Does Costco take Amex?

No, Costco does not accept American Express credit cards in their warehouses or online; they have an exclusive partnership with Visa, meaning only Visa credit cards (including the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi) are accepted for credit card payments, along with cash, checks, debit cards, and mobile payments. You can use Mastercard for online purchases, but not in-store.

Why is Costco not accepting Amex?

No, Costco doesn't have any weird beef with American Express—it's just they happen to have a very strong partnership with Visa. But the decision is a little more nuanced than just that. “Amex's merchant fees are higher than Visa,” says Mark Tremblay, a professor of economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Why is Amex no longer accepted?

That's because American Express charges merchants a higher fee than competitors do. All credit card networks charge processing fees for businesses to accept card payments from that network. But some fees are higher than others.

When did Costco stop using Amex?

In fact, Costco has a contract with Visa and only takes Visa cards, which means you can't use cards on other networks like Mastercard or American Express at Costco. This has been the case since June 2016, when Costco switched from only accepting American Express cards.

Why won't Costco accept my credit card?

Since Costco has an exclusive contract with Visa, shoppers can't use credit cards backed by the other three main networks — American Express, Mastercard and Discover — at Costco warehouses. However, you can pay with Mastercard for purchases made at Costco.com and the Costco app.

Why Doesn't Costco Accept Amex Anymore?

Can I pay with Amex at Costco?

No, you cannot use American Express (Amex) credit cards at Costco warehouses or gas stations because Costco exclusively accepts Visa credit cards for in-store purchases, though you can use Amex for some online Costco Travel bookings and potentially with a third-party app like Apple Pay, but not directly at checkout. The long-standing exclusive partnership between Costco and Amex ended in 2016, switching to Visa/Citi, so you'll need a Visa card, debit card, cash, or Costco Shop Card for in-store shopping. 

What is Costco's new controversial rule?

Costco's most recent controversial policy involves its exclusive early shopping hours for Executive Members, granting them weekday access from 9-10 AM and Saturday mornings from 9-9:30 AM, enforced since late August/early September 2025, leading to backlash from Gold Star members who feel alienated and believe the company favors premium customers. This policy, combined with other perks, aims to drive upgrades to the $130 Executive tier, but has upset non-executive members who face longer waits to shop. 

Is Costco no longer American Express?

But that changed when Costco and American Express decided to end their relationship in 2016. After that, Costco went on to name Citi as its exclusive credit card issuer and Visa as its new exclusive credit card network for Costco in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Why is Amex not widely accepted?

American Express isn't accepted everywhere primarily due to historically higher merchant fees, making it more costly for businesses, especially smaller ones, to process Amex transactions compared to Visa or Mastercard, though Amex has improved its acceptance by offering competitive rates and simpler integration for merchants. While acceptance in the U.S. is now very high (around 99% of places taking credit cards), it's still less universal than Visa/Mastercard, particularly internationally or at smaller shops, due to these lingering fee perceptions and past structural barriers. 

Why did American Express lose Costco?

Costco stopped accepting American Express (Amex) in 2016 because they couldn't agree on merchant fees, as Amex's processing fees were too high for Costco's low-margin business model, leading Costco to form an exclusive deal with Visa and Citi, making Visa the only credit card network accepted in their warehouses. 

Why does Amex have a bad reputation?

Historically, American Express charged higher fees than their competitors, making their cards less attractive to merchants. Merchant funding was also a slow process.

What is the hardest Amex card to get?

The hardest American Express card to get is the Centurion® Card, also known as the "Black Card," because it's strictly by invitation only, requiring immense spending on other Amex cards (rumored $350k+ annually) and high income (often $1M+), plus hefty fees ($10k initiation, $5k annual). It's a symbol for the ultra-wealthy, offering exclusive concierge services and elite perks, making it the pinnacle of Amex exclusivity.
 

Does Amazon accept Amex?

Yes, Amazon accepts American Express (Amex) credit/debit cards directly, including co-branded cards like the Amazon Business American Express Card, and you can use Amex points for purchases. While standard Amex gift cards can be used like regular cards at checkout, they can't be added to your Amazon balance first; for convenience, you can buy Amazon gift cards with your Amex gift card to load funds onto your Amazon account, say Techlicious and Tbay Blog. 

How to pay with Amex if not accepted?

When American Express (Amex) isn't accepted, you can use third-party apps like Kasheesh or Plastiq to generate virtual cards (Mastercard/Visa) funded by your Amex, use Amex's business tools like Vendor Pay for bills, add it to digital wallets (Google/Apple Pay) for NFC payments where accepted, or use your Amex debit card if you have one. The core idea is to bridge the gap by converting the Amex payment into a network (Visa/Mastercard) the merchant does take. 

Is Costco paying almost zero to accept credit cards?

In a deal with Visa Inc. and Citigroup Inc., Costco's acceptance costs will be about zero, according to people familiar with the arrangement. That compares with the roughly 0.6 percent of each transaction the retailer pays its current partner, American Express Co.

Why are companies dropping Amex?

American Express charges merchants quite a bit more in swipe fees than Visa, Mastercard and Discover do. Amex merchant fees are between 1.5% and 3.3%, while its competitors' fees are anywhere between 1.15% and 2.5%. So it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that American Express is not accepted everywhere we shop.

What is the 2 90 rule for American Express?

The Amex "2/90 Rule" (or 2-in-90 rule) means American Express (Amex) generally approves you for a maximum of two new credit cards within a 90-day period, with a third application in that window likely to be automatically denied. This rule applies specifically to Amex's traditional credit cards, not necessarily hybrid cards like the Platinum or Gold, though applying for too many Amex products too quickly can still trigger manual reviews or "pop-up jail" for welcome offers. 

What are the downsides of Amex?

The main cons of American Express (Amex) include high annual fees (especially for premium cards), limited acceptance by some merchants due to higher fees, and benefits that require effort or specific spending to maximize. Some cards also have strict welcome bonus rules (like "lifetime" bans for re-earning), and charge cards require paying the full balance monthly, limiting borrowing. 

Can I buy a car with Amex?

Yes, you can use American Express to buy a car, primarily for a large down payment or even the full amount at select dealerships via the now-discontinued Amex Auto Purchasing Program (powered by TrueCar), which guaranteed at least $2,000 in charges, but some dealers accepted more, though it's crucial to check with dealers as fees and limits (often $2k-$10k) apply and the official program ended in April 2025. While the program is gone, you can still use your Amex for a down payment to earn points/cashback, but be aware of potential high interest rates and work with dealers who allow it for significant portions of the purchase. 

Will Costco ever accept Amex again?

It's highly unlikely Costco will accept American Express (Amex) again in the near future, as they switched to an exclusive partnership with Visa in 2016 due to lower transaction fees and a better overall deal, and they continue to benefit from this Visa/Citi arrangement, making a return to Amex improbable. While Costco once exclusively took Amex, that relationship ended, and now only accepts Visa credit cards in-store and at gas stations, though debit cards from other networks might work, and online they also take Mastercard. 

Can I shop at Costco without a membership?

Yes, you can shop at Costco without a membership through a few methods: by using a Costco Shop Card, having a member go with you (and paying with their card), ordering online via Instacart (with added fees), or accessing specific services like the pharmacy, optical center, or hearing aid center, and sometimes the food court with a Shop Card. The main ways to get in without your own card involve a member or a Shop Card, but non-members generally pay higher prices for items. 

When did Costco drop Amex?

Costco stopped accepting American Express (Amex) credit cards in June 2016, ending a long partnership to switch to Visa as its exclusive credit card network in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with Citi as the new co-branded card issuer. This change meant that for in-store purchases, only Visa credit cards (including the Costco Citi Visa) and other payment methods like cash, debit, and checks are accepted, though Amex is accepted on Costco.com.
 

Is Costco really paying $32.00 an hour?

The Issaquah, Washington-based retailer will pay top-of-the-scale clerks $31.90 an hour and top-of-the-scale assistants $30.20 an hour, starting in March. The latest version of a three-year employee agreement calls for two additional $1 hourly increases in March 2026 and March 2027, Costco said.

Who is Costco's biggest rival?

Costco's biggest competitor is Walmart, particularly its warehouse club division, Sam's Club, due to similar bulk-focused models and broad product offerings, but giant retailers like Amazon and Target also compete fiercely for consumer dollars, with Walmart leading in overall revenue and market share, notes The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Visser Elevator. While Walmart and Amazon offer broader, membership-free shopping, Sam's Club directly challenges Costco's membership-based warehouse model with its own technology and younger consumer focus, according to Yahoo Finance and SFGATE. 

Can I return a 4 year old couch to Costco?

Yes, you can likely return a 4-year-old couch to Costco due to their famously lenient 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on most merchandise, including furniture, meaning they accept returns for any reason at any time, but be prepared to explain your dissatisfaction (like broken springs or seams) politely, as it's a major return, though employees usually honor the policy.