Do you love Costco as much as I do? I mean, where else can you get such a great deal on toilet paper AND wine? But have you ever tried to use your credit card there? If so, you were probably wondering, Does Costco Accept Mastercard? Well, I did some digging to find out, so you do not have to miss out on your giant tubs of Kirkland ice cream or those $1.50 hot dogs!
So, let’s find out…
Contents
What Is Costco?
If you are not familiar with the retail giant, it is a members-only bulk store. You can buy everything from clothes to groceries to alcohol and electronics. Basically, if you need it, they have it… in bulk. They even have a travel section where you can book your next vacation!
The company was formed in 1983 in Seattle, Washington. The first store was actually called Price Club and focused mainly on selling bulk items to businesses. In 1993, the two companies, Costco and Price Club, merged to form what we now know as Costco Wholesale Corporation.
How Does Costco Work?
Costco operates on a membership-only basis. This means that to shop there, you must have a membership. There are two types of memberships: business and individual.
Business memberships are available to businesses and organizations that wish to purchase items for resale or business use. Individual memberships are available to anyone over the age of 18 who wishes to purchase items for their personal use.
Gold Star And Executive membership
There are two types of individual memberships available to anyone over the age of 18: Gold Star and Executive. Executive members receive additional benefits, such as 2% cash back on eligible purchases made at the store, but it costs double the amount of a Gold Star membership, so it depends on how often you use the store on whether it is worth the money.
How To Shop At Costco
To shop at the superstore, you must have a membership. You can sign up for a membership online or in person at any of their locations. Once you have a membership, you can shop at any location worldwide. When shopping at the store, you will need to present your membership card and photo ID at the time of purchase.
Can You Shop Without a Membership?
If you do not have a membership, you can still shop at Costco online. However, you will be required to pay a 5% surcharge on your purchase and will miss out on some member-exclusive products. You can also purchase a Costco Cash Card, which is a prepaid card that can be used like cash at any of their locations.
So, Does Costco Take Mastercard?
The short answer is no. They only accept Visa credit cards.
But why? Well, it has to do with the way that Costco processes its credit card payments. They process them through a company called Citi Bank. And Citi Bank has a contract with Visa. So, if you want to use a credit card at the supermarket, it has to be a Visa.
Of course, you can always use cash, a check, or a debit card. Or you could get a Visa credit card. But if you are like me and have a different kind of credit card (I have an American Express), you are out of luck. The superstore also accepts EPT/ATM cards for payment.
When did Costco Stop Working with American Express?
Costco used to accept American Express credit cards. But in 2016, they switched to only accepting Visa. So, if you have an American Express card, you can no longer use it at the store. They stopped working together because of “competitive reasons.”
What Other Stores Accept American Express?
There are still plenty of places that accept American Express cards. These include Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. So, luckily if you are looking to do some shopping with your American Express card, you still have plenty of options!
Costco Anywhere Card By Citi
If you love Costco and do not want to carry around a Visa credit card, they have their credit card that you can use. It is called the Costco Anywhere Card.
The card has lots of benefits, like no foreign transaction fees, 4% cash back on eligible gas worldwide (including at the superstore), 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, and 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco.
You can use the card anywhere that Visa is accepted. So, if you want to use it at a non-Costco store, like Target or Walmart, you can! The only downside is that you have to have a membership to apply for the card. But if you are already a member, it is definitely worth considering! Memberships are actually pretty affordable, starting at just $60 per year.
More On Shopping At Costco!
For your next shop at Costco, find out about different payment methods such as Does Costco Take Apple Pay, Does Costco Take EBT, or Does Costco Take VSP and Eyemed, Does Costco Sell plan B, as well as the Cost Return Policy Without Receipt, the Costco Mattress Return Policy, and finally, what are the Costco Executive Membership Hours during 2023.
Of course, you might want to know What Times Does Costco Gas Open Close, along with Is Costco Gas Good, before your next fill-up!
And why not work for the retail giant? Sound interesting? Then check out the Costco Application and the most common Costco Interview Questions, as well as, How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Costco, if you’re on the young side, or perhaps you need to know Does Costco Hire Felons before you apply.
Does Costco Accept Mastercard – Final Thoughts
So, now you know that Costco doesn’t accept Mastercard; unfortunately, they only accept Visa credit cards. But they do have their own credit card, called the Costco Anywhere Card by Citi, which you can use in the store and anywhere that Visa is accepted.
Good luck and happy shopping at Costco!
I find the stated reason Costco refuses Master Cards (that they have an arrangement with Citi) to be a little sketchfy, as I have a Master Card with Citi.