Costco is reportedly testing out a new policy at one of its stores that could potentially change the way people shop at the retailer across the country.
In an effort to cut down on membership sharing, Costco is evaluating a new method for shoppers to be granted entry into the warehouse.
Shoppers usually flash their membership card to a worker at the entrance of a store. But one location in Issaquah, Washington is taking that process to the next level.
According to reports, the store has added two kiosks to the main entrance where customers are required to scan their membership card while an employee verifies their ID before they're allowed to enter the warehouse. Photos of the new system first appeared on Reddit.
A sign on the kiosk says, "You will be asked to scan your membership card before entering the warehouse."
"Stationary scanner with tablets attached to it," the poster wrote. "I didn't get it in the picture but there's two scanners at the entrance with one employee at each one. There's a display that shows your face for the employee to check."
It's not clear if Costco has any plans to expand the new membership scanning system to more stores nationwide. The retailer did not immediately comment on the reports.
Costco members pay $60 for a regular annual membership or $120 for an executive-level membership, which comes with added perks. In total, the retailer has approximately 120 million members, making it one of the largest clubs in the world.
Costco memberships are non-transferrable -- which means you can't borrow someone else's card to shop at the store. According to the retailer's policy, members may bring up to two guests into the warehouse during each visit. Those guests can shop, but only members may purchase items. Members can also request one additional household card, but it must be assigned to someone who lives at the same address.
Costco has been cracking down on membership sharing since last summer, when it began asking customers for photo IDs to use self-checkout registers. The same policy has long been in place at employee-staffed checkout lines, to ensure the cardholder is actually the member. The retailer explained the change, saying more and more non-members were sneaking through self-checkout lanes and buying items with a membership card that wasn't theirs.
"We don't feel it's right that nonmembers receive the same benefits and pricing as our members," Costco said in a statement.
Shoppers who aren't Costco members can still buy certain merchandise online, but they'll pay 5% more than members.