Despite the large number of people who visit Costco daily, not all will find it a worthwhile trip to get some groceries, as payment for the selected items via any card outside of a Visa card will be rejected.
Why Does Costco Not Accept Discover Cards?
Discover is one of the largest credit card networks in the United States. Yet, it is sadly not an acceptable form of payment at any Costco stores because Costco has an exclusive partnership with Visa alone.
Discover Credit Cards
Discover credit cards issued by Discover Financial, a subsidiary of Sears founded in 1985, making it an improper credit card payment at any Costco store because it is not a part of the Visa network.
It is the third most recognized credit card brand in the United States, following closely behind Visa and MasterCard. Owners of a Discover credit card can either shop online at Costco stores or get a Visa-backed credit card to continue shopping at any Costco physical store.
How to Make Costco Purchases With a Discover Credit Card
A Discover credit card payment at a physical Costco store is not accepted. However, it does not mean that your card is completely useless, as you can still purchase the items you love from Costco via another medium.
There are two ways you can use your Discover credit card to pay for your purchases from Costco. Both are simple and require only a device with stable network connectivity and your credit card details.
The first way is to type Costco Wholesale into your preferred browser and sign up if you are a first-time customer. For old customers, log in, add to the cart, and check out. The second way requires you to download the official Costco app and follow through with the same steps as the first.
When Did Costco Start Partnering With Visa?
The decision made by Costco to accept only Visa-issued cards as the only accepted credit card form of payment at all Costco stores began in 2016.
As a popular retail store, the partnership with Visa saw their customers benefit significantly from cashback and several other rewards. It was a decision influenced by many factors, including the non-preference of younger adults to American Express credit cards because of its stricter requirements than Visa.
Once the partnership between Costco and Visa began, there was a visible increase in sales in Costco stores by younger customers who paid using their Visa cards.
Modes of Payment Accepted at Costco Stores
Shopping physically at a Costco store would only be successful and not have you stand in a line for several minutes for nothing if you came in to shop equipped with the following mode of payment:
Costco Cash CardsAny Visa Credit CardCashChecksEBTDebit/ATM CardsMobile Payments( Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay)
Will Discover Ever Be Accepted at Costco Physical Stores?
No official statement has been released by either Costco or Visa stating when their partnership ends, which would allow those with Discover and other credit cards to make payments after shopping at a Costco physical store.
The partnership between these two common brands has been going on for a while, which both parties have greatly benefited from, so it is expected that it will last for years to come until something else changes, causing them to cease to be partners.
Retail Stores that Accept Discover as a Mode of Payment
Besides Costco, many set-up businesses and stores accept Discover as a credit card payment. Some of these businesses and organizations that accept Discover include:
Walmart Rite-AidZaraUniqloOld Navy NordstromMacy’sAce HardwareBest BuyDollar TreeWalgreensCVSPetcoChipotleChick-fil-ADunkinStarbucks
Shopping at Costco is something many customers enjoy doing because of the quality of products, customer service, and how accessible it is. It is an excellent place to get many household items. It is wise to know that when shopping at a Costco store nearby, you should always go with cash or a Visa-backed credit card to avoid being turned away at checkout.
Discover is among the credit cards not accepted at Costco because it is not Visa-issued.
Costco is in partnership with Visa, which has made only Visa-issued credit cards the only form of payment.
Mastercard is another credit card that is not an acceptable form of payment at all Costco physical stores.
