Rhiannon Ingle
Costco has rolled out a major change and it's sparked quite the heated discussion online over the sneaky loophole that will no longer work.
Now, Costco's entire business model revolves around bulk buying, which gives customers a pretty decent bargain deal each time they shop there.
But it's unfortunately not as simple as rocking up to your local superstore to pick yourself up an industrial pack of loo roll, a 30-pack of crisps or a months-long supply of fizzy drinks, as any customer needs a membership in order to peruse the products.
Membership cards cost £52 (roughly $65), which allows members to access the food court's full menu.
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And it's not just the products you needed the revered membership for either, as Costco also treats its members with their famous $1.50 hot dog and soda deal - a price which reportedly hasn't increased since way back in 1985!
However, non-members have since been taking advantage of the über cheap bargain, prompting the chain to roll out a policy which will put a stop to those who haven’t signed up benefiting from the food court loophole once and for all.
The way it works is that scanners are added to the self-checkout kiosks, meaning those without a card won’t be able to buy food there. Scanners have already reportedly been fitted in some regions, including Southern and Northern California, per FOODbible.
Such scanners have been fitted at the most 'vulnerable' locations for abuse, including outdoor food court locations, which were the easiest to access.
Despite the policy, which was reportedly announced in April 2024, making sense on paper, it's sparked quite the heated debate online, with many rushing to social media to share their verdicts.
"It'll take another few years to implement them in Nebraska, unfortunately," penned one individual, while another Costco member took to Reddit to claim it was unfair that they should be 'subsidising non-members' with the loophole.
"It’s been great since the lines are shorter and get your order sooner," praised a third person in favour of the new rule.
A fourth echoed: "Good. Food court is one of the highest cost departments and seldom breaks even. Scraping the barnacles off the hull will be good for employees and shareholders alike."
A fifth commented: "You don't need to scan at ours to enter the exit and go to the food court. We get a lot of high school boys coming for lunch, etc."
Someone who claimed they were a Costco employee said there is often tension between those with and without Costco cards, while another so-called employee claimed people who sneak in to use the food court are 'always rude’.
"Can't wait for this to be implemented at ours," they explained, saying 'the meltdowns are going to be epic’ when people realise they can no longer take advantage of the loophole.
As per FOODbible, Costco has said the rollout has come after feedback they received from members, and also to crack down on overcrowding.