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>Costco doesn't check membership at the door. That would block you from purchasing things that don't require membership. The 3 Costcos in my area all have staf
by jasode 7y ago
>Costco doesn't check membership at the door. That would block you from purchasing things that don't require membership.
The 3 Costcos in my area all have staff checking for membership cards right at the door.
Yes, if one knows the "life hacks" such as the pharmacy hack, the liquor law hack, the "I'm picking up contact lenses at the eye center for my friend" hack, and lastly, the "I want to browse the store before I buy a membership" hack, the staff will let you through.
Apparently, all the above hacks are enough psychological friction and/or are not well-known that Costco has much less volume of problem shoppers than Walmart.
- thaumasiotes 7y agoThis is good evidence that the membership checks provide value to customers by keeping the riffraff away. It's terrible evidence that the membership requirement provides any such value. Those checks are independent of the requirement -- as you acknowledge, the guards at the door are not even empowered to turn you away if you want to go in. (That said, I'll repeat that at my Costco, there is no check at the door.) In a better world, Costco could admit that the "membership checks" are actually there to keep the tone of the store at a certain level, not to check membership. It'd be more convenient for everyone, and also more honest.