4 ms·

Denying at time of purchase would be a significant (depending on frequency of occurrence I guess) additional workload on staff. The guests certainly aren't goin

Denying at time of purchase would be a significant (depending on frequency of occurrence I guess) additional workload on staff. The guests certainly aren't going to be restocking all the stuff they grabbed. As for the customer friendliness of the proposed scanner, in my mind it depends on how quick and easy it is. If it's not too much of a slowdown relative to the current "flash my card at the staff person", then I don't think I'd mind it. However, if it starts causing lines to get in, yeah that's going to be a problem. Additionally, I agree with the other commenter that, just from the details as provided, I don't even see how the proposal will solve the problem. A scanner will check that the card is a valid card, but unless it's paired with some kind of facial recognition, I'm not sure how it will prevent card sharing.

mannyv 2y ago
They already deny at checkout if your picture doesn't match.
infecto 2y ago
They have your picture on file. The reader at the entrance shows your picture to the employee. No need for facial recognition. And its practically no different then what they do today. Years ago the club warehouses used to do a quick look at the picture side, not a huge change in friendliness in my opinion.
- MostlyStable 2y ago
  My card has my picture. If an employee is going to look at it, then no reader needed. And you point out that they used to do this. What is the reader accomplishing then?
  - infecto 2y ago
    You are creating a scenario that does not even exist. The card readers are already implemented in stores, they have tested the time savings. The card reader process is essentially the same. You flash your barcode to the reader instead of the person. Why would there be a line, its not like you are crossing the Berlin wall, its just a check a more rigid check at entrance instead of checkout. Of course your picture is on your card but I think we would all agree that a picture on a 3x2 credit card that can be B&W is inferior to the color picture displayed on an ipad. Having an associate look at a picture on the back of a credit card is slow. It depends on store location but they have always had varying degrees of checking that you are the owner of the card. Costco makes a majority of their profit from Membership fees, hence the desire to enforce the long standing rule.

mannyv 2y ago

They already deny at checkout if your picture doesn't match.

infecto 2y ago

They have your picture on file. The reader at the entrance shows your picture to the employee. No need for facial recognition. And its practically no different then what they do today. Years ago the club warehouses used to do a quick look at the picture side, not a huge change in friendliness in my opinion.

MostlyStable 2y ago
My card has my picture. If an employee is going to look at it, then no reader needed. And you point out that they used to do this. What is the reader accomplishing then?
- infecto 2y ago
  You are creating a scenario that does not even exist. The card readers are already implemented in stores, they have tested the time savings. The card reader process is essentially the same. You flash your barcode to the reader instead of the person. Why would there be a line, its not like you are crossing the Berlin wall, its just a check a more rigid check at entrance instead of checkout. Of course your picture is on your card but I think we would all agree that a picture on a 3x2 credit card that can be B&W is inferior to the color picture displayed on an ipad. Having an associate look at a picture on the back of a credit card is slow. It depends on store location but they have always had varying degrees of checking that you are the owner of the card. Costco makes a majority of their profit from Membership fees, hence the desire to enforce the long standing rule.