Audio By Carbonatix
Costco is one of those stores people love for more than just bulk deals. Shoppers line up for cheap food court staples like $1.50 hot dogs, pick up family-sized grocery hauls, and sample their way through aisles stacked with oversized packs.
But as beloved as the warehouse chain is, there’s one firm rule: You need a membership card to shop there.
New York-based TikTok creator Aiyanna (@aiyannace) decided to put that rule to the test. In a clip that’s now pulled in more than 3.2 million views, she documented what she called her attempt to “sneak in” without paying the annual fee.
Woman ‘Sneaks Into’ Costco Without Membership
“I promise y’all, sneaking into Costco with no membership is harder than getting into North Korea,” she says as she walks toward the entrance, practicing excuses she might give employees.
First, she thinks about saying she lost her daughter in the ice cream aisle. Then she switches to claiming her sister is missing. But when she notices the self-scan machines at the entrance, she changes tactics: “I’m here for the pharmacy.”
To her surprise, it works. “Thank you. We’re in, boys,” she says as she heads inside.
From there, the video turns into a tongue-in-cheek skit. She jokes about grabbing a hot dog or salad to look like she belongs. She even tells one couple, “Yeah, I love my Costco membership. I’ve had it for a while. How long have you had your membership for?” When they say five years, she quickly agrees. She says, “Me too.”
At the kombucha sample stand, Aiyanna hams it up.
“Of course I have a Costco membership,” she tells the worker before helping herself to six samples. “These are just everything,” she adds, before encouraging another customer not to take too many.
She bounces from samples of kombucha to Kinder Bueno bars to edamame beans, joking with employees and customers along the way.
At one point she even admits to a worker, “You know I don’t have a membership. I snuck in here.” She hugs him, calling him “Michael,” and pleads, “Don’t call security, OK?”
As she heads out with a salad in hand, she makes one last confession to a worker by the exit. “I have a confession. I snuck in here with no membership,” she says.
“I love a good Costco run,” she wrote in the caption.
Why This Doesn’t Actually Work
The video left plenty of people entertained, but in reality, a Costco membership is still required to shop.
The warehouse checks cards not only at the entrance but also at checkout. Even if you slip past the door greeter, you can’t buy anything without a card.
There are only a few exceptions. You can buy prescription drugs without a membership nationwide, while alcohol sales are also allowed without a card in some states. Eye exams at in-store optometrists are also open to the public.
And while several blog posts report that the Costco food court requires a membership, Aiyanna’s salad has people wondering otherwise. She either had a membership after all, was with someone who did, or managed to convince an employee to ring her up.
BroBible reached out to her via email to clarify how she pulled it off.
@aiyannace I love a good Costco run🙂↔️ #costco #membership #security #samples
Commenters Call Her Out
In the comments, viewers were quick to poke fun at her Costco caper.
“U need a card to check out lmaoo,” one person wrote.
“Girl u gon get Michael fired,” another said.
“They definitely showing this at the next Costco employee meeting,” someone else added.
“I have a confession” after taking all the samples lmao,” another joked.
One more commented: “Drinking all the samplessss pls.”
BroBible also contacted Costco via contact form for comment.