Pembroke Pines, FL - Costco Wholesale Club is rolling out a new membership scanning system at its stores across South Florida.
According to the retailer, customers will be required to scan their membership cards at the entrance before entering the warehouse.
The new system aims to ensure that only members are shopping at Costco and to prevent unauthorized use of membership cards.
Guests with inactive, expired, or membership cards without a photo will be asked to visit the membership counter.
Costco has been testing the membership card scanners at select stores across the country since January 2024.
The company emphasizes that membership fees are crucial to offering low prices to its members.
In September, Costco increased membership prices for both Gold Star and Executive memberships.
The basic Gold Star membership now costs $65 annually, while the Executive membership is $130.
By requiring members to scan their cards at the entrance, Costco aims to maintain the exclusivity of its membership program and ensure that only authorized individuals are shopping at its warehouses.
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