Costco customers across North America faced a major inconvenience this week as credit and debit card payments suddenly stopped working. Long lines formed at many stores as members tried to pay, only to find that card machines were down. The issue created chaos for shoppers who rely on cashless payments at the popular warehouse retailer.
Card Machine Failure Hits North American Stores
The problem started on Tuesday afternoon and was quickly reported on social media. One Costco shopper posted a picture of crowded aisles and said, “All the card machines have died.” Many others shared their own experiences, confirming that the issue seemed to be affecting locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Reddit threads quickly filled with comments like “It’s down in Washington too,” and “Same problem in Kansas City.” Some even mentioned that similar issues had occurred in past weeks at other stores, hinting that this could be part of a wider technical problem.
Over 700 Stores Affected?
While Costco has not officially confirmed the scale of the outage, if these reports are true, it could mean that more than 700 locations—including 600+ in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and 109 in Canada—were impacted. The U.S. Sun has reached out to Costco for an official statement, but no response has been shared yet.
More Trouble Ahead: Memorial Day Closures
This payment outage isn’t the only inconvenience shoppers are facing. Costco has also announced that all its stores will be closed on Memorial Day, which falls on May 26 this year. This comes just weeks after stores were shut down for Easter, leaving many customers without access to their usual grocery options.
Memorial Day is a U.S. public holiday dedicated to remembering fallen military personnel. While the reason for closure is respectful, shoppers who rely on Costco for essentials may need to make alternative plans once again.
Alternatives for Memorial Day Shoppers
If you’re looking for places to shop on Memorial Day, there are still options. Sam’s Club, a competitor of Costco, will be open nationwide. Their hours will be slightly shorter—8 am to 6 pm for Plus members, and 10 am to 6 pm for Club members.
Big retailers like Walmart will also stay open, giving customers more flexibility to shop during the holiday. These stores don’t require a membership and may be more convenient for those in a hurry.
Natural Grocers to Close as Well
Costco isn’t the only store choosing to shut down for Memorial Day. Natural Grocers, which operates 162 stores across 20 states, will also close on May 26. The company says this move supports their belief in family time during the holidays.
In a statement, Natural Grocers said, “At the end of the day, it’s the people we love that make it all worthwhile.” They emphasized the importance of giving employees a paid day off to spend with loved ones.
Between technical failures and upcoming holiday closures, Costco shoppers have had a challenging few weeks. The sudden payment system breakdown caused long delays, and the Memorial Day closure means another day without access to the bulk-buy retailer.
Still, shoppers have alternatives like Sam’s Club and Walmart to turn to. These disruptions also highlight how important it is for major chains to keep their technology updated and stay transparent with customers when issues arise.