Costco is rolling out nationwide entry scanners to verify memberships, speeding up checkouts and making sure non-members don’t sneak in to enjoy the $1.50 hot dog special.

Starting in Costco stores across the nation, all members will now be greeted by high-tech entry scanners that validate memberships the moment they step through the doors. This initiative, aimed at optimizing checkout efficiency and ensuring that the coveted discounted hot dogs are enjoyed strictly by the paying members, requires shoppers to flash their physical or digital cards—or endure the humiliation of the walk of shame to the membership counter. Already tested in select U.S. and UK stores, this system is rolling out just as Costco raises its membership fees for the first time in seven years, because who wouldn’t want to pay a little extra for the irony of a more streamlined shopping experience?

Costco aficionados, brace yourselves. The days of sneaking in behind your friend with the membership card are over. If that wasn't sufficient motivation to get your own card, the new scanning devices at entry points might be. Equipped to read both physical and digital cards, these gadgets ensure that every single shopper waltzing in is a card-carrying member of Costco. Forget your card? If your dazzling smile isn't enough, a photo ID is also required if your card lacks a photo. The days of infiltrating the aisles with borrowed cards are coming to an abrupt end.

Guests who don't have their own membership card must be chaperoned by a cardholder. So if you were planning on casually browsing through a 20-pound bag of quinoa with just a borrowed card, think again. With the implementation of this new system, Costco has deftly curtailed the potential freeloading of guests unaccompanied by an actual member.

The implementation of this scanning system promises not only to preserve the sanctity of membership but also to expedite the shopping and checkout process. With reduced unauthorized entries, the lines should (theoretically) move faster, leading to quicker parking space turnover. For anyone who's ever circled a Costco parking lot like a vulture over a particularly juicy carcass, this news is nothing short of a retail miracle.

For the skeptics out there, fear not. The scanners have been rigorously tested in select locations, including a handful in Washington and California. With test runs in both the U.S. and the U.K., the system has proven to be viable. Now, with a planned nationwide roll-out, these high-tech bouncers may soon become a common feature in many U.S. Costco stores.

And what better time to implement this entry scanner system than right on the heels of a nationwide membership fee increase? Starting September 1, the basic membership fee will rise from $60 to $65, while the executive membership enjoys a bump from $120 to $130. If you're doing the math, that’s a $5 and $10 increase respectively. This is Costco's first fee hike in seven years, an announcement that may have prompted a few grumbles but seems justified given the enhancements in shopping efficiency. Plus, the feeling of exclusive access to the sacred aisles of bulk greatness surely has its own, indefinable value.

The financial health of Costco tells a story of thriving prosperity. The company reported an impressive profit of $1.68 billion in the third quarter ending in May 2024. It turns out memberships are a lucrative business; Costco raked in $4.6 billion in membership fees last year—an 8% increase from 2022. The grocery giant's spokesperson has emphasized that non-members benefiting from the same deals as paying members is nothing short of an injustice. With profits so heavily reliant on these fees, protecting the value of membership is more critical than ever.

Should you have the misfortune of stepping into a Costco with an inactive or expired membership, don't expect mercy. The scanners are ruthless, directing errant members straight to the membership counter for a little quality time with customer service. Only those with valid memberships will make it beyond the Happy Ian, the diligent cart checker near the exit.

Costco's crackdown isn't just about keeping unauthorized shoppers at bay. It's part of a bigger picture aimed at enhancing overall efficiency and ensuring members genuinely feel they are getting their money's worth. As Costco rolls out these measures and implements its first membership fee increase in seven years, raising the basic membership fee from $60 to $65 and the executive membership fee from $120 to $130, members need to make sure their membership is up to date and ready for inspection right at the door. So, remember to bring your membership card, folks—this isn't just another VIP club night where you can slip past the bouncer.