Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

twelveoaks

Feb 3, 2012, 7:50 AM

Post #1 of 21 (1736 views)

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Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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My wife and I are moving to Ajijic the first week in April. One area of major importance is preparing ourselves financially. I have been told many times that Mexico is basically a cash society and that credit cards are not commonly used there . In California the Costcos only accept American Express credit cards but AMEX is generally not accepted in Mexico.

So... my question is does the Costco in Guadalajara accept any credit cards or is it cash only ?\

Thanks and see you in two months !!

Axixic

Feb 3, 2012, 8:12 AM

Post #2 of 21 (1720 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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I use a debit card to shop at Costco because it gives a 2% discount at the register for cash.

Check the Costco site:

http://www.costco.com.mx/portal/dt

I checked after I posted the above and it looks like Costco here does accept AMX.
http://www.costco.com.mx/...ainer&last=false

(This post was edited by Rolly on Feb 3, 2012, 9:01 AM)

johanson

Feb 3, 2012, 12:23 PM

Post #3 of 21 (1677 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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I used my US American Express card in Costco store 730 (southern Guadalajara) just yesterday. I've done it three times now here in Mexico at Costco

stevebrtx

Feb 3, 2012, 12:49 PM

Post #4 of 21 (1666 views)

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Re: [johanson] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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I've used Compass debit, Bancomer and AMX and my neighbor uses her Canuck cards.
www.chapalaweather.net

chinagringo

Feb 3, 2012, 1:06 PM

Post #5 of 21 (1664 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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In addition to Costco, I think you will find that more and more places are now accepting AMEX. AMEX has had teams of salespeople out recruiting new merchants, hotels and restaurants. That said, it shouldn't come as any surprised when you find cash prices that are lower than when using a credit/debit card of any type.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Carol_Wheeler

Feb 3, 2012, 8:40 PM

Post #6 of 21 (1620 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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I had to go to Costco across from Plaza Galerias in Guadalajara this afternoon, so I asked it they take American Express. They assured me they do.

stevebrtx

Feb 4, 2012, 5:18 AM

Post #7 of 21 (1590 views)

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Re: [Carol_Wheeler] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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On thing that should be mentioned however, in the States the fee charged to the merchant by AMX etc. is rolled into the price, here it is not, so when I use my Compass debit card they tack on 3% and I see that in my online banking as it hits and then is finally posted at +3%.
www.chapalaweather.net

DavidHF

Feb 4, 2012, 6:13 AM

Post #8 of 21 (1585 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Hmmm, we use a Visa debit card from our Vanguard account. No additional fee is added.

stevebrtx

Feb 4, 2012, 6:36 AM

Post #9 of 21 (1581 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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I can't tell on my Costco because I typically use Bancomer there and when I have used Compass it's hard to guess the exchange rate, but on my Walmart charges I get the following notation on my statement:
WAL MART CHAPALA CHAPALA JAL 3%DEBIT FOR CHECKCARD
And at Home Depot:
HOME DEPOT TLAQUEPAQUE J 3% ISFDEBIT FOR CHECKCARD
www.chapalaweather.net

Axixic

Feb 4, 2012, 6:47 AM

Post #10 of 21 (1575 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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In the first answer to the OP's question, I posted this link to the Costco site where it is shown what methods of payment Costco accepts. American Express is one of the cards it accepts. Why does anyone need to guess and speculate which cards it will accept when all cards are listed on its site? What did I miss?

http://www.costco.com.mx/portal/dt?JSPTabContainer.setSelected=JSPTabContainer%2FFormasPagoGenericContainer&last=false

RickS

Feb 4, 2012, 8:24 AM

Post #11 of 21 (1555 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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What I see on my debit card is what Steve mentions.... if I look at my online account immediately after the purchase (within hours) I see two debits to my account.... one for the 'product/service' and a smaller one (3%) of the purchase. When I look again after the nightly processing, the smaller fee is gone, but the debit for the product has increased by the exact amount that was shown on the other/smaller one.

I have been thinking of establishing a Vanguard account so it would be interesting (to me) to know if Vanguard was actually doing the same thing and you just don't see it in time or whether they are just not adding the 3%.

(This post was edited by RickS on Feb 4, 2012, 8:31 AM)

johninajijic

Feb 4, 2012, 8:31 AM

Post #12 of 21 (1549 views)

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Re: [twelveoaks] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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I use my Mastercard at Costco every month. My card company adds a 3% Foreign Transaction fee as most Credit Card companies do. If you use your credit card at Costco they add a percentage into the items for use of a credit card. The cheapest way is to pay cash at Costco, which I never do because I want the Airline miles.

stevebrtx

Feb 4, 2012, 9:54 AM

Post #13 of 21 (1531 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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I hadn't considered it being a foreign card fee, but that's probably exactly what it is because my ShawDirect bill adds 3% as well. Sometimes I forget where I am, I don't consider this "foreign" most of the time. My dear old Mother, now 97, used to ask me why I live in MX? - I'd say "Mom, everyone has to live somewhere and this is where I live now" - don't think it ever really satisfied her.
www.chapalaweather.net

Zardoz

Feb 5, 2012, 7:38 AM

Post #14 of 21 (1468 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Folks not all companies charge a foreign transaction fee on your credit card. Capital one has accounts that don't charge that fee but make sure
they don't make it up with bad exchange rate. If you don't use it much who cares but if you use your card alot or want to get cash back do your
homework cause 1/2 % back won't make up a 3% foreign transaction fee. Check with the credit unions also. I get a good rate and 1%back with
no fees.

Z

(This post was edited by Zardoz on Feb 5, 2012, 7:39 AM)

DavidHF

Feb 5, 2012, 8:48 AM

Post #15 of 21 (1450 views)

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Re: [Zardoz] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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True ennough; my Amex adds 2%, my VISA adds 1%, my debit cards 0%.

stevebrtx

Feb 5, 2012, 10:49 AM

Post #16 of 21 (1429 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Interesting because my Compass card is debit and they're taking on 3%, not on my Bancomer debit. So, you're telling me it's the bank, not the merchant that is charging?
www.chapalaweather.net

bournemouth

Feb 5, 2012, 11:29 AM

Post #17 of 21 (1421 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Compass is charging the foreign currency transaction fee - they do that when you take money out of an ATM too.

stevebrtx

Feb 5, 2012, 11:35 AM

Post #18 of 21 (1420 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Thanks, when I first came down I got the Compass because they refunded all ATM charges worldwide vs Wells Fargo which whacked me $5 each time, but once I got the Bancomer acct I never used it at an ATM. I had assumed it was the merchant, thanks for correcting that, I may have to consider a change next time I'm home.
www.chapalaweather.net

bournemouth

Feb 5, 2012, 12:48 PM

Post #19 of 21 (1405 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Compass made a change as of last Sept. and no longer has free ATM withdrawals except from their machines - they have no link with BBVA banks in other locations either - which frosts me as we had a free ATM withdrawal card for years and had hoped that being taken over by BBVA would give us ease of transfer of funds to Bancomer.

Sorry - this is a little off track but a natural follow on to Steve's post.

DavidHF

Feb 5, 2012, 2:13 PM

Post #20 of 21 (1392 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Stevebrtx, yes the extra charge is from the bank. Costco gets theirs by having two prices; Cash price and Credit card price. If you pay with Debit Card or Cash you pay the lower price. You'll see the two prices on the price cards thruout the store. Look in the lower left hand corner of the price card. Some cards may be too small to display all the info. Go to the wine area, it's easy to see since the price cards are large.

carol1958

Feb 7, 2012, 6:19 PM

Post #21 of 21 (1244 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Need info on Costco Guadalajara

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Just a note regarding credit card transaction fees. I am coming up on my 1st year anniversary of living lakeside. I tallied all foreign transaction fees on all credit cards used be it AMEX, Visa or Master Card. I was surprised at how quickly the charges added up. I now have a Chase Visa that has an annual fee of $95 with no foreign transaction fees. The $95 annual fee is waved the first year. It was a no brainer for me. Just something for everyone to think about to see if finding a card with no fee is beneficial to you.