Costco Customers are Just Finding Out About This Big Food Court Change, and They Say It's 'About Time'
Costco Wholesale
Having a Costco membership comes with its own set of unique benefits that non-members generally do not have access to. And whether you pay $60 or $120 for the bulk retailers annual membership fee, it is comforting to know that you are paying into a loyalty program which values its customers and ensures the lowest prices on quality goods.
The reality of the matter is, however, that when it comes to Costco’s food court, it can be a bit of open season for non-members looking to take advantage of the popular eatery’s low menu prices. Representatives from Costco have been reported as saying that the structure of the membership program is of the utmost importance, though it seems as though the company still has a lot of work to do. And in regards to ensuring the exclusivity of membership benefits, some locations have already begun cracking down on some pretty standard rules and regulations.
Related: The Costco Rotisserie Chicken Change That Has Fans Riled Up
In a post shared to the always informative Costco subreddit, one user found a sign posted in their local Orlando, Florida warehouse that read: “Effective April 8, 2024, an active Costco membership will be required to purchase items from our food court.”
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For some, the sign acts as a way to motivate shoppers to go ahead and invest in a membership, but for those who have actively paid for years of membership, it's something that should have been in effect the whole time.
“[It] was mandatory at most locations already,” one commenter replied to the post regarding the Orlando location. Continuing on to say, “as teens without memberships, we always went through the exit to the food court and I think in 2022 (Harrisonburg, VA) they implemented the membership card for the food court as well.” Another user added on the fact that at their local Costco, “We only have self checkout at our food court and it doesn’t require a scan of the membership.”
As it turns out, Costco already made it a requirement for all locations to have a membership card in order to visit the food court all the way back in 2020. And in light of the company's recent CFO changes, along with other important changes to the membership checking policy, it's clear that the popular bulk retailer is still prioritizing membership retention and in a big way. Not to mention the incoming fresh sushi bars we all have to look forward to, becoming a member seems more and more like a no-brainer.
