I think it's to keep nonmembers out. I'm not sure about everywhere but most places I think you are only allowed to bring maybe 2 extra guests... It helps keep that in check - Otherwise, you could bring your whole neighborhood and just use your card for everyone...Then less people would purchase memberships.

They also probably don't want to hassle with possible shop lifters or riff-raff that aren't even members.

Plus, many people may try to come in just for free food samples at some stores.

It also may help screen some other people who may not know/understand it is a club store when they enter.

And., lastly, it's a club store...if you don't feel like you've been screen and that you are a part of the club, it's doesn't feel as special...

Half the time the card checkers are staring into space and don't even look at the cards. During my last two visits there was no one at the door.

At our Costco, the entrance and exit are from the same door, so returns, pharmacy, and optical are accessed through the one door.

My son used to work at Costco and he said often times non card holders would shop, unload at the register, and because they did not have a card, they would slow the line down and then another employee would be called to do the go backs. It was a loss of time and money.

The entry card-checkers are also (especially during the busy times) taking a tally of how many people come into the store, so they know when to start opening more registers. They are also there to help people by directing them and answering general questions. A little more on-the-ball than the typical Walmart greeter, I'd say.

Here's from the employee application, see Member Service Assistant. And yes, Matti5 is correct about screening people who don't belong. If you think the person isn't looking at your card, it's probably because he recognizes you from previous visits. As to the new guy who asked you about the cart, just report him to management, and he'll learn a lesson.

Here is a link that might be useful: Costco employee application.

I think it is to keep the non members out who would want to come to browse or just eat the free samples. Non members can get a visitor's card though to see what it is like, though they cannot make purchases with it.

Well it seems a little passive-aggressive to have a card and not be ready to show it knowing you will be asked. Just because the law allows you to use the pharmacy without one why inconvenience those behind you and the checker doing his job to make a point?

If it's that much trouble to dig it out maybe it's time to clean out your bag.

I always have my card in hand by the time I get to the door.
Even though I'm only "going in for a couple things" I invariably buy more. So even if I wanted precriptions chances are extrememly high I'd end up with something else, where I'd need my card.

I'm going on Friday to get a bag of buns for Thanksgiving. I wonder what else I'll come home with.

I think all the points I was going to make were brought up. I'd also like to point out that I'm sure there are crooks savvy enough to walk through the door saying they're using the pharmacy and then they walk around eating all the free samples (which is frankly thievery if you haven't paid for a membership and you have no means (no card) to buy the product they are sampling) or take advantage of other membership features (the cheap hot dogs) or maybe even try to steal something. I'm sure the door person has seen this all happen. As an honest shopper, I hate that retailers have become so hardened but yet I also understand it.

It could be because the holidays are upon us the staff has been warned that they must check everyone for a card when they enter. I'm sure they've heard every excuse in the book for not having a valid card; I guess the guy was just doing his job. I'm so glad they require a card to enter, I can't imagine what it would be like to open the doors to everyone. Yikes! lol

What ticks me off is when they stop you with your cart as you are leaving and check your receipt against what is in your cart. To me that is treating members like thieves. They should set up the front end so that no cart can pass without first going through a register. One day I am going to sail right past the end checker and wave.

Renee, that annoys me too. Especially when there is only one guy checking receipts and 5 or 6 people with cartfuls of purchases lined up waiting for him to check each one. I've seen people try to go around the line and out the door, but they always stop them. The Walmarts here are starting to do it also.

Renee, Vicki....the joke of it all is, they really aren't checking anything. Last time I was there, I brought a friend. I was also picking up some things for another friend (a Costco member but couldn't go with us). I had three different orders, had them rung up separately but only showed the one receipt as I left just to see what would happen. I got the haphazard check, the slash across the receipt with a pen and a smile and I was on my way.

Ahhhhhh, ya gotta laugh at a store that charges you $40 or $50 a year to shop there then treats you like a thief when you're walking out the door.

I've seriously found better buys at your local market and you don't have to buy 20 of the same item to get you through the month.

To each their own.

Regarding receipt checking at the exit, isn't it funny that only the "discount" stores do that? Walmart, Costco, etc. I've never had anyone check my receipt at Macy's, that's for sure!!

I have to agree with roco. I actually did join Costco when they opened up directly across the street from my office. They offered the $50 membership for $15 to introduce all of us to the new store. So, I joined. I made my $15 back over the year, but I would be hard pressed to say I would have made back $50 if that's what it had cost me. I didn't rejoin.

The buying in bulk really got me. It's just me and my husband now and buying that much at a time is just too much. In addition, the vast majority of their prices were just not better than regular grocery stores. At least around here (in Houston) I can get as good or better deals at a multitude of places.

To be honest, the perception of exclusivity never really sunk in for me. So checking my card at the door was a real nuisance to me. I understand why they do it, but I guess because it just didn't seem to me that I was getting huge bargains, the whole thing just felt silly to me.

I can't imagine what it would be like to open the doors to everyone. Yikes! lol
I think it would be just like any other store! They let all the riff raff (like me!!) into all those other stores. And believe me, Costco is not the only grocery store that offers free samples. Central Market, an upscale grocery store about a half a mile away from my local Costco always has samples. Go there on a Saturday morning and you don't need to eat lunch.

Not a member of either anymore. Sister used to give me a Scam's Club, er, Sam's Club membership for my birthday and I said no more. Don't like shopping there. Won't shop there. Sammy Walton was a genius I must admit. He realized that all you have to do is give the perception of savings and people will pay any price to shop there. People will pay $50 a year to have a little card and pay inflated prices to buy a 50 pack of toilet paper you can buy cheaper at any number of stores. Then you grunt the stuff out yourself, check out twice, stand in line for 20-30 minutes all to pay more for the end product. Sam-boy, I drink a toast to you! I get so many chuckles out of it. I've done a number of price comparisons and found nothing except clearance items that are a good buy. It's laughable. But some get their jollies out of it so more power (and waiting) to them!

I used to have to go in these places for work. I got to the point I said this was ridiculous. I did the walk in with someone else and let them think I was with them but decided why bother. I was there for work so screw 'em. I walked right past them. Chase me down if you want. Especially the ones in the wheelchair - tell me they're keeping track of the number of people. Oh come on! I'd head to the service desk to check in, they'd come after me, scratch their head that I didn't "show them a card" and 12 other people walked past them while they were scratching.

What's sad is the atrocious security. I could easily have walked out of there with hundreds if not thousands of dollars in merchandise. I shook my head in disbelief but figure, this is their problem.

People have finally quit telling me about the "great deals" they get at these places since every time I pin them down to compare prices I can get better deals elsewhere, without the hassles, and without the extra cost. For some reason people don't factor in the membership fee.

The one good thing about these places? They keep the naive out of the other stores so I can pick up some *real* bargains! :)

You tell me that it's a privilege to enter your store.

I tell you that I'm doing you a favour by entering your store ... well, technically, by buying something there.

You tell me that I have to pay you for that privilege of entry ...

... I tell you to go fly a kite!

They used to say, "The customer is always right".

That claim has become outdated, has it?

Guess I'm just a dinosaur (but this dinosaur has a wallet).

Oh ... that too is outdated? Been supeceded by plastic??

Well ... whadda ya know!!

o j

I agree with OJ. I don't belong to any club stores anymore, although I did at one time. The one I went to (I think it was Sam's) would let people come in without a card but you had to pay more if you didn't have the card. I would think that would make more sense. Just charge me more. I really don't need a membership since the nearest club store is over 60 miles away but there are times when I'd like to go in and get a few things when I'm in the area.

Well I think my membership is worth it is I can make those of you without one feel superior to me. Just doing my bit to help others.

P.S. Believe it or not, not all of us Costco members think we are saving big money. Personally I just like the selection of products AND I do save money on some products I'm going to buy anyway (yes, some products are actually less expensive than anywhere else I would normally buy them). I don't think about $1/week is an outrageous amount to pay for my Costco membership.

Here's the other side of the story.
A few weeks ago I was at Sam's Club with my mother. Went thru the line and purchased about 10 items. When I got to the exit the gentleman there checked my receipt against the number of items in my cart. Well, lo and behold, my receipt said I bought 10 items, but there were 11 items in my cart. Now I'm sure I put the tuna on the counter, but for some reason it was not scanned. I had not paid for it!
Off I went to the service desk to pay for the tuna!
So now you know why they count your items!
Kathy G in MI

I thought they marked the receipt so it can't be used twice. So you can't buy something, dump it in your car come back and fill your cart with the same thing and show a receipt for it?

I love Costco. We buy all our pet meds there, including cases of Ringer's Lactate. And I can't walk out of there with just the prescriptions either - I always end up getting something else. I don't know where the rest of you are shopping, but there are definitely deals at the Costco we go to. Buy in bulk and store it in the garage - especially paper goods, birdseed and cleaning supplies.

I have no problem at all with them asking for my card or checking my stuff when I walk out.

We once waited in line behind a man who had a cart full of food and party supplies - big quantities. He got up to the cashier, loaded everything onto the checkout, the cashier rang it all up and then he fumbled around and said he forgot his card. I don't know whether he did or didn't but it was embarrassing and time consuming for the rest of us to have to wait while he argued/pleaded with the cashier to ring him up "just this once".

I think that they don't count every basket, but just a sampling, one out of every so many gets a thorough check. Like going thru airport security, you never know how often they'll pull out someone for a more thorough check.

I knew a guy who worked the door at Costco. I don't know where your Costco is located, but ours are just full of shoplifters. They constantly try to smuggle stuff out buried by everything else. I've seen it myself, too.
They checked my basket once and asked where the stamps were. Seems I'd paid for them, but the checker forgot to give them to me. That's $50 that the door person saved me. Thank you very much.
They want to see my card at the door, so I have it in my hand when I walk in. Why spend 5 minutes arguing that you don't HAVE to show it? Wasted energy.

The checker at the entry door is there to keep non-members out. Why? You need your memeber card to make a purchase. lets suppose they did not check people entering the store and these folk selected items and appeared at the checkout. They could not be processed. What a mess and embarrasment! This is a poor time to tell someone they can not make the purchase; also, the goods in the cart has to be returned to the shelves by someone, and refrigerated items may have to be tossed out for a loss. This is a bad situation. Checking for memebrship when entering the store helps to eliminate this problem.

At my location, Sams Club will let a guest accompany a member since it is assummed that the member will effect any purchases.

You definitely have to know your prices, and you can buy things cheaper on sale at your local store.

However, we find that the money we save on certain items, and just being able to buy those items offsets the cost of the card.

An excellent example is the quinoa I recently bought. It sells for $5/lb at our bulk store and I bought a 3 lb bag for $8.
I buy all our toilet paper there, and kitty litter(50 lb box.) Both are cheaper than anywhere else I've seen.

The one thing I was so excited over and instantly bought was a double-pack of page protectors. 2 boxes of 100 sheets for $10. That was a steal. I'm happy with being a member. It's a treat for us to go, we don't go every week.

I asked the guy at the door if people try to steal stuff and he said all the time. Put something very small inside a bigger item etc.

We've had a Sam's membership for years and I really like it. Their meat is really good quality and I love the cheeses. I get a good deal on the G3 pens I like to use and have even bought clothes there. I love to browse the bakery department but the quantitites are too much for us, but if I was having a party, I'd sure head there for supplies. I only buy things I know we'll use within a reasonable time. Things that freeze well are the real bargains for me.

As far as checking you going in/out, that's just part of it and don't join if you don't care for it. Simple as that!

This has been very informative. I never thought about the 'why's' of checking the membership card as you enter or the receipt when you leave.

We joined Costco the year we bought a condo on Maui because there were so few other places to shop. We've purchased several things there, from a very nice upholstered chair to a set of pots and pans. Maui is also the only place I've ever shopped for anything (household items in this case) at WalMart -- out of desperation!

For a long time our local grocery stores at home only stocked 'Select' grade beef, while I could buy 'Choice' for a reasonable price at Costco. One of the reasons we've continued our membership is that they do not sell shoddy goods and do not question returns.

We visit Costco perhaps six times a year. I'm not an impulse buyer -- shop from my list and compare prices there just as I do anywhere.

We'll see how or if this changes. Costco is opening a new store that is 10 minutes from our home in about six weeks. Some of our local merchants must be quaking in their boots.