A SHOPPER has slammed Costco after claiming employees forced them to show ID in order to walk the shop floor.
The wholesale retailer operates on a membership-only system, meaning shoppers must have previously signed up with the store before purchasing items.
Shoppers can pay a membership fee for 12 months and must agree to the terms and conditions.
One of the conditions is to bring your membership card when shopping at Costco and show employees when entering the warehouse and checking out.
Costco also observes a policy of inspecting receipts and merchandise as customers leave the warehouse.
Although customers must agree to these policies before purchasing a membership, many are confused about the intent of the ID checks.
One annoyed shopper who wanted to scan the aisles before splashing out on a membership now says they never intend to return.
“My son and I wanted to visit a Costco before investing in a membership,” they wrote on Facebook.
“The way we were treated, you would think we were attempting break-in.
“We were not allowed to simply walk around and take a look at the store and the products offered.
“We had to go to customer service, wait in line, show ID, get a temporary pass, then return to the entry door to show the new ID, before we could ‘walk the floor.’
“I never returned.”
The U.S Sun has reached out to Costco for comment.
COST-NO
The furious shopper is not been the only shopper to cut ties with Costco, The U.S. Sun has previously reported.
One customer complained about the prices at Costco and shared what alternative they would take.
“Costco is no longer a discount buying club,” they said in a post.
“It’s premium retail. I’m not renewing my membership.
“Costco is now more expensive than the neighborhood grocery store.”
A third customer ranted that going to the store is always a “pain in the a**.”
Costco membership sharing guidelines
Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they've been cracking down on offenders in recent years.
- Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
- Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
- Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
- Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn’t reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.
Credit: Costco
“If I never shop at Costco again, it will be too soon,” he wrote in a post.
“I consistently hate this experience…and we pay a membership to do it.”
He said the free samples weren’t enough to keep him returning.
“Waiting in line to leave and have them validate what’s in my cart is what I bought is a pain,” he added.
“Saving a few bucks on the big a** thing of toilet paper. How much savings is it really? I will just go to the regular store and buy two for a lot less hassle next time.
“I think I just need to cancel my membership,” the shopper concluded.
Another shopper said they were ditching Costco because of a key feature offered at Sam’s Club.
And food court customers were shocked to see a popular meal get a new look.