Costco is one of the largest retailers in the country. Currently, there are over 113 million different Costco membership cardholders all around the world.
And one of the reasons why Costco is so popular among consumers is because of its low prices and convenient services. At Costco, you can find a wide variety of different products across a range of different categories – ranging from groceries to coffins and household furniture. On top of that, they are all priced really low compared to other retailers.
As Costco strives to offer their customers the most convenient shopping experience possible, they have made it so customers can pay for their shopping in a variety of ways including cash, EBT, checks, and more.
But does Costco accept Mastercard?
The answer for that is fairly complicated, but we’re here to explain it to you. If you just got a new Mastercard and are wondering if you can use it at Costco, you’ve come to the right place as we explain whether you can use Mastercard at Costco, how to use it at Costco, and other types of payment methods accepted at Costco.
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Does Costco Accept Mastercard?
As of 2023, Costco does not accept Mastercard credit card payments. However, since they accept most PIN-protected debit cards, you can use a Mastercard debit card to shop at Costco. But if your Mastercard is a credit card, then you won’t be able to use it in-store.
However, if you’re shopping on the Costco website, you will be able to use your Mastercard credit card to pay for your purchase.
In the US alone, there are over 191 million Mastercard credit cards. As one of the biggest and most popular credit card companies in the world, not being able to use them at Costco may be a huge inconvenience for some customers.
So, for the ones wondering why Costco doesn’t accept Mastercard credit cards, please continue reading.
Why Costco Doesn’t Accept Mastercard
The reason you can’t use Mastercard credit cards at Costco is because of their partnership with Visa. In June of 2016, Costco’s Visa partnership kicked in, which meant that only Visa credit cards would be accepted at Costco stores. While you may use a variety of debit cards in-store, if you plan on making a credit card purchase, make sure you have a VISA credit card as your Mastercard one won’t work.
This is one of the biggest complaints of people debating whether or not to get a Costco membership. However, for the time being, Costco has agreed to only accept VISA credit card payments in-store. But if you plan on making a purchase on the Costco website, then you can use your Mastercard credit card.
This move has angered many Costco customers and has even caused some of them to debate their membership – many of which have canceled their Costco membership auto-renewal until they make their minds up.
Before the deal in 2016, customers and Costco members were able to use their Amex credit cards and Mastercard credit cards whenever they made a purchase at Costco. This made it very convenient for shoppers to go to Costco, especially since the warehouse offers a wide variety of products and services at cheaper prices.
If you plan on signing up for a Costco membership, keep in mind that they have an existing deal with VISA. So, if you plan on making most of your payments with a Mastercard credit card, then you may be in for a hassle at Costco and might want to consider if a membership is a good idea right now.
But if you have other payment options such as a PIN-protected debit card or plan on making most of your purchases online, this won’t be too much of a problem for you.
Does Costco Accept Mastercard Debit Cards?
Keep in mind that Costco’s deal with VISA only applies to credit cards. In the terms of the deal, Costco is only allowed to accept Visa credit cards, but it doesn’t say anything about debit cards. So, if your debit card happens to be Mastercard, you don’t have to worry about Costco not accepting the payment method.
At the counter, all you have to do is give your Mastercard debit card, then the cashier will swipe the card, you enter your PIN, then the payment will go through. While it may not be as convenient as using a credit card, this is currently the only way to use Mastercard at Costco.
What Debit Cards Does Costco Accept?
Since the deal only exists for VISA credit cards, Costco will accept just about any PIN-protected debit card in-store or online. So, if you have an American Express, Discover, or any other type of debit card in your wallet, you can use it to pay for your Costco purchases.
However, keep in mind that the owner of the card needs to be present for you to make a payment. While Costco will only accept checks with the names of members on them, they will accept a debit and credit card of a non-member, but the person has to be there when making the purchase.
Conclusion – Does Costco Take Mastercard?
As of 2023, Costco doesn’t accept Mastercard credit card payments in-store. This doesn’t apply to online purchases made through the Costco website.
Additionally, if you have a Mastercard debit card, you may use this at Costco (even in-store) since the deal with VISA only applies to credit cards.
