Customer Authorization not working for me

version 1.3.8, fresh install. I've used zencart several times but never used the Authorization features.

I'm having problems with the customer authorization process.

Working on a wine club shopping site for exclusive members only; I need the customer to get authorization BEFORE entering the store.

In the Configuration > Customer Details section, I set:
Customer Shop Status - View Shop and Prices
1= Must be Authorized to Browse
Customer Approval Status - Authorization Pending
1= Must login to browse

As soon as customer is forced to submit/setup account info, they get the normal welcome email. I then approve them manually in admin and they get a confirmation email that they have been approved (Great!). Then when the customer goes to login, they get the same login screen and cannot view items after entering their login info. Nothing says, "awaiting authorization" or nothing.

Apparently, this feature does not work.

I expected to have to edit the emails to explain the approval process so the customer understands what is goin on but if they can't shop upon authorization, this cart is useless to this project.

Does anyone have any ideas of why this is not working or does anyone else have experience with this feature?

Thanks!

Authorization works as expected here on my stock test site, with those same admin settings. Maybe some kind of browser refresh issue at the customer's end?