ApplePay and Costco

[mlody]

Is there any movement related to Costco and ApplePay? As it stands now, the several local Costco stores do not even accept the CHIP cards.
I hate the fact that I need to carry two extra cards, just to shop at one store - one membership card and one debit card (I am not an AMEX user). I would love to have an ability to have an electronic version of the membership card and use AP for paying.

 

[tjwilliams25]

With their switch to Visa, they may be opening up more opportunities like Apple Pay. They already have the chip/nfc-enabled terminals installed, they just have to update their POS software to work with it. Most companies are using the newest terminals now, but haven't updated all of the features yet. Hopefully they will soon.

 

[Bill Av]

From what I've read, Costco is slow to do stuff like this.

I didn't renew my Costco membership this year. Looking back, it was because they didn't take Apple Pay. I've maintained memberships to both BJ's and Costco for the past few years since they each have items that the other doesn't. When Apple Pay came out I started to favor BJ's for the novelty of using Apple Pay, especially if the trip was just for "the basics" (Milk, bread, etc). If there was no particular reason to pick one store over the other, Apple Pay became the deciding factor. Over the course of two years, I realized that I was going to Costco less and less; I'd either started picking up comparable items at BJ's, or just stopped picking up the items that were Costco exclusives. I found out that my membership ended when I got Costco renewal letter in the mail - normally, you find out when you have a conveyor-belt full of stuff. I realized that I really hadn't been going to Costco much anymore, so I figured why waste $55 for a membership that I wasn't using fully anymore.

 

[mlody]

It has been a while when I originally posted this, but lately, I have noticed some changes at one of the Costco gas stations I go to. They seem to be adding NFC readers. I tried it last time, but they are still not active. I think this might be a good sign for Costco and ApplePay fans.

 

[jetsam]

Heh. My Costco still has signs on the PIN pads at the registers that say "Chip cards coming early 2017."

 

[Böhme417]

It has been a while when I originally posted this, but lately, I have noticed some changes at one of the Costco gas stations I go to. They seem to be adding NFC readers. I tried it last time, but they are still not active. I think this might be a good sign for Costco and ApplePay fans.

Heh. My Costco still has signs on the PIN pads at the registers that say "Chip cards coming early 2017."

The pumps at my nearest Costco received these upgrades last autumn. They still don't fully work. Even more infuriating is that the the green light on the contactless reader flashes, making you think it would work. My location does take chips inside the warehouse, however.

When I contacted them about it last year, they said everything would be up and running by "late spring 2017." They're obviously behind schedule. It still concerns me that contactless support may not be coming any time soon.

I still try every time I get gas, though!

 

[jetsam]

Heh. My Costco still has signs on the PIN pads at the registers that say "Chip cards coming early 2017."

I did a Costco run today and their PIN pads finally support EMV chips. No sign of Apple Pay, though.

 

[mlody]

I did a Costco run today and their PIN pads finally support EMV chips. No sign of Apple Pay, though.

I have three Costco stores that I frequently shop; one by my work, one by my home and one by my mom's place. One by my work was the quickest one to get chip card working - like in February, then months later was the store by my house and recently the store by my mom's place, so I can imagine it might be till the end of the year or longer before all stores get upgraded. I am still curious if they plan on allowing ApplePay in the long run. Ideally, I would love to have the membership card integrated into the Apple wallet.

 

[Böhme417]

I have three Costco stores that I frequently shop; one by my work, one by my home and one by my mom's place. One by my work was the quickest one to get chip card working - like in February, then months later was the store by my house and recently the store by my mom's place, so I can imagine it might be till the end of the year or longer before all stores get upgraded. I am still curious if they plan on allowing ApplePay in the long run. Ideally, I would love to have the membership card integrated into the Apple wallet.

I second the digital membership card, but I just don't think these types of things are a priority for Costco.