Costco Tests Membership Card Scanners to Curb Non-Member Access

The move follows an increase in non-members using cards that don't belong to them after the expansion of self-checkout.

Costco is testing membership card scanners at the entrance of select stores to improve member experiences and curb non-members from using cards that don't belong to them.
The scanners read the bar code on the back of the membership card, displaying the membership record, including photo and status.
The move comes after Costco noticed an increase in non-members using cards that don't belong to them following its expansion of self-checkout.
Costco's membership model is crucial to its business, with annual fees contributing significantly to the company's profits and helping to keep prices low.
The company had around 66 million paid members and 119 million cardholders in 2022, making it one of the largest membership clubs in the world.