Costco tests new scanners to crack down on membership sharing

Costco is testing new technology that could lead to a crack down on membership-sharing, or when people who haven't paid for an annual membership piggyback off of paying members' cards. 

Generally, Costco members need only flash their membership cards at employees to gain entry to the shopping club. Memberships are non-transferrable, but households can receive one extra membership card. A basic membership costs $60 annually, while the executive membership, which has perks like a 2% cash back reward, is $120 per year.

Now, Costco is testing a strategy that could combat membership sharing: It is asking shoppers to scan their membership cards at stores' entrances. The wholesale club's latest move comes as the chain has introduced self-checkout registers, which have make it easier for these sorts of shoppers to slip through the cracks.