Which Visa For Costco
Oct 2, 2016 | 8:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: CHS
Programs: UA Premier, AA Gold, AC 25K, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,144
Which Visa For Costco
Now that Costco has switched to Visa only I am in search of a good CC for use there. My primary card is an Amex product. I have Visas from Marriott Visa (poor for non-Marriott purchases) and United, but I am looking for something better.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Oct 3, 2016 | 12:28 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,743
Chase Freedom is 5x at Costco for the first $1500 of Costco spend until the end of the year (effectively a minimum of 7.5x if you pair with a CSR or 6.25 with a CSP/Ink, potentially more if you transfer points instead of using Chase's travel portal). After December 31st, Freedom Unlimited would net you a minimum of 1.5*1.5 = 2.25x paired with the CSR/1.875x with the CSP.
This all assumes you have use for UR points, of course. If you prefer cash back, Fidelity's Visa card (2x on everything) or even the Citi Costco card might be better suited for Costco spend after the end of this year.
This all assumes you have use for UR points, of course. If you prefer cash back, Fidelity's Visa card (2x on everything) or even the Citi Costco card might be better suited for Costco spend after the end of this year.
Oct 3, 2016 | 10:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, WF, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 2,371
You can buy Costco cash cards online using any card including Amex. I usually use AT&T Access More MC which pays 3x TYP for that, if Freedom deal is not available.
Oct 4, 2016 | 7:40 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,049
Costco no longer accepts Amex at costco.com. Visa, MC, Discover only.
I buy $500 Vanilla Visa gift cards ($4.95 load fee) at the grocery store with my Amex Blue Cash Preferred. That nets 5.2% cash back after the fee. Costco registers will auto-drain the remaining balance so you don't have to worry about not having enough on the card - as long as you have a secondary payment source. I do the same with other non-bonus spend - car/house insurance, medical bills, etc.
I buy $500 Vanilla Visa gift cards ($4.95 load fee) at the grocery store with my Amex Blue Cash Preferred. That nets 5.2% cash back after the fee. Costco registers will auto-drain the remaining balance so you don't have to worry about not having enough on the card - as long as you have a secondary payment source. I do the same with other non-bonus spend - car/house insurance, medical bills, etc.
Oct 6, 2016 | 10:34 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: CHS
Programs: UA Premier, AA Gold, AC 25K, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,144
Thanks for the feedback. I decided to go with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I liked the other suggestions, but for sake of simplicity, I chose the CSR. Plus, being in the Chicago region, the 100K bonus will fit nicely in my United account.
Oct 9, 2016 | 10:12 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 177
If you went with the CSR, you should strongly consider getting the Freedom and/or Freedom Unlimited as well due to the earning potential on those cards and transferability of points to the CSR for increased redemption value. Unlike the CSR they have no annual fee, so provided that you qualify and don't have 5/24 issues it should be a no brainer.
Oct 10, 2016 | 7:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 177
Do you think there might be issues in applying for the CSP when one already has the CSR? Especially given that there is little reason to get the CSP long term when one has the CSR other than the sign up bonus? Not saying it would be, just asking.
Oct 11, 2016 | 12:37 am
#10
Join Date: May 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 45
I got the CSR and CSP within a week of each other. I didn't have to tell them a reason, but if asked, I would have said I wanted to add AU withou ta fee and that's why I applied for the CSR. You also get a 5,000 point bonus for adding an AU to CSP.
Oct 11, 2016 | 12:37 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 177
Oct 12, 2016 | 3:39 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SMF
Programs: Hilton Diamond-Marriott Platinum-life
Posts: 1,015
Chase Freedom is 5x at Costco for the first $1500 of Costco spend until the end of the year (effectively a minimum of 7.5x if you pair with a CSR or 6.25 with a CSP/Ink, potentially more if you transfer points instead of using Chase's travel portal). After December 31st, Freedom Unlimited would net you a minimum of 1.5*1.5 = 2.25x paired with the CSR/1.875x with the CSP.
This all assumes you have use for UR points, of course. If you prefer cash back, Fidelity's Visa card (2x on everything) or even the Citi Costco card might be better suited for Costco spend after the end of this year.
This all assumes you have use for UR points, of course. If you prefer cash back, Fidelity's Visa card (2x on everything) or even the Citi Costco card might be better suited for Costco spend after the end of this year.