How to Use ANY Credit Card You Want at Costco

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    Have you ever wished you could use something other than a Visa card at Costco? Maybe you’re trying to trigger a “spend bonus” on a new credit card or you have a MasterCard or Discover card with some great rewards. Well…if that’s you, I got a hack that’s gonna be a total Costco game changer. Let’s break it all down.

     

    How the Hack Actually Works

    First off, in the warehouse, Costco only accepts:

    • Visa credit cards
    • Most debit cards, cash, checks, EBT, and Costco Shop Cards

    But on Costco.com and in the Costco app, you can use:

    • Visa
    • Mastercard
    • Discover
    • Most debit cards

    That means your 2%–5% cashback card that doesn’t work in-store can still indirectly pay for your Costco haul. You just have to add the following quick steps to make it happen.

    Step-by-step: Turn any card into a “Costco card”

    Costco wallet

    1. Open the Costco app or go to Costco.com – Log-in with your Costco membership. If you don’t have the app, it’s worth downloading just for this trick.

    2. Search for “Shop Card” – These are essentially Costco’s version of gift cards. You can buy them in the following fixed amounts: $25, $50, $100, $250, and $500.

    3. Buy the Shop Card ONLINE with ANY credit card – You can use your favorite cashback, points, or miles CREDIT card. Even if it’s a Mastercard or Discover.

    4. Wait for the Shop Card

    • Physical Shop Card: They’ll mail it to you, works like a gift card in-store or online. Takes 7-10 business days.
    • Digital Shop Card: It will be emailed to you within 2 hours and can be added, and stored, in your Costco Wallet on the app. To make it happen, tap Account then Add Shop Card. You’ll be able to scan the card or enter the card number and PIN manually.

    5. Use the Shop Card in the warehouse – When you checkout at Costco, just swipe or scan your Shop Card. Or better yet, add the Shop Card balance to your “Wallet” within the Costco app. Then select your Cash Card as your default payment method and then tap “Enable Auto-Apply” to skip the on-screen confirmation at the warehouse.

    Then when your shopping in-store, just have the employee scan the payment QR Code within the Costco app at checkout. The register DOES NOT care what credit card you originally used.

    PRO TIP: YOUR COSTCO WALLET HAS A LIMIT

    This might not matter to you, but be aware that the most money you can have in your Costco wallet on the app is $2,000.

    So the most $500 Costco Shop Cards you can buy and add to the app is 4. Wouldn’t matter for me because my family doesn’t come close to those numbers, but it might for some of you.

    Why this is such a good move

    – You get rewards where Costco normally blocks them – If your best grocery or everyday card isn’t a Visa, this hack lets you still earn credit card rewards on your Costco hauls.

    – Built-in budget control – Load $200 or $300 onto a Shop Card and challenge yourself to keep your monthly Costco bill to that amount. When the card is empty, you’re done. No “Costco cart chaos” at the register.

    – Great for shared households – One person can buy Shop Cards online with their rewards card, then hand physical or digital cards to a spouse, college kid, or roommate who does the actual shopping.

    A few things to watch out for

    – No bonus if your card excludes gift cards – Some rewards cards give lower rewards (or none) on gift card purchases. Check your card’s fine print if you’re banking on a big bonus category.

    – Not instant if you need it today – Physical Shop Cards take time to ship if you don’t want to go the digital Shop Card route. If you’re planning a big Costco run, order ahead instead of trying to figure out this hack from the parking lot.

    – Don’t overshoot your budget – It’s easy to justify “just one more” $100 Shop Card because you’re chasing rewards. Make sure the math still works in your favor and you’re not overspending just to earn points.

    PRO TIP: SHOP CARD IS USELESS AFTER TRANSFER

    Be aware that once you add funds from a Costco Shop Card to your wallet, that card is now useless.

    Meaning you cannot add money back to that card later if you wanted to. You’d have to buy a completely new Shop Card.

    Ask the Reader: Have you tried this hack before to take advantage of a credit card bonus or reward? Let me know much money you made?


    By Kyle James



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