Costco Membership

DrDel

Does anyone know why Costco have a policy of restricted membership?

I have just been up to their new store in Chester to join and the 18 year old girl on the counter refused me membership. This is despite the fact work for an international insurance company (one of the biggest in the world), and I hold chartered status of my professional institution all of which I thought would have been more than sufficient.

In any case the place seemed to be full of Chavs so maybe I had a lucky escape, and I'm sure I can put the £25 I saved to good use.

Thing is I can't understand why any company would want to stop people from buying stuff from them, how does their business model work, can enyone enlighten me?

Del

shellsuit

What were the reasons for the girl refusing you?

shellsuit

Just found this on their website :

You are eligible for trade membership if you are a bonafide business owner/manager who can provide evidence of trading. Follow our Trade membership tab above for further details.


You don't trade do you, so that must be why you were refused. Seems clear enough to me unless the girl in store said otherwise

DrDel

Not quite, they allow "individual membership" to non trade customers, but have a restricted list which you qualify for if you are employed in (or retired) from the following professions (displayed on a big sign in the entrance):

Banking/finance
Civil service
Education
Fire/rescue
Insurance
Local government
Medical
Police force
Solicitor or barrister

or you are qualified as:

Chartered architect/engineer/surveyor
Dentist
Media - press card holder
Optician
Pharmacist
Accountant

What annoyed me was that the girl obviously didn't know what she was doing, a case of "computer says no", and I still don't know why the restrictions are in place; she told me only 15% of the population are eligible!

Del

shellsuit

Maybe give the store a call and ask someone higher up?

pinkfluffybabe

If you are not in one of the categories then you won't get membership, the girl was only doing her job.

These companies supple trade and individuals at reduced prices due to bulk buying etc, it is their perogative who they allow to join.

Not very nice to generalise about their membership being chavs either.

my_two_cents

pinkfluffybabe wrote:

If you are not in one of the categories then you won't get membership, the girl was only doing her job.

These companies supple trade and individuals at reduced prices due to bulk buying etc, it is their perogative who they allow to join.

Not very nice to generalise about their membership being chavs either.

Did you read Dr Del's second post? Twas only the fourth post you know, not as if you had to trawl through several ... Dr Del QUALIFIES FOR COSTCO'S INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP FOR NON-TRADE MEMBER DUE TO THE FACT THAT HIS PROFESSION IS ON THE RESTRICTED LIST.

pinkfluffybabe

my_two_cents wrote:

Did you read Dr Del's second post? Twas only the fourth post you know, not as if you had to trawl through several ... Dr Del QUALIFIES FOR COSTCO'S INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP FOR NON-TRADE MEMBER DUE TO THE FACT THAT HIS PROFESSION IS ON THE RESTRICTED LIST.

Yes I did thanks, there is no need to shout and no need to be so rude :rolleyes:

Perhaps the OP should have asked for a reason at the time, or have asked to speak to someone higher up. The post didn't ask why they weren't accepted, it asked "why do Costco have a system of restricted membership"

Perhaps you could work on your manners

Butlers1982

Why on earth did you ask the girl her age?
Or were you just being ageist? pointing out the fact that you thought she was 18?

shampain

Butlers1982 wrote:

Why on earth did you ask the girl her age?
Or were you just being ageist? pointing out the fact that you thought she was 18?

I was going to say exactly the same thing! What has her age got to do with it? Did you ask her age or was she just young looking therefore you presumed that she was 18... also the "she obviously didn't know what she was doing" and "computer says no" comments are so rude and ageist...just because she was young does not mean that she didn't know what she was doing. I think people like you are the reason nice people get bad customer service... because before they serve us they have probably served you.:rolleyes:

Honeydog

I got flamed on another post for suggesting that a spotty youth at Tescos was to blame for my self service checkout problems. Which he was because he either did not know or couldn't be bothered to check something really basic that would've saved me a lot of unnecessary hassle.

I'm sorry but I do feel I have to point out here that I do not believe that customers get the best level of service from teenage staff. They are not as committed as people with more experience. Unless they have some sort of committment to the company beyond the wage they get at the end of the week/month then they often could not care less.

Obviously we all know exceptions to this but I'm afraid that unfortunately they are just that exceptions and they are few and far between. Sign of the times.

If the OP bothers to chase this up he may well find that he can join after all which will involve a trip back to the store and waste petrol, time and energy.

As a result of my Tesco experience I no longer rely on the advice/help of teenagers but always confirm stuff with more experienced staff. It has worked so far.