What must be scanned to initiate a trial membership at Costco?

To initiate a trial membership at Costco, it is necessary to scan the trial membership itself. This is because the trial membership acts as a unique identifier for individuals who wish to experience the benefits of Costco without committing to a full membership right away. Scanning this specific membership allows the system to process the individual as a temporary member and grant access to the store's products and services during the trial period.

Other options, such as a member card, gift card, or discount card, serve different purposes within the Costco ecosystem. The member card is for individuals who have a full-fledged membership; a gift card is used for purchasing items, and a discount card may provide discounts or offers. Therefore, they do not facilitate the activation of a trial membership but rather support ongoing membership use or purchasing within the store.