Costco to begin enforcing membership at their food courts (fast food, freeze, meal)
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I'm a member now, but before that, I did duck into their food court on a couple of occasions to check out their food items there. Cheap, "delicious enough" (given the price. I wasn't expecting the Ritz), and unless you're at a popular location during meal times, the lines and wait time were on the level. This was also far back enough that they were cash only (I'm sure before they introduced their own Visa card), citing most of their transactions were below $5, and the credit card fees were killing them.
Now, I don't really bother with the food court. Especially since they took away the beef brisket sandwich ($5), their mocha freeze is delicious but far too sugary, and they haven't seemed to introduce anything new. I may go back for a chicken bake ($3) or turkey provolone sandwich ($4), but your typical Costco is in an affluent enough area of town that I'll have plenty of better eating options (mind you, definitely NOT cheaper).
I don't know how many people did/will try to order from the café as nonmembers, but it doesn't seem like it'll make much of a difference. If nothing else, I'm just surprised it took them this long to enforce that policy.
I don't know how people got in, at all the Costco I have been to, they ask for membership cards at the front door. We sometimes get the hot dog special, Also liked the brisket sandwich, didn't know that was discontinued.
The Costco locations near us are quite crowded, so we don’t have a membership. I’ve been inside a few as a “guest”, but it would not be my first choice for shopping. My brother and his family love Costco and shop there frequently.
I don't know how people got in, at all the Costco I have been to, they ask for membership cards at the front door. We sometimes get the hot dog special, Also liked the brisket sandwich, didn't know that was discontinued.
Most Costco food courts are accessible through the exit doors. Even so, you can go inside without a membership - you do not need one to use the pharmacy.
Most Costco food courts are accessible through the exit doors. Even so, you can go inside without a membership - you do not need one to use the pharmacy.
So are the cashiers in the food courts going to ask to see your Costco card before you can order the famous $1.50 hot dog and drink?
A number of Costcos in my area have moved their food courts outdoors. You don't have to go inside at all to buy food there. So there are probably plenty of people who stop by just to buy a meal or snack, who aren't members. In fact, I heard that this new rule would negatively affect the "poor and homeless" (obviously non-members), although there seem to be plenty of other cheap fast food joints around.
I assume the food court will ask to see your card as they do when you purchase other items. How else could they enforce the membership rule?
On the other hand, our Costcos (there are three nearby) no longer care about seeing your membership card when you walk in. You can go in, you just can't purchase anything (other than food or a visit to the independent optometrist) without it.
I think it's a good thing. The lines at the food court is getting too long. This will cut it down. They need to enforce the membership entry at the returns entrance.
Sam's club just started checking membership at the entrance too. Good start to cut down at their food court lines.
The Costco locations near us are quite crowded, so we don’t have a membership. I’ve been inside a few as a “guest”, but it would not be my first choice for shopping. My brother and his family love Costco and shop there frequently.
Good pint. Though there's a Costco where the food court is outside, so it's easy for non members to pay at the kiosk and then pick up their food, and the kiosk doesn't even require you to use Costco's Visa card.
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