Costco is about to make another big change to the way you shop.

Unlike in New Jersey, when customers struggled with whether or not they needed a membership to buy gas, this change is happening here and across the country.

Costco has decided to more strictly enforce its members-only business model. According to USA Today, it’s no longer enough to just flash your membership card to an employee when you enter the store. Often, you just walk by without showing it at all.

That’s over.

Scanners will be installed at all entrances to all Costco stores nationwide. The new system requires you to stop and have your membership card scanned by a machine at the entrance. If your photo is not directly on your membership card, you will also need to provide a separate photo ID to prove it is really you. Guests must also be accompanied by a valid member to enter.

You no longer have to show your membership card at the cash desk if this makes entry easier.

It’s about cracking down on non-members coming into their stores. Costco wants those membership fees. According to the company’s 2023 annual report, Costco collected $4.6 billion in membership fees from about 128 million members.

And by the way, those fees are going up. Starting September 1, Gold Star membership fees will increase from $60 to $65 and Executive membership fees will increase from $120 to $130.

The opinions expressed in the above post are solely those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski.

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