Costco App for iOS Now Supports Digital Membership Cards, Allowing for Wallet-Free Shopping Trips

[MacRumors]

Costco recently updated its iOS app to add a Digital Membership Card for the first time, allowing customers to enter the store and make purchases without the need to have a physical card.

Costco has long had an iOS app, but the app did not include support for adding a digital version of the Costco membership card, instead requiring customers to present their actual cards for purchases.

According to a Reddit thread from May, Costco began testing the new Digital Membership Card in October with employees, and announced its upcoming rollout in the spring.

To use the Digital Membership Card, Costco customers can download the Costco app and sign into their Costco.com accounts to verify their membership. Once that's done, the Digital Membership Card is available through the new "Membership" tab in the app.

Along with offering a QR code that can be scanned at Costco, the Membership section of the app allows Executive Members to view their two percent reward balance and renew their memberships online.

The Costco Digital Membership app can't be added to the Apple Wallet app at this time unfortunately, but because Costco does accept Apple Pay, the addition of the Digital Membership Card to the Costco app allows customers to shop with just a smartphone. The Digital Card can be used to verify membership, while Apple Pay can be used for purchases.

(Thanks, Errin!)

Article Link: Costco App for iOS Now Supports Digital Membership Cards, Allowing for Wallet-Free Shopping Trips

 

[PlayUltimate]

Awesome!! I can't find my card.

 

[RVijay007]

Great! Now just tell me where stuff is in the store via the app! I hate it when they move staples I always get!!!

 

[wellander1]

Cool.

 

[Icaras]

Not a Costco member myself but this is great news.

come on DMV....driver licenses next please!

 

[F1Turbo]

But still need physical card for gas pumps?

 

[dontwalkhand]

Not a Costco member myself but this is great news.

come on DMV....driver licenses next please!

Lousiana has them. I don't live there, but if you know anyone who does, have them download the app "LAWallet" it has been officially issued by the state, and valid anywhere that accepts a valid LA ID, including police. And to quash fears, police don't touch your phone, they just scan it with a device.
[doublepost=1563998694][/doublepost]

But still need physical card for gas pumps?

For now, they have the QR code scanners, and the NFC readers needed for both the Costco Card app, and the Apple Pay cards.

 

[K&E]

Sam’s Club has had this for years but I really do wish they’d take Apple Pay. If only they had cancelled Walmart Pay then maybe they would’ve already had it enabled on their registers. I’m an associate at the flagship club so we’re the guinea pigs when it comes to testing stuff out and I remember when they failed at launching CurrentC.

 

[NMC Music]

Thanks for the tip! My wallet keeps getting thinner!!

 

[dontwalkhand]

Sam’s Club has had this for years but I really do wish they’d take Apple Pay. If only they had cancelled Walmart Pay then maybe they would’ve already had it enabled on their registers. I’m an associate at the flagship club so we’re the guinea pigs when it comes to testing stuff out and I remember when they failed at launching CurrentC.

They do have scan & go, but it would be much nicer with Apple Pay. I don't understand why they don't at Sam's Club. It can't be about tracking purchases here, because you're required to have a membership! It can't be about Walmart Pay because they don't have Walmart Pay at Sam's! Come on! Apple Pay!
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Thanks for the tip! My wallet keeps getting thinner!!

No problem .

(I am Errin, I submitted this tip to MR )

 

[K&E]

They do have scan & go, but it would be much nicer with Apple Pay. I don't understand why they don't at Sam's Club. It can't be about tracking purchases here, because you're required to have a membership! It can't be about Walmart Pay because they don't have Walmart Pay at Sam's! Come on! Apple Pay!
[doublepost=1563998816][/doublepost]
No problem .

(I am Errin, I submitted this tip to MR )

I think it’s something to do with the same payment system as Walmart. If we enable Apple Pay then that means Walmart has to. We have a new system for returns at membership that is piggy backing off of the Walmart system and corporate tells us a lot of our things come from Walmart. So I’m sure it’s something to do with them.

 

[cannono]

Trash. You can’t add it to the Wallet app. No Scan & Go features. Dated app.

 

[blacktape242]

ill switch from sams to costco when they get scan and go.

 

[smirking]

Awesome!! I can't find my card.

Same here. I'm always that guy walking around with the paper printout that serves as my temporary membership card assigned by the membership desk for people who forgot their homework.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Trash. You can’t add it to the Wallet app. No Scan & Go features. Dated app.

It is the because the QR code is dynamically changing.
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ill switch from sams to costco when they get scan and go.

I have both, though I do enjoy Scan & Go, I do like that Costco has better gas prices. Sam's is my go to for those microwavable White Castle burgers.

 

[Westside guy]

About bloody time... Although I don't like the QR code idea. However you don't need to use that - I've been using my Watch to pay at Costco for at least the past year.

 

[dontwalkhand]

About bloody time... Although I don't like the QR code idea. However you don't need to use that - I've been using my Watch to pay at Costco for at least the past year.

To pay at Costco. This is just the membership card, you would still need to pay for your things .

 

[travoose]

They key is being able to add these cards to the Wallet app. Sheetz and others are the same way, I can scan a code in the Sheetz app and then pay with Apple Pay, but I still need my phone, because of this...I’d rather have it all on my watch, so I can carry less.

If you have seen how Panera implements this then you know it can be done, and Panera even has it setup that it automatically pulls up the rewards card when you go to pay. This should be forced on developers when submitting these category apps.

 

[dontwalkhand]

They key is being able to add these cards to the Wallet app. Sheetz and others are the same way, I can scan a code in the Sheetz app and then pay with Apple Pay, but I still need my phone, because of this...I’d rather have it all on my watch, so I can carry less.

If you have seen how Panera implements this then you know it can be done, and Panera even has it setup that it automatically pulls up the rewards card when you go to pay. This should be forced on developers when submitting these category apps.

I am sure it has a lot to do with the fact that Costco still uses the IBM AS400. Having the card reader is just a part of the equation.

 

[Westside guy]

To pay at Costco. This is just the membership card, you would still need to pay for your things .

I must not have expressed myself well. Up until now, I've been having to show the physical card as I walk into the store, then using my Apple Watch to pay when I check out (the Costco Visa is in my Apple Wallet).

Going forward, I won't need to bring along the physical card.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I must not have expressed myself well. Up until now, I've been having to show the physical card as I walk into the store, then using my Apple Watch to pay when I check out (the Costco Visa is in my Apple Wallet).

Going forward, I won't need to bring along the physical card.

When using the Costco visa, do you still need to scan the membership card first, or is the tap good enough to register that you're a member? I was thinking about applying for this for this reason alone, but I guess point is moot now with this app.

 

[cerote]

Question sort of releated to the last part.

If they accept ApplePay does that mean I can add my compatible MasterCard to ApplePay and use it or is there still sort of restriction on using MasterCard cards? Using ApplePay should mean using a different processing company wouldn't it so it should accept MasterCards without pin?

 

[Böhme417]

It’s about time, but it’s still a disappointing implementation. As noted, there is no wallet support. Their app is basically a frame for the website that makes you constantly log in. They definitely need to put more effort into it.
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When using the Costco visa, do you still need to scan the membership card first, or is the tap good enough to register that you're a member? I was thinking about applying for this for this reason alone, but I guess point is moot now with this app.

They scan the barcode on the back of the card for the membership part.

 

[palmerc2]

Great! Now just tell me where stuff is in the store via the app! I hate it when they move staples I always get!!!

Grocery store sales 101: periodically move items in the store so shoppers need to go down more aisles to find what they’re looking for, thereby introducing the shopper to more items to buy they probably didn’t consider before.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Question sort of releated to the last part.

If they accept ApplePay does that mean I can add my compatible MasterCard to ApplePay and use it or is there still sort of restriction on using MasterCard cards? Using ApplePay should mean using a different processing company wouldn't it so it should accept MasterCards without pin?

No as Costco does not accept MasterCards in any form. Even a debit MasterCard won't work in Apple Pay because Apple Pay at Costco runs everything as credit.