They've always done this: they require a membership, and they check that when you go, and scan it when you check out.

If you don't want to shop at a store that doesn't use a membership system, there's other options who also treat you like a criminal. Loblaw, for example, has man-traps at the exit, which is a lot worse than a perky co-worker drawing a smiley on your receipt.

There are things that actually matter but you're upset about clubs checking membership lists. Ok.

I think post-covid shoplifting and specifically organized crime pushed a lot of this.

still prefer the way costco spends the money I give it on taking care of their people instead of dumping them onto the public to care for.