Costco, the members-only warehouse giant, is discreetly broadening a crackdown on non-members trying to access its famously cheap food courts. The chain is expanding self-checkout systems that include mandatory membership card scanners, effectively barring anyone without a paid subscription from purchasing its bargain meals.
The End of an Era for Non-Members
For years, Costco has been celebrated for its incredibly priced food court offerings, which have acted as a loss leader and a tantalising teaser for potential members. The most legendary item is the $1.50 hot dog and soda combination, a price that has remained stubbornly unchanged since 1985. Other popular deals include a $1.99 pizza slice and a $3.99 chicken bake.
Previously, some food courts, particularly those located outdoors where customers didn't need to pass through the main warehouse, were accessible to the general public. This allowed non-members to enjoy the cheap eats, a practice Costco is now decisively ending.
How the New System Works
Eagle-eyed shoppers on Reddit first spotted the new hardware being installed. One user posted a photo of a food court self-checkout machine now equipped with a membership card scanner, noting that an employee confirmed the devices were 'recently hooked up but not operational at this time.'
Another user commented, 'Mine has had these more than a year. No more lunch hot dogs for non members.' A third simply stated, 'No more free loaders at the food courts.' The sentiment among many paying members is positive, with some reporting that the verification process has helped to reduce queues.
A user claiming to be a Costco employee added credibility to the reports, stating, 'I'm a food court employee, and I've heard that they've been wanting to implement these for all Costcos for a while now. Seems like they might be finally doing it.'
Official Reasoning and Nationwide Rollout
This move follows a policy change last year where Costco began requiring membership card checks at its outdoor food courts. In an interview with Axios, Richard Galanti, the company's former Chief Financial Officer, explained the rationale. He confirmed the change was initially rolled out at exterior food courts, citing member complaints about overcrowding.
'One of the challenges is that some of the food courts have gotten so busy, particularly if it's near some office buildings or construction sites,' Galanti said. 'We were getting member complaints.' The implementation of scanners is therefore partly a measure to manage capacity and improve the experience for paying members.
If this new system is implemented across all stores, anyone craving Costco's food court staples will have to purchase a membership. This means forking out at least $65 for a standard Gold Star Membership or $130 for an Executive Membership.
The company has remained silent on the specific timeline for the national rollout, having not responded to requests for comment. However, the evidence from shoppers across the country suggests the quiet expansion is well underway, signalling the end of a popular loophole for bargain hunters.
