fees for Visa and MC are around 2%, whereas it is around 1% for Discover. This makes a huge difference towards their credit card usage fees.

My Costco doesn't even take debit cards, or Discover. Just AX. It's the only place I have to go and write a check any more.

Welcome to the 21st Century!

I think that's probably more like it.

That's crazy-I was speaking about Sam's which takes debit cards and Discover. I figured Costco was the same since there are no Costcos in my area.

I think it is a violation of the costco card agreement to allow anyone else to use your card. So they would cancel the card if they discovered it being used by someone else. I bet Sam's Club would do it also.

As far as theft. They sell dvd's, cd's.

People do steal at club stores. I had a Sam's club near me stop keeping dvd's out where customers could get them since they were losing them by the hundreds from what they said.

Obviously people still steal from those stores; hence the buggy-search/receipt comparison as you leave [at least at my BJ's.] Although most retail theft is internal...
We used to go to Sam's, but we moved and a BJ's is much closer. You can walk in without showing your card, but they do need to see it when checking out. If a store won't let me in to browse to decide whether or not I want to shop there, then I won't shop there. I do the same thing at some buffet restaurants, check out the buffet.
Our BJ's only scans the card at checkout [and if you write a check, that acts as your ID, so that's convenient], and a guy at the exit checks and stamps your receipt. The guy who's there 90% of the time when I go there is always very friendly, chitchatting as he checks it and saying something like 'Thanks for coming, see ya next time' when he's done.
If it's the store's right to decide to bar entry to non-card-member's, it's my right to decide to stay non-card-member.
Our BJ's also has a gas station that is usually 1-5 cents cheaper a gallon than anywhere else [member price, of course.]
BJ's takes any credit card [MC, V, Disc, and debits], they also take checks and coupons, which a lot of club stores don't. In fact, you can use multiple coupons--like if I had 3 coupons for 50 cents of a can of Pringles, and I bought the 3-pack of Pringles cans, I could use three coupons.
I've actually never been to a Costco, they're apparently not well represented down here in the Southeast [at least as far as I've seen.] But it does seem like they are trying to appear somewhat elitist and hardnosed with their policies.

DVDKrayzie, with respect to your Costco situation, what you should have done is to just say that you had no idea who that person was, you just found the card and thought there wouldn’t be a problem since you were paying, not the other person. Anyway, it’s too late for that now, what you can do at this time is to return to Costco and buy alcohol without a membership. Drives the clerks nuts because most will have no idea that you can legally do it and they will try to tell you that you can’t buy it, and you just say you can and ask to speak with a manager.