Costco, the wholesale store, is implementing measures to ensure that only paying members can enjoy its popular $1.50 hot dog and soda combo deal at its food courts.
Recent images of signs shared on Reddit indicate that the discount shopping club is tightening its policies to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing the food court. Although Costco officially limited food court access to members in 2020, the new signs displayed in stores suggest a need for stricter enforcement.
One of the signs, spotted at a Costco location in Orlando, Florida, states, "Effective April 8, 2024, an active Costco membership card will be required to purchase items from our food court. You can join today. Please see our membership counter for details."
This initiative is part of Costco's ongoing efforts to uphold its membership requirements, ensuring that individuals who want to shop at the store have paid for the privilege. Earlier this year, Costco introduced new technology that mandates members to scan their cards at select store entrances to prevent membership sharing and unauthorized entry.
Costco is implementing a more restrictive stance in an effort to increase membership sales and improve its overall financial performance. In 2023, membership fees contributed $4.6 billion, which accounted for 73% of Costco's total profit.
When asked about the potential policy changes, Costco did not provide an immediate response to CBS MoneyWatch.
For an annual fee of $60, individuals can obtain a basic membership at Costco. Alternatively, the executive membership, priced at $120 per year, offers additional benefits such as a 2% cash-back reward.
Costco has expressed its stance on non-members accessing member-exclusive perks, stating that it believes it is unfair for non-members to receive the same benefits and pricing as paying members. This sentiment was highlighted during the summer when Costco began requesting photo IDs from members at self-checkout registers.
