Instacart is an online grocery delivery and pickup service that partners with more than 500 retailers across the United States and Canada. Costco is a major membership-only big box retailer operating in these two countries. Costco partners with Instacart for last-leg delivery of many grocery products. While membership is required to shop in-store and online at Costco.com, membership is not required when ordering from Costco via Instacart. While the added convenience of big-box retail delivery is undeniable, this relationship creates a loophole in who has access to Costco products.

Why does Costco offer products for nonmembers through Instacart?