Costco locations in Canada drop American Express eff Jan 1, 2015
Sep 22, 2014, 11:03 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AS
Posts: 194
I was at Costco today and was told by the cashier that they have started accepting *any* Mastercard, effective today.
Sep 23, 2014, 6:58 am
#32
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
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Sep 23, 2014, 7:17 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YVR
Posts: 625
At least right now, Costco.ca accepts Amex, Mastercard and Visa. In the past when I've wanted to use a specific non-Amex card for my Costco spend, I have purchased a Costco cash card online and used it in the store. According to their website, this is still possible. Not sure what will happen after Jan 1/15.
Sep 23, 2014, 8:15 am
#35
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Sep 23, 2014, 8:18 am
#36
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
While I've always enjoyed using my Amex cards at Costco to earn 1% MR/Aeros, I would much rather earn 2% on my BMO World Elite MC or the Cap1 Travel MC. Ideally, Costco Canada would accept ALL cards, to give us full flexibility, but we shall see.
Sep 23, 2014, 10:39 am
#37
Formerly known as newbie elite
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Platinum, AC50K
Posts: 2,923
From everything I have read on the internet (so nothing official unfortunately), AMEX is persona non grata at Costco Canada and will not be accepted either in the warehouse or online.
Sep 23, 2014, 1:13 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
I agree with you, in part. Costco can and will get away with this. But, I object to them wielding their clout in this fashion. I have a Visa and an Amex, and I'm not getting a MasterCard just so I can shop there, and yes, I know I can still use cash or debit. But in my view it's time they start accepting all major cards. So, maybe this will be my own little lonely protest.
I was told the same thing at the Anjou, Quebec location yesterday. All MasterCards will be welcome.
Sep 23, 2014, 4:23 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
I am also an Amex Platinum member and also am finding it tought to justify a $699 fee with benefit cuts and even more reduced acceptance.
Sep 27, 2014, 11:10 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 256
Someone at AMEX needs to wake up, first you lose lounge access and now Costco Canada sends you packing. Is Costco USA next? AMEX you will not have any customers left, if your cards are reduced to MC/VISA level and low number of merchants accepting them because of your processing fees. You (AMEX) got away all theses years with those fees and demands, because of the big spenders that have your card, but no more.
Sep 27, 2014, 11:37 am
#43
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 11
Someone at AMEX needs to wake up, first you lose lounge access and now Costco Canada sends you packing. Is Costco USA next? AMEX you will not have any customers left, if your cards are reduced to MC/VISA level and low number of merchants accepting them because of your processing fees. You (AMEX) got away all theses years with those fees and demands, because of the big spenders that have your card, but no more.
The Amex Platinum while losing quite a bit of value is still an extremely "value add" card despite the hefty fee.
It depends on your ability to use the benefits offered. I think the hotel program upgrades alone are worth it given what you have to do to get to those levels on your own.
Sep 29, 2014, 2:54 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold, Marriot Bonvoy Gold, MeliaRewards Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 816
Amex in the USA and Amex in Canada are two completely different kettles of fish really. In Canada Amex issued cards and Amex merchant acceptance is (obviously) far lower than in the US, where Amex cards are very common and acceptance is magnitudes higher. So one agreement ending in Canada will not neccessarily mean that another is going to go the same route.
At the end of the day it is bad for Amex Canada cardmembers, but clearly when Costco Canada placed a deal on the table, it was simply not acceptable to Amex.
Amex is not new to partnerships. Globally they have hundreds of deals and tie-ups with airlines, hotels and retailers and I'm pretty sure they fully understand the ramifications of a deal like this one dissolving and have done their sums (loss of revenues and billings, customer dissatifaction, customer attrition and so on). At the end of the day if Costco tried to push their hand too strongly and wanted to extract more value from the deal than Amex was able (or prepared) to give, well, that's what happens sometime in negotiations and parties walk away. If Amex Canada had needed to re-sign this deal at any cost, then they would have come to an agreement. Clearly they didn't.
At the end of the day it is bad for Amex Canada cardmembers, but clearly when Costco Canada placed a deal on the table, it was simply not acceptable to Amex.
Amex is not new to partnerships. Globally they have hundreds of deals and tie-ups with airlines, hotels and retailers and I'm pretty sure they fully understand the ramifications of a deal like this one dissolving and have done their sums (loss of revenues and billings, customer dissatifaction, customer attrition and so on). At the end of the day if Costco tried to push their hand too strongly and wanted to extract more value from the deal than Amex was able (or prepared) to give, well, that's what happens sometime in negotiations and parties walk away. If Amex Canada had needed to re-sign this deal at any cost, then they would have come to an agreement. Clearly they didn't.
Sep 29, 2014, 7:17 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Amex is not new to partnerships. Globally they have hundreds of deals and tie-ups with airlines, hotels and retailers and I'm pretty sure they fully understand the ramifications of a deal like this one dissolving and have done their sums (loss of revenues and billings, customer dissatifaction, customer attrition and so on).
I will be cancelling my new Amex when it comes. Don't need it.
Costco was my only reason to have it.
Costco was my only reason to have it.
I think we'll still drop the AMEX card
I like American Express' customer service, but I'll probably just throw the card into the drawer. American Express acceptance is too hit and miss and I find it a hassle to ask.
At the end of the day if Costco tried to push their hand too strongly and wanted to extract more value from the deal than Amex was able (or prepared) to give, well, that's what happens sometime in negotiations and parties walk away. If Amex Canada had needed to re-sign this deal at any cost, then they would have come to an agreement. Clearly they didn't.