New Guest Pass Program and Digital Member Cards Launching

April 29, 2024

We are always working to improve the Coop experience for all. To that end, the Coop is pleased to announce the return of an oft-requested benefit of membership as well as a new feature in your Member Services account. Members are welcome to bring guests starting on Wednesday, May 1, and a digital version of your membership card is available in your Member Services account beginning today. We hope you welcome these improvements and that they add value to your membership.

  1. The Coop is re-launching its Guest Pass Program on Wednesday, May 1. Since the Covid pandemic began in 2020, access to the Coop has been restricted to members only. Many members have been asking the Coop to restore our guest program because they want to show off the Coop to their friends and visiting family. We are restarting the Guest Pass Program in a limited fashion as the Coop still has capacity limits in place Fridays through Mondays to reduce overcrowding and make the shopping experience on our busiest days more comfortable. The parameters of the program also were modified based on the Coop’s experience of the program’s abuses in the pre-pandemic years.

Here’s how the new Guest Pass Program will work:

  • Every member has access to four Guest Passes per calendar year.
  • One guest equals one pass. For example, if you bring two guests on the same day, you will use up two of your four passes. If you bring five guests and you have four passes, only four of your guests will be allowed to enter, so please plan wisely.
  • Members can bring guests only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. Due to capacity limits (carrot tags) on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, guests are not allowed on those days.
  • Unused passes do not roll over to the following calendar year.
  • Members must bring their guest{s) to the Second Floor Service Desk or Membership Office for the Guest Pass. Your guest(s) will need to present photo ID before the pass is issued.
  • Members on a leave of absence, dormant, or whose status does not allow access to the Coop cannot enter the Coop as a guest.
  • We welcome guests to our wonderful Coop but as non-members they are not permitted to shop.

 

  1. Member ID Cards Available in Your Member Services Account:

Starting today, a digital version of your Member ID is available in your Member Services account. Login to your account and you will see the card prominently displayed at the top of the screen. If you click or tap on the image, the card image displays in a new window. The barcode on the digital card scans at the entrance desk and checkout stations. This feature is web-based so it is available on Apple, Android, or any other platform and is responsive to the size of your phone or any other device.

The digital card provides many benefits! You won’t have to carry a physical card. You can take a screenshot of the card and store it on your phone for easy access. As we always carry our phones with us, you will never leave your Coop card at home or need to come to the Service Desk for an entrance slip. If you lose your physical card, you won’t have to replace it (and pay the $3.50 fee!) as your digital card is always available in your Member Services account. You can help the Coop cut back on its plastic use and coated paper for entrance slips.

Finally, we want to remind members who are on Plan 4, the Coop’s income-based, reduced member-owner equity program, that you need to recertify your enrollment by May 1. There was an email or snail mail about recertification sent in early April. If you have any questions please call or stop by the Office during Office hours.

In Cooperation,

Ann Herpel

On behalf of the General Coordinators and Membership Coordinator Team