New Change Rolling Out Soon at Costco Stores in Minnesota + Illinois

I do a lot of embarrassing things.  Not on purpose.  They just happen.  One of the latest was at a Costco in Minnesota.

You know how you walk through the big door at Costco and flash your membership card to the nice person standing there acting like the bouncer?  We all know the drill.  Grab an oversized cart.  As you are pushing that towards the door you fumble around to find your card in your wallet.  You find it just in time to show the Costco bouncer and BAM!, you are in.

READ MORE: Another Big Change Happening in January at Costco Stores in Minnesota

Well, I did the whole "cart and fumble" thing the other day.  What I ended up flashing to the Costco bouncer wasn't my Costco card though.  My sassy teenager that was with me said, "Mom, you know what you just showed the Costco employee, right?!"  Um...I thought I grabbed my Costco card.  The bouncer let me in, although he did have a weird look on his face.  Turns out, a Visa credit card feels very similar to a Costco card and THAT is what I showed to the Costco bouncer.

According to CBSNews.com, flashing my Visa card isn't going to work thanks to big changes happening at Costco stores throughout the country including in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

New Change Rolling Out Costco Stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa

If you are a Costco member, a change is in the works for all stores in the United States.  According to the Costco website, at the doors where guests enter, new scanning devices are being installed.

Over the coming months, membership scanning devices will be used at the entrance door of your local warehouse. 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*. Guests must also be accompanied by a valid member for entry.

- Costco.com

Will Costco Still Have People At The Doors After The Scanners Are Installed?

Yes.  Costco has indicated on their website that an attendant will always be there to assist you.

What Should I Do If My Costco Card is Expired?

If you ever scan your card and it is expired or inactive, you will be asked to stop at the Customer Service desk prior to shopping.

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Have You Seen The Giant Halloween Skeleton at Costco?

It might be the start of August but the holidays have arrived at Costco!  A few weeks ago, I noticed a giant skeleton in one of the aisles.  It is HUGE!  It's a bit more expensive than the average family spends on Halloween decorations but if you are wanting to shock someone, this giant decoration will make that happen.  If you haven't had a chance to see it in person, you can see a few photos of it here.

READ MORE: Best Halloween Decoration This Year Is At Costco