Next time you head to Costco, make sure you have your plastic or digital membership card – and a matching ID. The members-only warehouse retailer is really starting to crack down on non-members.
Costco confirmed in January it had begun testing the scanning of membership cards at the entrance of some locations, as a way to improve member experience in that cards wouldn't need to be scanned at checkout.
This full-on deployment of scanners across all locations is also meant to stem the flow of non-members using cards that do not belong to them.
"Over the coming months, membership scanning devices will be used at the entrance door of your local warehouse," read a recent update on the Costco website to members. "Once deployed, prior to entering, all members must scan their physical or digital membership card by placing the barcode or QR Code against the scanner."
Any guests must come with a member who has a membership card with them, the note continued. Customers with inactive memberships will be asked to "stop by the membership counter prior to entering the warehouse to shop."
Members are also encouraged to get a photo taken so it can be added to their card. Otherwise, they will need to show a valid photo ID.
New scanners were spotted at Costco locations in Huntington Beach, California, and Inglewood, California, Los Angeles TV station KTLA reported.
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Why is Costco scanning membership cards?
Scanning is another way to protect membership fees, which are big money for Costco.
The retailer earned $4.6 billion in membership fees from nearly 128 million members in 2023, according to the company's 2023 Annual Report, and $1.12 billion in fees in the most recent quarter.
Those fees are going up soon.
As of Sept. 1, "Gold Star" membership in the U.S. and Canada will cost $65, up from $60, and "Executive Memberships" will increase from $120 to $130, with the membership's maximum annual 2% reward increasing from $1,000 to $1,250.
It's Costco's first price hike since 2017.
Not only does Costco wants to not only prevent non-members from gaining entry, but also protect the benefits its paying members get.
Costco has not yet responded to a request for comment from USA TODAY. But last year, the company said in a statement to Business Insider: "We don't feel it's right that non members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members."
How do I get my Costco membership card?
Each "Gold Star" and "Executive" membership includes two membership cards. You can also get a digital membership card to use in the Costco app. Instructions are on the Costco website.
McDonald’s is trying to make collectibles cool again, offering customers a new combo meal paired with a one-of-a-kind cup set to “unlock core memories.”
The Collector’s Meal will have six unique collectible cups that will be available at participating McDonald’s restaurants.
The fast food chain wants customers to create new memories inspired by the designs on the collectible cups, challenging them to chase the “undeniable thrill” of finding an elusive design or completing a collection, company executive Morgan Flatley said in a news release.
“We’re bringing back some of our most-loved keepsakes with a twist, giving fans a memory that they can hold in their hand,” Flatley said. “These new collectible cups commemorate some of our most unforgettable designs and global collaborations over the years, allowing longtime fans to relive treasured moments and helping a new generation make their own lasting memories.”
McDonald’s is taking the collectible mania one step farther, giving customers the chance to check out an augmented reality experience, or head to New York City or Los Angeles for in-person collector experiences.
When will McDonald’s Collector’s Meal be available?
McDonald’s Collector’s Meal and the six collectible cups will be available at participating U.S. locations come Tuesday, Aug. 13 online, in stores and at the drive-thru.
What does McDonald’s Collector’s Meal come with?
If you happen to go to McDonald's during breakfast hours, then you get your Collector’s Meal with a sausage and egg sandwich, hash brown and a hot coffee.
A Collector’s Meal ordered during lunch gives you some more options, with customers being able to choose from a 10-piece nugget or Big Mac, along with fries and a drink.
The Collector’s Meal is set to be available all day, which means that “you can add to your collection whenever the mood strikes,” McDonald’s said.
What kind of cups come with the McDonald’s Collector’s Meal?
The designs picked to adorn the fast-food chain’s new line of collectible cups are a blast from the past, a nod to a time when childhood toys and McDonald’s for dinner were some of life’s simple joys.
The cups were designed to highlight classic keepsakes, which were at “the heart of fans’ McDonald’s experiences,” like the 1998 Cowpoke McNugget Buddy or 1993 McDonald’s Dragster.
“Did you miss out on the Hello Kitty Crew Keychain in 2000?" McDonald's writes in the news release. "Well, now is your chance – this time, presented on the new Hello Kitty collectible cup."
The cup designs include:
- McDonald’s
- Coca-Cola
- Hello Kitty & Peanuts
- Beanie Babies
- Barbie & Hot Wheels
- Shrek, Jurassic Park & Minions
Cups are collected with every purchase of a McDonalds’ Collector’s Meal.
Here is a rewritten version of the given text:
The economy's recovery from the pandemic has been driven primarily by consumer spending. Flush with savings and buoyed by a strong job market, Americans have spent exuberantly on goods like furniture and electronics, as well as services such as air travel and dining out. However, the sustainability of this spending has become a crucial question.
Despite some recent turbulence in global markets, many economists caution that there is no need to panic - at least not yet. In July, there was a notable slowdown in hiring and a rise in the unemployment rate, but consumer spending has remained relatively robust. Wages are still rising, though at a slower pace, and job cuts remain low.
"Overall, there isn't evidence of a retrenchment in consumer spending," said Gregory Daco, chief economist at the consulting firm EY-Parthenon. This consumer spending strength helped drive greater-than-expected economic growth in the spring.
However, this could change if the labor market's slowdown accelerates. Some consumers, especially those with lower incomes, are already feeling the dual pressure of higher prices and elevated interest rates, which are weighing on their finances. Credit card delinquencies are rising, and household debt has swelled, while pandemic-era savings have dwindled.
Corporate executives are acknowledging that customers are no longer spending as freely as they once did, and they are bracing for the slide to continue. Disney cited a "moderation of consumer demand" that "exceeded our previous expectations" for a newly challenging outlook at its theme parks. Other retailers, fast-food chains, and packaged-goods makers are also reporting more cautious consumer behavior.
Lower-income consumers, in particular, are feeling the strain, with some "dropping out of the market, eating at home and finding other ways to economize," according to McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski. In response, companies are offering more value-focused deals and promotions to lure these price-sensitive consumers back.
While retail sales have not yet buckled, retailers are observing changes in consumer spending patterns, with shoppers shifting towards lower-cost items and a decline in purchases of higher-ticket items. The consumer, though still willing to spend, is becoming more cautious, seeking value in their purchases.
Here is a rewritten version of the given text:
The retail industry is facing a challenging consumer environment, with shoppers becoming more discerning and cautious in their spending. Macy's CEO Tony Spring described consumers as "under pressure, discerning, very choiceful," while Gap noted it was taking a "measured view of the consumer environment."
Retailers across various sectors, from electronics and furniture to higher-end home goods, are reporting signs of consumer reluctance. Big Lots cited a "continued pullback in consumer spending" on high-ticket discretionary items, and Williams-Sonoma observed a decline in large furniture purchases, though textiles and easy decorating updates remained healthy.
Even higher-income consumers, who have generally been less affected by high interest rates, appear to be making some adjustments. Walmart, for example, has seen an influx of higher-income shoppers during the height of inflation and is now aiming to retain them with a revamped private-label food line.
As retailers prepare to report their most recent quarterly earnings, analysts will be looking for further signs of belt-tightening among shoppers. The Federal Reserve is expected to begin cutting interest rates in mid-September, which could provide some relief, but there are concerns that the weak July jobs data could signal deeper consumer restraint in the months ahead.
The key risk is that firms may start to pull back on hiring, leading to job losses, which could then trigger a self-fulfilling cycle of reduced consumer spending and further revenue declines, potentially driving more job cuts. Economists warn that this could have a more widespread impact on the economy if the trend continues.
Wendy's is offering a sweet summer treat for all the frosty "spoon scoopers, fry dippers and straw sippers" by charging only $1 for their famous Frostys.
The press release states, "As summer ends, Wendy's is giving fans a celebratory treat that can't be beat."
Now until September 15, Wendy's fans can buy the Classic Chocolate Frosty or the seasonal Triple Berry Frosty, which contains strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry flavors, for $1 at participating Wendy's restaurants across the country.
What's the best way to eat a frosty?
Around 70% of people choose to scoop their frosty with a spoon, 15% choose to sip it from a straw, and another 15% choose to dip fries into their frosty, states the press release.
Gen Z is more likely to dip their fries into a frosty.
Additionally, those who are extra excited about the Frosty deal can now express it by using frosty stickers in their WhatsApp group chats, according to an Instagram post.