Bisbee Gal Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 We have never used our US credit cards in MX. But moving into an unfurnished home, we'd like to charge some items rather than running to ATMs daily and carrying sackfuls of pesos from store to store. Can we use US credit cards at: Home Depot Costco (if yes, does it have to be the Costco issued credit card?) Walmart Tio Sams Chapala area hardware/plumbing/furniture stores (the larger ones) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo1 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 No to Costco unless it's their CC card or AMEX. Ask at local stores. All else is OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oatsie Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 I use my Canadian Visa card as often as possible in Mexico. No problema.... and lots of Aeroplan miles to fly back and forth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oatsie Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 3 minutes ago, Yo1 said: No to Costco unless it's their CC card or AMEX. Ask at local stores. All else is OK. Just like my answer above, I use my Canadian Visa card at Costco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowyela Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 You will need a Costco card to buy anything in their store - even their ready to eat hotdogs. I haven't had any problems using my AMEX and Visa cards at most other places including Walmart, but it's a good idea to let Visa and AMEX know you'll be using your cards in Mexico or it might get rejected.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Your Credi Card company needs to know you want to use it in Mexico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 19 minutes ago, sparks said: Your Credi Card company needs to know you want to use it in Mexico Done...thankfully travel notifications can be done online these days. And yes, we have Costco membership and Costco credit cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Costco here will not accept your U.S. Costco credit card. And they charge extra for any credit card. We don't use our Visa card here because they charge for foreign transactions. Capital One Master Card does not. Have used the Capital One card at Home Depot, no problem and no extra charge. Whenever we use this card, we call first and let them know exactly where/what charges we will be making and tell them not to accept any others, to avoid card cloning theft. Otherwise, we use cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TelsZ4 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 2 hours ago, Yo1 said: No to Costco unless it's their CC card or AMEX. Ask at local stores. All else is OK. I used my Canadian Visa 3 weeks ago at Costco to buy tires. They charged me more to use my credit card. 1 hour ago, sparks said: Your Credi Card company needs to know you want to use it in Mexico It has been several years since you had to notify Canadian Visa (RBC) about Mexico. It tells you on their website you do not need to notify us of your travel plans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cincy Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 You can use your US credit card at all of those stores. The thing to remember about Costco is that is you use a none Costco card in their store you pay a slightly higher price for each item. Haven't found that to be the case when buying from their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvanparys Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Capital One accepted at Walmart, Costco, Home Depot... Not a problem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm1mex Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Check with your CC bank to see if they charge a foreign transaction fee. It can add up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 We have a Chase Visa associated with United Airlines and a Citi Mastercard associated with American airlines and neither charge foreign transaction fees. We also have an old (circa 1980) Citi Mastercard associated with American airlines that does charge foreign fees. We have always flown a lot; I've noticed the newer cards associated with airlines almost always waive the foreign fees, in addition to free checked bags, early boarding, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bezerk Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Costco, Walmart and Home Depot accept M/C, Visa and American Express. Costco also accepts Discover as does I think it is Walmart. Try to use cards which have no foreign transaction fee or you pay more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solajijic Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Just call each and aski them to waive the foreign transaction fee for 60 to 90 days. Tell them you are furnishing a house and want to put everything on their card. I bet they offer to double your limit. They can do this you just have to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 A Mexican bank account with a debit card eliminates having to hit ATMs, carry wads of cash around, or get charged more for using a NOB credit card. Just saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedros Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Personally I'm very cautious about using my Canadian CC here. It can cost more if you use a CC and your card could be compromised. To keep my CC active I only use it at places that don't chare an extra fee (Sears, Liverpool, Walmart, Home Depot, etc.) Ask before you use it. I thought Walmart would be safe but in 2015 I used mine there and shortly after I was buying thousands of dollars worth of stuff in Arizona. A pain to cancel the card and get a new one and to get the charges reversed. A neighbour had the same thing happen at Walmart. I complained to the Walmart manager and he said it can't happen but it did. It is safer and often cheaper to use cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vetteforron Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 I have a BOA debit and credit. I use my credit card a lot at Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's club. Also the Pemex I get 3% cash back which covers my fees. When the cash back adds up to $25.00 or more I transfer to my savings where BOA pays me 10% more. So I make a little which is better than nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted April 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 10 hours ago, mudgirl said: A Mexican bank account with a debit card eliminates having to hit ATMs, carry wads of cash around, or get charged more for using a NOB credit card. Just saying. We won't be able to open a MX bank account until our permanente is finalized and we have CFE bills in our name, etc. We'd like to start buying things for the house ASAP. Are most stores using chip technology or are they still using the swipe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeser Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 I use CC here all the time. Just check to find out if there is a 3% foreign transaction fee. I have several that have no such charge. I have recently gotten a SAMS CLUB card and it pays cash back. The kick back is 5% on gasoline and works on charges in Mexico at Pemex which is a big help considering the cost ot gasoline here. It does not have a foreign trasnaction fee and the peso/USD exchange always beats what you get at Cambio or Bank here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tingting Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 On 4/3/2017 at 10:29 AM, Yo1 said: No to Costco unless it's their CC card or AMEX. Ask at local stores. All else is OK. That's not true. We use our US Visa card there (I've used 2 different ones), no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rckrckr Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 Used both US & Mexican credit cards yesterday at Costco with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johanson Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 It was in the US that Costco converted from American Express to a Visa Card only. Perhaps in Canada too, but not here in Mexico, if I remember right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowyela Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 27 minutes ago, johanson said: It was in the US that Costco converted from American Express to a Visa Card only. Perhaps in Canada too, but not here in Mexico, if I remember right. Yes, they did that in Canada too, too bad because i didn't really want another credit card to lug around and worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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