Costco Works to End Membership-Sharing in Self-Checkout Line

In an effort to stop membership card sharing, Costco is now requiring shoppers to show identification in addition to their membership card during self checkout.

According to CNN, Costco has noticed an increase in the amount of shoppers that are sneaking in and using someone else’s membership card during checkout.

“We don’t feel it’s right that nonmembers receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” the company said in a statement.

Costco is one of the largest membership clubs in the world with 66 million paid members and 119 million cardholders in 2022. Additionally, the company’s renewal rate last year was 93%, per CNN.

Also, shoppers pay for a $60 regular membership or a $120 executive card annually. Costco has not raised its membership price since 2017 despite competitors like Amazon and Sam’s Club upping membership fees.