Costco is currently testing card readers at the entrance to some of its stores in the United States so that every customer swipes their card instead of presenting it to an employee at the entrance.
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This is particularly the case in the Washington state branch and some other sales locations, CNN reports.
These tests come after Costco announced last June that it was making it harder for members to share their cards.
“We do not believe it is fair for non-members to have the same benefits and prices as members,” Costco wrote in a statement last summer.
Some stores already have employees stationed at self-checkouts to check customer cards.
Having card readers at the entrance could make it even more difficult for customers to gain entry using someone else's card.
Costco cards are not transferable, but the company allows members to pass a card to another person in their household.
Each person with a membership can bring two guests to each visit.
Installing a card reader also means that customers no longer have to speak to employees when entering the branch.
“It speeds up the process at the entrance and speeds up the process at the exit,” the company says. We believe in that and we will try.”
Costco reported $4.2 billion (C$5.4 billion) in sales from its membership cards alone.
The renewal rate is almost 93%.