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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 9, 2024 4:18:06 GMT
The Louisville Costco Liquor Store that I have been to when visiting my sister has a separate entrance for the liquor store, so that is one way around that law. They let anyone into the liquor store, but they cannot access the rest of the store from there. But if you are legitimate Costco member, do you also have to go to the other entrance to buy liquor? Can you buy it while doing regular Costco shopping? That wouldn't go over well here in California. We are so used to being able to buy liquor from just about any store with a liquor license. While there is a liquor section, the grocery stores also have liquor spread out around the store. The Costco store I usually go to is a newer one and the liquor store is inside the same building but it has a separate entrance once you go through the main outside entrance, it’s off to the side with a huge cart hallway in between where all the extra carts are stored. If you want to buy something from the liquor store you have to do that either before or after you do your regular Costco shopping. As for having to scan the membership before entering, I have zero issues with that and I’m all for keeping people honest. I’m paying for the privilege of being able to shop there and everyone else who enjoys shopping there should have to do the same. It’s no different than the people who were cheating the streaming services by sharing their memberships with people outside of their households. I have the app on my phone so I show that when I go in because it’s easier than digging out my card. I don’t anticipate it being any slower than scanning my phone when I check out. When they started cracking down at the self checkouts, they had an employee checking people’s memberships while they were standing in line waiting for a self checkout station to open up. That went on for several months, but lately they haven’t been checking it. Someone does check the receipt when you’re done and before you head for the exit. I’m not sure how the pharmacy situation will be handled, since ours is inside the store proper and you have to go through the main entrance to get to it. I too love Costco. It’s probably my favorite store, and it’s definitely the place where I spend the most money annually. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,887
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 9, 2024 4:56:11 GMT
I went to the new Costco in riverbank, CA this week and they had the membership scanner. I had the app open in my phone, walked by, scanned it and went on my way, didn’t even have to slow down. It wasn’t any slower than when I walk in and flash my phone. The guy before me had an expired card and scanned his and the door guy let him know his card was expired and he’d have to renew to purchase.
I went in for soy milk which this particular one doesn’t carry 😡 and walked out with nothing. I wonder if the entry scanner and the registers “talk” and it recorded me as entering but not purchasing. Just something I wondered as I walked out without a purchase in hand.
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Post by wordfish on Aug 10, 2024 13:10:54 GMT
We went to Costco a few days ago in La Mesa (I think that is San Diego County?) and the scanner was in use. The only lag it caused was in explaining how to use it to a few people. I had my card out to show the person so it just sort of translated to showing the scanner instead. I had one of my daughters with me, who didn't have her Costco card, and she came in with no issues or questions.
It seemed like sort of a non-issue overall, kind of the same basic process.
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,293 
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 10, 2024 13:22:49 GMT
But if you are legitimate Costco member, do you also have to go to the other entrance to buy liquor? Can you buy it while doing regular Costco shopping? That wouldn't go over well here in California. We are so used to being able to buy liquor from just about any store with a liquor license. While there is a liquor section, the grocery stores also have liquor spread out around the store. The Costco store I usually go to is a newer one and the liquor store is inside the same building but it has a separate entrance once you go through the main outside entrance, it’s off to the side with a huge cart hallway in between where all the extra carts are stored. If you want to buy something from the liquor store you have to do that either before or after you do your regular Costco shopping. As for having to scan the membership before entering, I have zero issues with that and I’m all for keeping people honest. I’m paying for the privilege of being able to shop there and everyone else who enjoys shopping there should have to do the same. It’s no different than the people who were cheating the streaming services by sharing their memberships with people outside of their households. I have the app on my phone so I show that when I go in because it’s easier than digging out my card. I don’t anticipate it being any slower than scanning my phone when I check out. When they started cracking down at the self checkouts, they had an employee checking people’s memberships while they were standing in line waiting for a self checkout station to open up. That went on for several months, but lately they haven’t been checking it. Someone does check the receipt when you’re done and before you head for the exit. I’m not sure how the pharmacy situation will be handled, since ours is inside the store proper and you have to go through the main entrance to get to it. I too love Costco. It’s probably my favorite store, and it’s definitely the place where I spend the most money annually. With tech it would be cool if they had pharmacy users scan their IDs to show they do indeed have an Rx there. As for alcohol, not sure how that would work. |
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Post by chrissyc72 on Aug 10, 2024 13:26:04 GMT
Mine isn’t doing it yet but I won’t mind it being done.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 10, 2024 13:37:07 GMT
With tech it would be cool if they had pharmacy users scan their IDs to show they do indeed have an Rx there. As for alcohol, not sure how that would work. At the store I usually go to, there’s no gatekeeper at the main entry to the building itself. It’s like a big vestibule with the entrance to the store on one side and the entrance to the liquor store on the other side and a big hallway in between where the excess carts are kept. Anyone who wants to go into just the liquor store part can walk right in. With the pharmacy even if someone had an Rx they would have to go through the whole store to get to where the pharmacy or optical/hearing aid sections are. Once you’re in, you’re in. |
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,408
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Post by artbabe on Aug 10, 2024 14:55:36 GMT
Thinking back, I would say we didn't even get a new photo when they switched from Amex (still mourning over that) to Visa. The fact that you had to use an Amex credit card was the reason I didn't join Costco before. I do not like credit cards. Ask about teacher deals! My friend signed up and she got a $40 shop card. They have a citi visa that gives a percentage back too. Between the citi visa for shopping and the gas rebates at the end of the year, our membership is more than paid for each year Once again, not a credit card fan. I had one credit card for emergencies and the company cancelled it because I wasn't using it. I just got one from my bank this week and I'm going to have to remember to put something on it once in awhile so they won't cancel it, too. I just do not like credit cards at all- they just don't work with my ADHD. I know people don't like debit cards but they have saved me and my credit rating. I did join Costco, though- just linked it to my debit card. |
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Post by katlady on Aug 10, 2024 15:02:24 GMT
artbabe We’ve never had our Costco membership card linked to a credit or debit card. Is this something new?? I know Costco has credit cards that give rebates on purchases, but we never signed up for those. We just have a plain old generic plastic card with only our membership info on it.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,618
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Aug 10, 2024 15:52:14 GMT
Crazy to see how liquor sales happen in other states. In Ca I can go to Staters Bros, Albertsons, Costco, Vons, CVS, Food 4 Less, etc etc etc and buy groceries and alcohol or pharmacy needs and alcohol. No separate lines needed. You just can't use self checkout. In Canada only Alberta has a separate entrance and no membership is needed, it's against provincial laws. We're the only province to have fully privatized liquor (been like that since the early 90s). In Saskatchewan and Quebec they have wine and beer or just wine inside the store in a separate area. I saw an article that said all Canadian locations will be getting entrance scanners. |
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Post by cakediva on Aug 10, 2024 17:02:29 GMT
It would appear I was mistaken! I just saw a post on a local-ish page. Costco here in Canada will be implementing this as well.
Cue all the outrage from people (who obviously don't have memberships) and add in the outrage at yet another machine taking away a job (no a person still has to view the scan to compare to the person holding it)....
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 10, 2024 17:36:58 GMT
The fact that you had to use an Amex credit card was the reason I didn't join Costco before. I do not like credit cards. You have never had to use a credit card. You have always been able to use cash or debit cards to pay at Costco. In fact, in the early days those were the only choices. Then the Amex card was added as an option - the only option if you wanted to use a credit card at Costco. Now the only credit card option is Citi Visa. But you can still, and have always been able to, use cash or debit cards.  |
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Post by Scrapper100 on Aug 10, 2024 17:44:56 GMT
The fact that you had to use an Amex credit card was the reason I didn't join Costco before. I do not like credit cards. You have never had to use a credit card. You have always been able to use cash or debit cards to pay at Costco. In fact, in the early days those were the only choices. Then the Amex card was added as an option - the only option if you wanted to use a credit card at Costco. Now the only credit card option is Citi Visa. But you can still, and have always been able to, use cash or debit cards. They accepted Discover for years before Amex I think this was back in the early 90’s maybe even the late 80’s. |
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Post by katlady on Aug 10, 2024 17:45:43 GMT
Now the only credit card option is Citi Visa You can actually use any VISA branded card. I use my Amazon VISA at Costco. I tried once to use my Apple Card until the cashier and I figured out the Apple Card is a Mastercard. |
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Post by katlady on Aug 10, 2024 17:46:18 GMT
You have never had to use a credit card. You have always been able to use cash or debit cards to pay at Costco. In fact, in the early days those were the only choices. Then the Amex card was added as an option - the only option if you wanted to use a credit card at Costco. Now the only credit card option is Citi Visa. But you can still, and have always been able to, use cash or debit cards. They accepted Discover for years before Amex I think this was back in the early 90’s maybe even the late 80’s. Oh Yeah!! I had a Discover Card just because of that. |
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 10, 2024 18:00:17 GMT
Discover must have been before my Costco time katlady and Scrapper100.  I didn't realize you could use any Visa, but our Citi Visa is also our membership card (number and photo on the back). It doesn't mean we have to use it to pay, but we always do. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 10, 2024 19:04:37 GMT
Discover must have been before my Costco time katlady and Scrapper100 .  I didn't realize you could use any Visa, but our Citi Visa is also our membership card (number and photo on the back). It doesn't mean we have to use it to pay, but we always do. Yes, you can use any Visa, even a debit card if it has the Visa logo on it. I have my Costco Visa linked to my membership on the app on my phone, and most of the time I don’t even have to pull my card out of my purse. They just ask if I want to use my linked payment card, I say yes, they click a button and it automatically charges my Visa. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 10, 2024 19:10:31 GMT
Okay, you all have talked me into it. I'm going to get a membership tomorrow. Ask about teacher deals! My friend signed up and she got a $40 shop card. They have a citi visa that gives a percentage back too. Between the citi visa for shopping and the gas rebates at the end of the year, our membership is more than paid for each year I love the rebates! Between the executive 2% and the Visa rebates, we get between $500-800 back in rebates every year. I buy almost all my gas there, most of our groceries, a lot of my clothes and some clothes for DD, tires for the car, any vacations we go on are booked through there, most electronics. Plus I use that Visa everywhere else except for Target. It’s like getting the membership for free. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,887
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 11, 2024 1:46:57 GMT
Ask about teacher deals! My friend signed up and she got a $40 shop card. They have a citi visa that gives a percentage back too. Between the citi visa for shopping and the gas rebates at the end of the year, our membership is more than paid for each year I love the rebates! Between the executive 2% and the Visa rebates, we get between $500-800 back in rebates every year. I buy almost all my gas there, most of our groceries, a lot of my clothes and some clothes for DD, tires for the car, any vacations we go on are booked through there, most electronics. Plus I use that Visa everywhere else except for Target. It’s like getting the membership for free. Same. I use my Target Red Card at Target but my Citi Visa gets used ALL the time. We pay it off each month so there aren't any penalties. |
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,293
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 11, 2024 2:57:46 GMT
I use my Citi Costco cash back and Costco executive rewards for something fun.
I have my membership on auto renewal.
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