COSTCO fans are up in arms over the big box retailer’s new food court rule.

Certain shoppers may not be able to score a $1.50 hotdog and soda combo or other cheap treats, and they are not happy about it.

1

The days of purchasing an 18-inch pizza for $9.95 or a 20-ounce soda for only 69 cents are over for those without a Costco membership.

Costco is reportedly cracking down on shoppers’ membership status, now requiring a membership card to make purchases at the food court.

For those who reaped the benefits of Costco’s low prices without paying the membership fees, the change is disappointing.

Many Costco food court fans shared their disappointment on X.

“Really @Costco is getting stupider and stupider so can’t go to the food court without being a member or buy a gift card. It’s already bad too that the people shop there are stupid and the employees are rude and a**holes,” wrote one angry shopper.

“@Costco must be stupid cause they lose sales that way. That’s okay hope [they] go out of business.”

Many others were similarly upset about Costco’s move.

“IS Costco becoming evil toward non-members? Your mom is checking out, you wait at the food court with the pizza and hotdog, you’re not a member, she is,” commented another X user.

FOOD COURT CRACKDOWN

It seemingly varies by location whether or not shoppers without memberships can make purchases at Costco food courts.

However, the retailer has started cracking down on the rule at certain warehouses.

About one month ago, shoppers spotted a sign at a Costco in Orlando alerting them that membership would soon be necessary to buy food court items.

A shopper shared a picture of the sign to the subreddit r/Costco, which read: “Effective April 8, 2024, an active Costco membership card will be required to purchase items from our food court.

“You can join today. Please see our membership counter for details.”

Redditors in the comment section noted that a Costco membership was always required to buy food court items, but the policy was not readily implemented.

The Costcos with an outside food court required memberships, inside courts didn’t.”

Reddit User

“I’m pretty sure it was mandatory but just not enforced before,” said one person.

Others in the thread claimed that only Costcos with outside food courts required memberships.

“We needed a card to purchase food on the Big Island of Hawaii, but I thought it was because it was outside,” reads one comment.

“Yup, that was the reason. The Costcos with an outside food court required memberships, inside courts didn’t,” replied another person.

A Costco shopper from New Orleans commented that the policy was not enforced at their outside food court, but another customer responded saying an announcement like the one in Orlando was recently made at the location.

“They just put up signs saying membership will now be required. Same as the ones in Orlando pictured here.”

In other Costco news, shoppers were appalled as a customer returned “half eaten” food held together by rubber bands.

Plus, a Costco shopper reveals a rare trick they used to score nearly 50% off a TV.