SEATTLE — Costco will soon require people to scan their membership cards in order to enter a warehouse store, according to the company's website.
In the coming months, card scanners will be installed at the store entrances. Once activated, all members will be required to scan their physical or digital membership card before entering.
Guests will be required to be accompanied by a valid member for entry.
If someone tries to enter a Costco store with an inactive or expired membership, attendants will be stationed at the front entrance and ask people to renew their account. People who have a membership card without a photo on it may be asked to show a valid photo ID.
According to the company's website, you don't need to be a Costco member to purchase pharmacy prescriptions online or at a warehouse. Though you need to be a member to purchase glasses or contacts at an optical center, you do not need to be a member to make an appointment with an in-house optometrist.
Costco, the third-largest retailer in the U.S. by sales volume, sells items in bulk and relies on a membership structure to keep costs down for shoppers. Last year, stores began to crack down on unauthorized card-sharing, getting stricter about asking to see shoppers' membership cards with their photo at self-checkout.
The move to require people to scan membership cards comes after the company announced it would increase the price of memberships.
On Sept. 1, the cost of a Gold Star membership will increase from $60 to $65. Executive memberships will increase from $120 to $130. The maximum annual 2% cash back reward for Executive members will increase from $1,000 to $1,250 when prices go up.
The last membership price increase was in June 2017.
Costco currently operates more than 600 warehouses in the U.S.