Woman has both Sams and Costco memberships. Then she gets chased down by a manager: ‘People are staring at me’
Costco’s business model is pretty different from other stores. While you can just walk into a store like Walmart or Best Buy, Costco requires something special before entry: a membership card.
Unlike other stores, which make money by selling goods, a majority of Costco’s net operating income comes from memberships. This means that, by buying a membership, shoppers are subsidizing not only the chain’s low prices, but other beloved features like its open return policy.
While most shoppers understand this, membership enforcement can cause issues. One TikTok user recently shared her experience with this, sparking debate in the process.
What Went Wrong On This Trip To Costco?
In a video with over 3,000 views, TikTok user @polish80s says that she’s a member of both Sam’s Club and Costco. After a recent experience, however, she says she’ll be spending more of her time at the former.
According to the TikToker, she visited Costco with her husband. As is typical for their Costco trips, she went inside while he parked the car.
“The guy inside was like, ‘You need to scan your card,’” the TikToker recalls. “I was on the phone FaceTiming my grandbabies, right? And I said, ‘Oh, okay, yeah, my husband’s coming. He’s got the card. He’s coming.’”
Things Go From Bad To Worse
In order to get out of the way of other people coming into the store, the TikToker says she stepped further into the store and off to the side. This, she says, aggravated staff.
“He called the manager on me,” the TikToker recounts. “The manager came over—ran, I swear to god, she ran over to me—[and] was like, ‘Ma’am, ma’am, ma’am, you need to scan your card.’”
“I’m like, ‘I know.’ I go, ‘My husband’s coming. He’s just parking the car. He’ll be right here,’” she continues. “‘No, no, no, no. That’s not our policy. You need to go scan your card right now.’”
Sensing there was not going to be a resolution, the TikToker hung up her FaceTime call and scanned her card. Even after telling the worker that this was normal behavior for the couple, the TikToker says the worker insisted that one could not even stand in the doorway of the store without scanning a card.
“I didn’t see a big deal. Lord have mercy. People are staring at me like I stole something,” she summarizes. “I don’t know. I think I’m going to Sam’s.”
How Strict Is Costco With Card Checking?
This TikToker is not alone in noting that Costco’s card checking policy has gotten stricter in recent years.
According to Costco’s customer service site, many locations now employ the use of automatic membership card scanners.
“Once deployed, prior to entering, all members must scan their physical or digital membership card by placing the barcode or QR Code against the scanner,” the site reads. “Guests must also be accompanied by a valid member for entry.”
While membership cards have always been required, such strict checks are a relatively new development. The reason, the company says, is due to the expansion of the company’s self-checkout offerings.
“Our membership policy states that our membership cards are not transferable and since expanding our self-service checkout, we’ve noticed that non-member shoppers have been using membership cards that do not belong to them,” another page on Costco’s website reads. “As we already ask for the membership card at checkout, we are now asking to see their membership card with their photo at our self-service checkout registers.”
Commenters Are Divided
In the comments section, many users were split. Some took the side of Costco.
“Get off the phone and scan your card, go to Sam’s then,” wrote a user.
“I’m sorry but you were in the wrong. Anyone who has been to Costco knows that you can’t even enter the door until you scan your membership card,” stated another. “You’ve just gotten lucky every other time that no one has called [you] out on it.”
Others countered that the Costco worker was being too pushy in their enforcement of the rules.
“That is ridiculous,” said a user. “I probably would of told them what they can do with their card.”
“On your phone or not, they need to chill out!” exclaimed a second.
@polish80s Costco versus Sam’s which one is better I’m leaning more towards Sam’s. I don’t get harassed when I step in side just a little bit and wait for my husband.#Costco #Sam’s #Lord ♬ original sound – Polish80sGen❌
We’ve reached out to @polish80s via TikTok direct message and comment, and Costco via media request form.
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