I think this is only true in a handful of states. In California, there's apparently an old law that you can't have members-only alcohol clubs, so Costco technically has to let you buy alcohol.
I tried this once last year before I had a membership, and the person at the entrance told me they would need to get an employee to escort me, and it might take an hour, because they're busy.
Presumably this is the kind of thing that a court would smack down, since I'm pretty sure they're required to actually provide reasonable access, but I was just trying it for fun and didn't make a fuss about it.
> I tried this once last year before I had a membership, and the person at the entrance told me they would need to get an employee to escort me, and it might take an hour, because they're busy.
> Presumably this is the kind of thing that a court would smack down, since I'm pretty sure they're required to actually provide reasonable access, but I was just trying it for fun and didn't make a fuss about it.
Also it makes no sense for them to need to escort you. They scan your card on checkout so how would you buy stuff other than alcohol anyway?
Anyway I've never heard of anyone being told that before. I understand not making a fuss (we are social animals after all), but it probably should be done so they don't keep trying BS like that.
I'm surprised they said that, but probably your mistake was in asking. :) Even with a membership, I'll occasionally be too lazy to bother pulling my card out at the door, and will just tell (not ask) the person there that I'm going to the pharmacy. They let me go right on by. Once in, you can go anywhere you want. As CogitoCogito said, the real check is at the register, where you can only buy certain items without a card. Apparently that also includes alcohol - never knew that.
The person at the door was very diligently checking. This was the SF Costco, in the early days of the pandemic lockdowns, so perhaps it's unique to that specific location or those specific circumstances. Indeed, just a few weeks ago I went to another Bay Area Costco intending to inquire about membership, and the person at the door was just handing out promotional flyers, so I helped myself to a quick self-guided tour of the store to see if I thought membership made sense for my household (I did decide to buy a membership, for what it's worth).
I tried this once last year before I had a membership, and the person at the entrance told me they would need to get an employee to escort me, and it might take an hour, because they're busy.
Presumably this is the kind of thing that a court would smack down, since I'm pretty sure they're required to actually provide reasonable access, but I was just trying it for fun and didn't make a fuss about it.