Latest news with #GoldStar
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Costco members boycott popular food over shocking quality issues
There's a reason people are willing to shell out $65 or $130 per year for the option to shop at Costco. What you pay for that membership, you gain in the form of savings and an outstanding customer experience. Imagine you spend $65 a year on Costco's basic Gold Star membership, but in the course of doing so, you save yourself $500 annually on groceries and other essential items you can't do without. Clearly, that makes the fee worth it. Related: Costco members angry about price increase Plus, if you have the storage space at home, shopping at Costco can also be extremely convenient. It's annoying to have to constantly replenish your supply of paper towels, dish soap, and shampoo. But if you buy those items in massive quantities at Costco, you're going to run out less frequently. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Also, there are certain items that only Costco sells. If you're a big snacker, you might appreciate the exclusive selection of trail mixes and other unique products you won't find elsewhere. Image source: VIEWpress/Getty Images Although Costco is known for its quality grocery products, lately, members have been complaining about a decline in quality in the store's produce produce in bulk is, by nature, kind of risky, since it has such a limited shelf life. But Costco members have been swarming Reddit with complaints about the store's bananas in particular. "Costco bananas we bought over a week ago never ripened," one user griped. "They are hard as rocks, I can't even open them." Other Redditors were quick to chime in about similar experiences. "Costco organic bananas that I bought green, immediately put in a paper bag when I got home. It's been 3 weeks and they have barely changed," another said. The problem has gotten so bad that some members said they're just going to boycott the bananas at Costco and buy them elsewhere. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers Unfortunately, complaints about Costco produce aren't limited to bananas. Some people were quick to point out that they'd experienced similar issues with the store's avocados and limes. What Costco shoppers should do: Check your bananas before leaving the store. If produce won't ripen, return it for a buying bananas and avocados elsewhere until Costco fixes the issue. In addition to offering low prices on the items it stocks, Costco places a lot of value on product quality. Costco doesn't just want to be known as a savings destination. Rather, it wants people to regard it as a company that offers high-quality products on top of its low prices. Related: Costco gives members new benefit that stresses out workers To this end, Costco purposely limits its store inventory to about 4,000 SKUs (stock keeping units). At a traditional supermarket or big-box store, you might find 40,000 different products on the shelves at a given time. Costco intentionally goes light on inventory so it can maintain better quality control, and also, keep better tabs on pricing. Costco is so committed to quality that it maintains one of the most flexible return policies in the retail space. If you purchase an item that doesn't meet your standards for quality, you can, with very few exceptions, get your money refunded - no questions asked. Now the good news is that Costco members whose produce never ripens can bring it back to the store for a full refund. The bad news is that if you continue to buy your bananas from Costco, you may end up never getting to eat them and having to deal with the hassle of waiting in line at customer service for your money back. Until the situation improves, you may want to buy your bananas elsewhere. Costco produce FAQ: Why are Costco members boycotting bananas? Members report the bananas won't ripen, even after weeks. Complaints have appeared on Reddit and other social you return bananas to Costco? Yes. Costco's return policy allows you to bring back any item that doesn't meet quality standards, including produce. Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco. Related: Costco doesn't want members (and non-members) to know this The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Free PreCheck, separate lane for these families as TSA adds new perks
Military families have new perks at the airport, the Transportation Security Administration announced this month. Gold Star family members who have lost a loved one in U.S. military service can now enroll in TSA PreCheck, which offers expedited security screening, for free. Spouses of military and uniformed service members can also get a $25 discount on their enrollment fee. Those fees currently range from $76.75 to $85 depending on the enrollment provider travelers choose, according to TSA's website. Eligible travelers can find enrollment instructions on TSA's website. The agency also said military members 'at select airports near larger military installations' can get expedited access in PreCheck lanes. 'This Independence Day and beyond, TSA reaffirms its commitment to ease travel for the military community through its TSA PreCheck program by providing it free to Gold Star families, discounting it for military spouses and creating expedited lanes for service members,' TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said in an early July news release. 'By expanding access, easing enrollment and partnering with our TSA PreCheck enrollment providers and industry partners, we strive to honor those who serve and the families who stand beside them.' The following airports have military lanes: Those aren't the only changes TSA has made in recent weeks. The agency ended its shoe-removal policy in early July, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hinted days later that the agency may change its policy on liquids, which are largely restricted to 3.4 ounces per container in carry-ons.
The Hill
5 days ago
- The Hill
TSA expands security checkpoint lanes for some passengers
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday announced an expanded security checkpoint lane for families traveling with children. 'They'll be expanded areas that will give them the benefit of recognizing that they have children with them, and will help make sure that we have the ability to take care of them and their families as they go through this expedited process with their kiddos,' Noem said at a press conference in Nashville. The 'Families on the Fly' program will also provide parents with a $15 discount on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck enrollment, Noem said. A pilot program is currently underway in Orlando. Noem said she chose the site because of its proximity to Disney World. On Thursday, Noem also celebrated the Honor Lane opening, a measure adopted by 11 airports to create a special TSA security lane allotted for military members and their families as 'tokens of gratitude.' Servicemembers are also provided additional benefits under Noem's 'Serve With Honor, Travel With Ease' initiative. TSA will also begin offering Gold Star families, a term for those who have lost an immediate family member in the service, cost-free access to the TSA PreCheck program. The spouses of servicemembers are also eligible for a $25 discount on their application, according to CNN. The security changes come days after Noem said travelers would be allowed to keep on their shoes when undergoing screening at the airport. In recent days, Noem also signaled she may soon alter liquid weight restrictions for passengers on planes.
5 days ago
3 new military benefits at airports: Dedicated 'Honor Line,' TSA pre-check for Gold Star families and more
Air travel just got a little easier for members of the military with the expansion of Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. In a press conference at the Nashville International Airport on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the new Honor Lane, along with other perks for military families and veterans. The express security lane allows uniformed military members to have a dedicated security line for expedited processing. The Honor Lane is currently available at 11 airports across the country and first opened at the Nashville Airport last month, Noem said, with plans to expand the expedited service to even more airports nationwide. "What that honor lane does is it implements a new policy that we're going to be putting across the country at all TSA security check lanes that honors our military men and women," she said. The "Serve With Honor, Travel With Ease" initiative "will be utilized with airports starting with those that are closest to our military installations," she added. DHS will also now support Gold Star families -- families of those who died during active-duty military service -- by allowing them to apply for TSA pre-check free of charge. Additionally, all military spouses can now receive a $25 pre-check enrollment discount. Noem said DHS will be deploying mobile enrollment units to military bases across the country to avoid forcing military members and spouses to travel to an airport to sign up for the benefits. "These tokens of gratitude are just a small amount of what we can do in this country to honor those who serve in our military, but also them and their families, and recognize their sacrifice," Noem said. The new benefits are officially in effect nationwide, and Noem encouraged military members and families to take advantage of them.
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
TSA announces big airport upgrade for families and military members
Pack your bags, fam. Transportation Security Administration checkpoints are expanding for families traveling with children and military members, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday. Under a program dubbed 'Families on the Fly,' TSA will add a family lane at security checkpoints, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said at a press conference at Nashville International Airport, per CNN. Advertisement 3 Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at the Nashville International Airport, Thursday, July 17, 2025. AP Photo/George Walker IV A pilot program was tested in Orlando due to its close proximity to Disney World, and it will start its rollout in locations where families travel with children often. 'There will be expanded areas that will give them the benefit of recognizing that they have children with them and will help make sure that we have the ability to take care of them and their families as they go through this expedited process with their kiddos,' Noem said. Advertisement Families who enroll in TSA PreCheck will also get a $15 discount. Additionally, a dedicated lane for uniformed military members, called the Honor Lane — which is already available at 11 different airports — will be expanded nationwide. Initiatives announced earlier this month included providing access to PreCheck free of charge for Gold Star families, the immediate family members of a service member who died as a result of active-duty military service, which Noem highlighted at the press conference. 3 TSA will add a dedicated family lane at security checkpoints. AP Photo/George Walker IV Advertisement Military spouses will also be offered an enrollment discount of $25 for PreCheck, and mobile units will be sent to military bases to get people signed up. Current military members and civilian Defense Department staff already have access to PreCheck when they include their DOD ID number as their known traveler number when making an airline reservation. 'We want everybody to know that we're extremely grateful for their service to our country and recognize the sacrifice that their families have made,' she said. 3 The Honor Lane — which is already available at 11 different airports — will be expanded nationwide. AP Advertisement The new expansions come shortly after the announcement that TSA will no longer require passengers to remove their shoes at agency checkpoints — even if you don't have TSA PreCheck. Noem also suggested that she is pushing the TSA to ease up on its liquids, aerosols, and gels rule. 'Remember, every single thing that happens at a checkpoint today is being evaluated,' Noem said.
