‘Imagine Nordstrom doing that!’ shopper says as they vow they won’t become Costco member due to ‘controversial’ policy

COSTCO’s controversial member’s policy has seen one shopper refuse to shop at the store again.

Major retailers are beginning to introduce more anti-theft measures as the industry struggles with multi-billion losses per year.

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While certain procedures are new at certain retailers, receipt checks have been a staple of Costco for years and are mandatory under its membership contract.

However, one shopper felt so criminalized during their time at Costco, that they have vowed never to return.

“I would love to join @Costco but I refuse to be accosted by their security personnel who just stood there 20 feet away watching me check out before rudely demanding to see my sales receipt before allowing me to exit,” one person posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Imagine Nordstrom doing that.”

“They literally do that with everyone tho,” one shopper replied.

“I haven’t been to a Costco where they didn’t check my receipt.”

Costco claims that the receipt check policy is not strictly an anti-theft measure and even benefits customers.

Instead, it is to “double-check that the items purchased have been correctly processed,” according to the retailer’s website.

The retailer states: “It’s our most effective method of maintaining accuracy in inventory control, and it’s also a good way to ensure that our members have been charged properly for their purchases.”

Despite members agreeing to such checks when they sign up, the increased use of them at other chains including Walmart and Target is seeing shoppers become frustrated.

Molly Burke, a senior retail analyst at Software Advice, exclusively told The U.S. Sun how anti-theft measures such as receipt checks and locked-up items can drive shoppers to rival stores.

In addition, she warned businesses that it can make customers “feel like criminals when they are just trying to shop.”

“Those more restrictive techniques definitely impact the customer experience,” she said.

“People really don’t like those tactics. It makes them feel like criminals when they are just trying to shop for the goods that they need.

“They are certainly not the only effective tools in retailers’ took kits that they can use.”

Burke’s warnings are certainly being proven after a former Costco executive member moved to rival Sam’s Club due to its new tech update removing the need for receipt checks.