Costco shoppers may soon have to complete one more step before ordering the chain’s famous $1.50 hot dog combo.
Membership scanners have started appearing near food courts at some Costco warehouses, requiring customers to scan a valid Costco membership card before placing an order.
The change is intended to prevent nonmembers from purchasing Costco’s low-priced pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and other food court items.
Some Costco members say the stricter rule is fair because they pay an annual membership fee to access the company’s prices and benefits.
Others believe Costco is making a simple trip to the food court more complicated than it needs to be.
New Scanners Are Appearing At Costco Food Courts
Reports of the scanners began circulating after customers noticed membership-verification devices installed near food court ordering areas.
One of the reported locations was Costco warehouse number 88 in Pompano Beach, Florida. Customers said the scanners were positioned near the food court and would require members to verify their membership before ordering.
Similar membership checks have already been used at some Costco locations, particularly at warehouses where the food court can be reached without walking through the main store.
The scanners could become more common at Costco food courts during 2026, although Costco has not announced a specific nationwide schedule for installing them at every warehouse.
Why Is Costco Making The Change?
Costco operates differently from most major retailers.
The company charges customers an annual membership fee in exchange for access to its warehouses, products and services.
A standard Gold Star membership currently costs $65 per year, while an Executive membership costs $130 per year.
Costco’s membership conditions state that membership cards are not transferable. Members are also required to scan their physical or digital card when entering a warehouse and show it again when checking out.
The food court rule, however, has not always been enforced consistently.
At some locations, nonmembers have been able to walk into the food court and order without showing a membership card. This has been especially common at warehouses with food courts located outside the main entrance.
Adding scanners directly to the ordering area would close that gap.
Some Members Support The Stricter Rule
Many Costco members believe food court access should be treated like any other membership benefit.
Their argument is simple: if members are paying every year to use Costco, nonmembers should not receive the same prices without contributing to the membership program.
Supporters also believe limiting food court access could reduce crowding and shorten lines.
Costco food courts can become extremely busy, particularly during weekends and around lunch and dinner hours. Members sometimes have to wait behind people who are not shopping at the warehouse and only came for inexpensive food.
For these members, scanning a card takes only a few seconds and could make the overall experience better.
Other Shoppers Think It Goes Too Far
Not everyone agrees with the change.
Costco’s food court has developed a following that extends beyond regular warehouse shoppers. Some people visit specifically for the $1.50 hot dog and soda combination, inexpensive pizza or soft-serve desserts.
Critics say restricting those customers will not significantly improve the experience for members.
Some also question why another scanner is necessary when shoppers may already be required to scan their cards at the warehouse entrance.
Families shopping together could encounter additional inconvenience as well. Costco allows members to bring guests into the warehouse, but only members can make purchases.
That means a guest may not be able to walk over to the food court and order separately while the cardholder continues shopping.
Costco Has Been Tightening Membership Verification
The food court scanners are part of a broader effort by Costco to enforce its existing membership rules.
Costco has already installed scanners at warehouse entrances. Instead of briefly showing a card to an employee, members are now expected to scan the barcode on a physical membership card or the QR code displayed in the Costco mobile app.
Guests must enter with a valid member.
Costco has also increased membership verification at self-checkout registers. The company says employees may ask customers to show a membership card containing a recognizable photograph.
These measures are designed to prevent people from borrowing cards that belong to friends or family members.
Can Nonmembers Still Use A Costco Shop Card?
Costco Shop Cards can allow nonmembers to make certain purchases at Costco warehouses.
However, Costco’s website says digital Costco Shop Cards are not currently accepted at food courts in the United States or Canada.
That means buying or receiving a digital Shop Card may not provide a way around the new food court verification process.
Rules and enforcement can still vary by warehouse, so customers may want to check with their local Costco before making a special trip.
The Famous Hot Dog Price Is Not Changing
The new verification process does not mean Costco is raising the price of its best-known food court item.
The hot dog and soda combination remains priced at $1.50.
The change affects who can purchase food rather than how much members will pay.
For Costco members who already keep their membership card or mobile app ready, the new scanners may make little difference.
For nonmembers who regularly stop at the food court, however, the change could bring that tradition to an end.
Costco has not confirmed when—or whether—the scanners will reach every food court in the country.
But as membership checks become stricter throughout the company’s warehouses, shoppers should be prepared to scan their cards before ordering.
Do you think Costco’s food court should be available only to paying members, or should anyone be allowed to order?
