Your Membership Card Will Now Be Required on Your Next Costco Food Court Visit

onlinements 35

1. 

   Carling March 5, 2020 at 2:58 pm MST

   Bummer. My son always goes over and gets a snack while I am in line.

   Reply1
• 

  dblD amber March 5, 2020 at 3:21 pm MST

  I was thinking the same exact thing.

  Reply1
• 

  Savvy Mom March 5, 2020 at 3:34 pm MST

  If you use the app, then you can checkout with your digital card on it and your kids can take your card.

  Reply3

  2
• 

  dylanfan March 5, 2020 at 3:39 pm MST

  They will verify it’s the member that is on the card is what our stores said.

  Reply
• 

  Celenorma March 5, 2020 at 3:40 pm MST

  Thanks for that tip!

  Reply
• 

  Cali March 5, 2020 at 4:45 pm MST

  Can you just buy the gift card, and have your son use that to buy food?

  Reply
2. 

   Court March 5, 2020 at 3:01 pm MST

   That stinks

   Reply
3. 

   ShellyShel March 5, 2020 at 3:06 pm MST

   This doesn’t bother me since I’ve owned a membership for years & it simply, just makes sense too! More room at the tables for actual members 👌

   Reply1

   1
• 

  Lynne March 5, 2020 at 7:33 pm MST

  I totally agree. Can never get a seat and I know for sure the majority are not members. Most of my neighbors go just for the bargain lunches and don’t pay for membership.

  Reply

  1
4. 

   calidel March 5, 2020 at 3:09 pm MST

   I think it’s good and bad. In the end though I’m sure Costco will see the huge sales they lost in a year and will then revert back to just selling to everyone. Just saying…

   Reply2

   3
• 

  jen March 5, 2020 at 3:36 pm MST

  I think they are enforcing it because they lose money with how cheap the food is. No price in crease in 30+ years. They want people to buy products when they onlinee in to eat and you cant do that without a membership.

  Reply1

  1
• 

  Laureney March 5, 2020 at 4:48 pm MST

  Exactly. It’s a loss for them with the $1.50 hot dog and soda deal. They had an article about it in Costco Connected awhile back.

  Reply
• 

  Lexy March 5, 2020 at 9:05 pm MST

  Costco doesn’t rely on their food court profit that’s why it’s so cheap. I saw a video about it

  Reply
5. 

   Go Zags March 5, 2020 at 3:12 pm MST

   I have a Costco card so it doesn’t effect me but I think it is a bummer. Also doesn’t effect me since I rarely go to the food court anymore. The Polish Dog was my fave and they did away with that. Last time I was at Costco I picked up a smoothie from the food court. Only had paper straws. That is a joke for use with the smoothie. Never again.

   Reply2
• 

  Celenorma March 5, 2020 at 4:55 pm MST

  OMG yes! I feel ya. Those straws are horrible! And RIP polish sausage, my fave!

  Reply

  1
• 

  JHawks March 5, 2020 at 8:45 pm MST

  I LOVE their paper straws!! We easily drank our smoothies within two hours and the straws worked great!!

  Reply1
• 

  Di Di March 6, 2020 at 6:01 am MST

  It should NOT take 2 hours to drink a smoothie! IMHO.

  Reply

  2
6. 

   lezers05 March 5, 2020 at 3:21 pm MST

   I am actually SO glad they are doing this. Our Costco is by a high school and they have an open campus for lunch. They always seem to go to Costco food court and it’s a joke trying to get through them. They are so rude to the actual customers and workers. And lately they have been kicked out for such terrible language and yelling at each other. I am sure this will help with the issue. Now if the food court would only bring back the polish dog…

   Reply2

   1
• 

  jessie March 5, 2020 at 3:58 pm MST

  Ok that makes sense. I was thinking who in their right mind is going to Costco and try to get a parking spot only get food and then leave said parking spot and try not to hit someone and then just go to get food to burp later. LOL!!

  Reply2
• 

  coupongirl1210 March 5, 2020 at 4:26 pm MST

  Lol, I was wondering too who would think to go into Costco just for the food court!

  Reply
• 

  Cali March 5, 2020 at 4:49 pm MST

  I always see people hop out of a car that is in the gasoline line. By the time the car gets to the pump, the people onlinee back from the food court loaded up with food.

  Reply
• 

  Lexy March 5, 2020 at 9:07 pm MST

  Good for you

  Reply
7. 

   Lisa JP March 5, 2020 at 4:40 pm MST

   Our Costco’s started this about six months ago. I haven’t noticed the food court being any less busy. They do actually verify you are the member on the card, so you can’t send your kids without you.

   Reply
8. 

   Bethany March 5, 2020 at 5:18 pm MST

   I assume sams club and BJs will soon follow suit

   Reply1
• 

  J.H.509 March 6, 2020 at 7:20 am MST

  Our local Sam’s club started “carding” last year. They won’t even let you through the doors without seeing your membership. I feel if you want to eat there you should have a membership

  Reply
9. 

   jen March 5, 2020 at 5:20 pm MST

   I wonder if I order from the kiosk, if I’ll have to swipe the card like at the gas station or they’ll ask to see it once I go pickup the order?

   Reply
10. 

    agh925 March 5, 2020 at 5:40 pm MST

    I didn’t know it was even an option to go without a membership card! That’s funny.

    Reply
11. 

    todd March 5, 2020 at 6:21 pm MST

    Good….that’s the way it should be. That’s what he pay for, member only exclusives like the food court.

    Reply
12. 

    Jackie March 5, 2020 at 7:54 pm MST

    Ours has had this policy for a couple of years now (though we don’t have to show the card in the food court, just at the door to get in any entrance) You used to be able to go through the exit/returns door and just go to the food court, not in the main store, and visit the food court without membership cards. However, they were inundated with high school kids who walked over at lunchtime, so they started the membership requirement. As I recall, right before they started it, there were lots of opened packages and a lot of theft from the store since no one was checking memberships as you were wandering around, just at the door and at checkout. Perhaps this is why too.

    Reply
13. 

    Nicole c March 5, 2020 at 8:24 pm MST

    That sucks ☹️ my Costco has a separate food court so it’s not helping them with purchases because it’s in a separate building onlinepletely most of the money they make are probably from outside people

    Reply
14. 

    Karen March 5, 2020 at 8:30 pm MST

    Off topic but I wish Costco would bring back the pretzels in the food court. They were sooooo good!

    Reply
15. 

    Lexy March 5, 2020 at 9:10 pm MST

    Well good thing I just activated my Costco account thanks to Hip2Save & Groupon – the only reason I opened an account was because I wanted to buy the tiramisu by the time I actually went in store to activate it -it was gone🤨

    Reply1
• 

  kidsallgone March 5, 2020 at 9:53 pm MST

  You can cancel your membership for any reason and get a refund.

  Reply
16. 

    3boys March 5, 2020 at 10:01 pm MST

    This is mostly FALSE!
    A *few* stores have had this policy in place, some other ones are implementing it… our Minnesota StarTribune investigated:
    http://www.startribune.online/costco-nonmembers-can-still-use-food-courts-contrary-to-recent-reports/568173252/
    “Costco nonmembers can still use food courts, contrary to recent reports
    Membership is also not required to buy prescriptions or alcohol at Costco or Sam’s Clubs.
    Costco’s beloved $2 pizza slice and the $1.50 hot dog with drink are back for all the nonmembers who crave them. But they were never really gone.
    Reports of Costco restricting food court access only to members surfaced a few days ago, causing an online outcry, but one Twin Cities Costco general manager said that the only clubs that won’t allow nonmembers to use the food court are in California.
    Even at those clubs, including one in San Diego, the change is a test that may not beonlinee permanent, he said.
    Technically, membership is required to purchase items at the food court, but it is not enforced. A membership card is not required to be shown or swiped for payment at the food courts.

    Nonmembers typically avoid being stopped for their membership card at the entrance by entering through the exit where cards are not checked.

    Most Costco store layouts place food courts near the exit making the food court purchases convenient.

    Nonmembers are also allowed to purchase prescriptions and alcohol at Costco, as well as similar membership retailers like Sam’s Club, because of federal or state laws.

    At Sam’s Clubs, nonmembers can tell the attendant they are only using the food court or pharmacy to be admitted to the store.

    Costco and Sam’s Club liquor stores in Minnesota have separate entrances because of Minnesota law, and do not require a membership card.

    Costco’s basic membership costs $60 annually. Sam’s Club charges $45.”

    Reply

    1
17. 

    Laurie Villotta March 6, 2020 at 5:52 am MST

    I had a GC from Costco that I had to use. I had a list of items. Not one single thing on my list they did not carry. I love Sams club. And no we do not need to show ID at FC.

    Reply