Why your grocery card doesn't pay off at Costco
By the Pikt editorial teamLast updated
Why doesn't my 6% U.S. supermarket card earn its usual bonus when I shop at a wholesale club like Costco?
Scenario
Wallet: Blue Cash Preferred (American Express; 6% at U.S. supermarkets, 1% elsewhere), Wells Fargo Active Cash (Visa; 2% cash rewards on purchases).
Costco codes as a wholesale club, not a supermarket, and U.S. Costco warehouses take Visa credit cards only.
Card options
| Card | Earns | Cash-equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Active CashCard estimate | 2% · Cash rewards | $5.00 |
| Blue Cash Preferred | Not accepted · Costco warehouses take no Amex | $0.00 |
Result
Swipe Wells Fargo Active Cash. Costco's U.S. warehouses don't take American Express, and even where an Amex works, the 6% bonus covers supermarkets, not wholesale clubs. The store's category and the cards it accepts decide the reward, not what's in your cart.
Illustrative scenario with sample wallets and values. Reward rates and point valuations are estimates that change over time. Pikt is in beta — you always pay with your own card. Pikt is not a bank and does not hold or move your money. See the methodology.