Does Costco accept Apple Pay?
If yes, what sort of benefits can you claim simply by using Apple Pay at Costco?
Let’s find out everything related to this matter.
Overview of Costco
In the retail industry, few names are as well-known as Costco. There’s not much to dislike about the store, what with the low prices and friendly service.
In fact, some supermarkets have already made the switch to NFC technology in checkout lanes. And more are expected to follow suit as the industry evolves to keep up with the times.
Thanks to their Near Field Communication (NFC), you can make contactless, wireless payments using a digital wallet.
Apple Pay is one software that makes use of near-field communication (NFC). You may be wondering does Costco take Apple Pay since they have NFC payment terminals in their locations. This article will explain everything about it, including how to use it.
So, Does Costco Accept Apple Pay?
Let’s jump to the main question straightaway; does Costco take Apple Pay? Well, the answer is “YES“. If you wish to purchase something from Costco using Apple Pay, this is good news for you. Some Costco outlets, however, may not accept Apple Pay just because they don’t have NFC readers.
There’s a possibility that your local Costco doesn’t offer this service or still installing a terminal at their counters. Costco’s acceptance of Apple Pay is limited to Visa cards within the US. Across Canada, you may use any major credit card.
However, in the US, Apple Pay may only be set up using a Visa card as the default option. Otherwise, the deal won’t go through.
Besides, people always ask, ‘can you use Apple Pay on Amazon to buy some stuff’ or ‘does Amazon accept Apple Pay’, you will find the correct answers here.
What Are the Other Payment Methods Accepted by Costco?
Now you know that Costco accepts Apple Pay as a mode of payment, let’s go ahead and learn more. In this section, we talk about the other modes of payment that are accepted by Costco.
Even though Apple Pay is accepted at Costco, you may prefer to utilize another payment option.
Only Visa is accepted as a valid form of payment at Costco. To put it simply, the store won’t accept any other type of credit card as a method of payment.
Nevertheless, they do take a variety of debit cards. Costco will honor any debit card with a PIN. The same holds true for debit cards used at ATMs. As long as the ATM card includes a PIN, you can use it at Costco.
They Accept More Conventional Payments
You can still make your purchase with personal checks or even cash if you don’t have Visa credit cards. They have also put money into developing mobile payment options. You can use either Samsung Pay or Google Pay if you don’t use an iOS device or Apple Pay.
There is a lot of similarity between Apple Pay and both of the payment options. A digital wallet is used, to which a bank or credit card is linked.
Then you can ditch your plastic and use the Apple Pay app to pay for everything. If you want to use Google Pay or Samsung Pay, you can do so at any Costco location.
It is true that Apple Pay requires a Visa card. Likewise, Samsung Pay and Google Pay also require a Visa card to be linked in order to make purchases.
Shopping Online Lets You Use Additional Payment Methods
More payment options are available for online purchases made through the official Costco website.
They do not limit you to using only Visa cards for payment. The use of a MasterCard to pay is likewise acceptable. In addition, customers can still make purchases with debit cards as well as ATM cards that require a PIN. They also accept Costco cards or Discover cards.
Can You Pay at Costco Gas Stations Using Apple Pay?
The petrol pumps inside Costco stores accept Apple Pay. They follow the same rules as the store. That means they only accept Visa cards that are associated with an Apple Pay account. All major digital wallets, including Google Pay and Samsung Pay, will be accepted at Costco gas stations.
Everyone in the account must have Visa cards associated with it. PIN-enabled cards and automated teller machine cards can also be used at the pump.
Finally, Costco gas stations do take cash and personal checks. Using Apple Pay at the gas station is a quick and secure way to save time.
There is always a chance of revealing important information to crooks. That is because some of them place hacking devices inside payment terminals at the pump.
Why Should You Use Apple Pay with a Visa Card at Costco?
The flexibility of a digital wallet comes from being able to quickly switch between several forms of payment. In-store purchasing at Costco can only be made using Visa. Considering that almost all supermarkets now accept all major payment cards, Costco’s stance may seem unusual.
This is not the very first time Costco has had a credit card provider exclusivity. They teamed up with AmEx before they joined Visa. Costco and AmEx were business partners from 1999 until 2016.
American Express was the only credit card accepted by Costco, and they only allowed customers to use it. In exchange for the monopoly, American Express has agreed to keep its transaction fees for businesses to a minimum. Each company benefited from the connection.
They Had a Partnership with American Express Until 2016
To keep overhead low, Costco relied heavily on American Express. Such an approach reaped the benefits in the form of transaction fees from the retailer’s many outlets. It is true that cash was the only form of payment accepted at Costco. So, the company could count on a steady stream of revenue.
In 2016, they were no longer together. As a result, Visa became Costco’s 2017 partnership of choice.
The connection is analogous. In terms of credit card payments, Costco exclusively uses Visa, as this company offers the lowest transaction fees.
The company reportedly charges a flat rate of 0.4% for each transaction. Customers at a Costco location are able to use a wide variety of payment options. For instance, it includes cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, and Visa credit cards.
It is Related to Digital Wallets As Well
The above approach also applies to electronic payment systems. Assume that you want to utilize Apple Pay to make purchases. In that case, you’ll need to sign up for a Visa card during the account creation process.
In fact, Costco benefits from cost savings, which allows it to maintain low prices. On the other hand, Visa benefits by having a large pool of capital from which to make future investments.
As with any new experience, there may be some hiccups for first-time Costco customers. However, Costco is confident that you will alter your shopping habits and enjoy some benefits. They expect you to take advantage of the warehouse club’s low costs and a wide assortment of products.
What Are the Steps to Pay at Costco Using Apple Pay?
Now that you know does Costco accept Apple Pay or not, let’s learn how to use it. As an obvious requirement, you are supposed to have an iOS device (for instance, iPhone).
- As you may know, Apple Pay is introduced by Apple. So, it is designed to work on Apple products only. With your iPhone, you should navigate to the option that opens the Wallets setting.
- After that, you will be able to create a PIN code. If not, you can even configure a biometric verification as well.
- Once the security verification is added, you will be able to add any type of payment. However, in this case, you should add a Visa card as you intend to shop at Costco. In addition to that, you should configure an Apple ID through iCloud. In fact, iCloud is the place where your information will be stored. Once the wallet is created, you will be able to shop at any of the Costco outlets.
- After picking up the items that should be picked, just go to the cashier. If you’ve already approached the cashier, you should tell him or her that you wish to use Apple Pay.
Is It Possible to Change the Default Card Linked with Costco?
When shopping at Costco, it’s always important to have access to a Visa card. Also, it’s important to know the steps to move between cards in your Apple Pay wallet.
It’s simple to toggle between the two, which is a blessing. You may use Apple Pay from your iPhone by going to the Wallets app.
- You may also access it via the app link.
- The next step is to head over to your “cards” library.
- When you click your default card, you should be given the option to select a different one.
If not, you can select the card you want to use as your default. Just do it by clicking on it and then clicking the “Make Default” button.
That’s it. Knowing how to change the linked card can be handy after knowing does Costco take Apple Pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Costco accept digital wallets other than Apple Pay? Yes, in addition to Apple Pay, Costco also accepts other contactless payment methods like Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
- Can I use Apple Pay for online shopping on Costco’s website? As of now, Costco’s online store does not support Apple Pay.
- Are all Costco locations equipped to accept Apple Pay? Yes, all U.S. Costco locations accept Apple Pay.
- Is there a limit to how much I can spend using Apple Pay at Costco? There’s no specific limit to how much you can spend using Apple Pay at Costco, though limits may apply based on your bank’s policies.
- What devices can I use with Apple Pay at Costco? You can use Apple Pay with any compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad.
Conclusion
So, that’s our answer to the question, “does Costco accept Apple Pay“. Apple Pay is accepted as a method of payment at Costco.
However, the customer must also have an active Visa card stored in their digital wallet. It’s true that Costco comes with an exclusive arrangement with Visa. So, the company is unable to take any other credit cards to make purchases at any of their locations.
On the other hand, you could use Apple Pay to purchase from their online store. That is in addition to any other credit card that you like.
