Is Costco Cracking Down on Card Sharing? Here's What to Know
Costco is taking a page from Netflix's book and attempting to cut down on membership sharing. Redditors have taken note and are giving other shoppers the heads-up in the Costco subreddit.
"Costco is cracking down on membership sharing," wrote u/tlduran. The user's post included a photo with house rules—rules that have always been there but have been broken, especially since the popular warehouse store stopped taking membership card photos in 2020.
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Can I Share My Costco Card With Someone Else?
Officially, no. Scroll down to Costco's general policies, and it's clear as day: "Only Costco members may purchase items."
But in case people miss the fine print on their membership agreement (and haven't read up online), signs are popping up at checkouts noting that:
Members are required to show their card before entering the warehouse and at checkout
Membership cards aren't transferrable
Only paid members can shop
How Does Costco Know If You're a Member?
How does the warehouse differentiate between a card-carrying member and someone who is, well, just carrying someone else's card? By their photo. Costco cards used to always include a picture of the member, but Costco stopped taking them in 2020 because of masking policies designed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
"They stopped taking photos around the time of COVID and stopped doing it for about a year or so. Eventually, all cards with no photos are going to be unacceptable. Eventually, they’re going to have people go to membership and get their photo," wrote one Redditor. A radio station in Indiana said a Costco shopper also noted that the no-photo-required policy was COVID-related.
When Will Photos Go Back On Costco Cards?
It appears the time that it will be "unacceptable" to have no photo on your card is now. In the Reddit thread, the original poster noted, "They also had someone checking photos on membership cards prior to going to the register."
"At mine, they were checking the photos at self-checkout before you can start scanning," wrote another.
So, if you're a paying Costco member, this crackdown won't affect you (you may even have an easier time finding the Sour Cream Butter Pound Cake). Just head to membership and say cheese for the camera. But if your good deed of the day is sharing your card with a pal, they might run into a snag.
How to Save on a Costco Membership
We're not advocating for breaking policy. But there are some ways to play within the rules and save on (or split) membership fees.
Costco allows for one free household card for anyone 16 and over. The catch? They have to live in the same household. But it's helpful for families with teens and spouses or people living with roommates—everyone living under the same roof can shop using the same membership, regardless of whose photo is on the card. According to Costco's policies, members may be asked to present proof they live at the same address (Read: It's pretty airtight and hard to game, especially with Costco in crackdown mode.)
Can You Shop at Costco Without a Membership Card?
Yes. Nonmembers can use Costco Shop Cards, which are gift cards, but the cards have to be purchased by a member. They can purchase as many items, but they can only pay for them using the balance on the Costco Shop Card. So, conceivably, you can gift your Costco-loving, card-swiping pal with one of these for a special occasion or just because you're that great of a human.
You can also use the Costco pharmacy whether or not you are a member and non-members can shop on Costco's website, although there is a 5 percent surcharge.
How Much Does a Costco Membership Cost?
Enjoyed shopping with your friend's card and ready to spring for your own? An annual Costco Gold Star Membership for households is $60. It includes one free household card and can be used at any Costco worldwide.
