Banned from Costco Over Suspected Shoplifting

I am fun of Costco, and have been membership for over 20 years, I was innocent but indeed my shopping behavior caused the doubt from Costco staff who are always alert, and could take anyone unusual in their brain as shoplifter.

Here was the story: I asked Costco to check if I had returned an item before I decided to purchase which I could not remember, they thought I was abnormal and intended to return an item I took from shelf.....that was the story how I was banned.
May I know how could I persuade the manager to believe my innocence, though not good shopping behavior on that day? Seems Costco's ban length is forever?
Anyone has the experience that was innocent and get Costco membership reinstated?

Join Sam's Club.

No sam's club nearby unfortunately :-(

If you can't get the local manager to change is mind, you'll have to contact corporate and explain your situation.

Costco has every right to revoke your membership and place you on a lifetime ban from ever being a member. You were suspected(but I think the OP is leaving things out). I'm almost positive there is a track record here. The OP may have done some shady practices and Costco has been monitoring his behavior and actions. They came to the conclusion that this customer is not profitable for us and banns him.

Go and read the Terms and Conditions of your Membership, It states that Costco can ban anyone at any time for any reason so as it does not violate local and state laws with regards to discriminating due to a disability etc.

For instance I'm Costco and I ban you because you have ADD I would be in violation of the law. But if I banned you because you returned items against store policy, shoplifted etc then I can ask you to never return.

You may be surprised that Costco could potentially share your info wit Sam's Club and the National Retail Theft Database. Sams may not grant you membership if Costco contacted their competitors to warn them.

Good luck and tread carefully my friend as the Chrystal Ball is out for calibration .

Suspicion of shoplifting can not be entered into the NRTD. They only take actual documented theft cases. While the NRMA general membership list is not officially disseminated, I do not believe either COSTCO or any of the Walmart brands (including Sam's Club) are subscribers (and I strongly doubt Sam's and Costco are on friendly terms with one another).

WalMart does.

Walmart does what?

subscribe and report to Theft Database.

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*I assume* (legal disclaimer)

When I was working on my expungment...

TheftDatabase lasts for 7 years, so I would still be on it if the store I stole from subscribes.

I did research....looked at the database as much as it allows.

I made my list on two criteria. Those who are speaking praises of the database (who sings their praises if they have not used it) and those on the advisory board. I have a list of atleast 20 companies, and WalMart is the first one on the list. I won't share the rest, but will say a little research goes a long way.

Sorry, I could not understand exactly what "WalMart does." - Yes, and they have their own, very effective, system.

I believe this is the list of members of the NRMA. http://www.theftdatabase.com/nrma-members.html

Wal-Mart and Costco are not on the list.

[QUOTE=Dixie345;856387]I believe this is the list of members of the NRMA. http://www.theftdatabase.com/nrma-members.html

Wal-Mart and Costco are not on the list.[/QUOTE

Just because Walmart and Costco are not on the list you provided does not mean they are part of the NRMA or another related database that can be searched and picked up on background checks. When you submit a job application to Kronos(which manages a lot of companies applications) you sign a waiver for them to verify all records. Some of these records are confidential so don't rely on the list of the NRMA(in fact its classified information who subscribes to it).

When you sign a Civil Demand part of this includes being placed on the Database.

My point is you don't know until your denied employment. On one background check I requested that they send a copy of the background check and a page had NRMA(which of course was clear) as one of the checks that hey run.

Its best to assume that you are on a database as how does Costco know not to issue a membership? You have been backlisted on their membership database so if you try to apply it won't let you, plus your on camera so they can trespass you if you are caught at another Costco.

Just stay away period.

If you peruse the NRMA website really good.....I don't think WalMart is sitting on their butts and not participating when they have someone on the advisory panel. Just sayin'.

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And yeah, while's its supposed to be a secret....now ya know where to NOT apply for a job for 7 years :)

I am in the same boat as you. When i was 18, i was with some girlfriends who were stealing(even though i had no merchandise), & banned from costco also. The LP indicated if i came back, even to another store, they can call the police and charge you with trespassing...even though i was never arrested for the incident. Anyway, its since been 5 years...i work in banking and have children, ive generally just grown up & havent stolen anything since nor would i. Anyway, after scouring the internet for people who had the ban "lifted"...i found nothing. I contacted costco customer service about the ban policy, & wrote a long letter basically explaining myself and pleaded to have it lifted at some point. The agent indicated this is at the store's discretion...which is a good sign that the company doesnt have a "ban for life" policy. I am still waiting to hear from the store manager at the costco i had my run-in with, but i will update the outcome. So if i were you, id wait some time, a year or two or more, & write a letter or call explaining yourself and how youve changed to the manager at the costco you were banned from.

Kohl's lifted the ban on me. I waited a while and wrote a letter to Corporate.