Costco shoppers using ING Paywave - BEWARE

McLarenHonda on 16/08/2013 - 02:08

Hi All,

Just thought I'd let you all know that Costco are no longer allowing multiple $99 transactions in instances the bill is over $100.

I did a ~$500 shop today only to be told at the checkout I cannot Paypass the amount and that multiple card transactions are not allowed. I then asked if I could do multiple shopping transactions and pay for eavh bill separately of course and was told that's not on either.

They have undoubtedly lost a good chunk of my custom for the time being at least whilst the 5% Paypass offer is alive, as Aldi products work out cheaper and better for me, and I don't have to bulk up on them either. This means avoiding the occasional waste which is undoubtedly a good thing!

General Discussion

Related Stores

Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale

Comments

  • ozhunter on 16/08/2013 - 05:24
    +3

    Tell them you don't have enough money on one card and that you need to use another card and see if they refuse.

  • DEvok on 16/08/2013 - 05:36
    +1

    If they have a problem with ID, which usually the reason, show them ID drivers license, that should shut them up. There's no reason for not using tap and go, that's what the system was made for!!

    • linkbrah on 16/08/2013 - 15:16
      +1

      It was for transactions <$100

  • leeroys_dad on 16/08/2013 - 07:38

    it can be seen as a potential security risk by paying $99 via paypass (no pin/signature). operators aren't trained to check licences etc. that siad, it's bloody painful when common sense doesnt kick in

  • RockyRaccoon on 16/08/2013 - 08:49
    +28

    Really.

    Just think about what you said.

    Aldi products work out cheaper and better for me

    So the 5% was illusional, just like those buying products they dont need or for higher so they can get frequent Flyer points.

    And then there's ING who frankly should be cancelling all accounts with dual $99 purchases from a retailer at the same time.

    Its nice to get the 5% but to complain because some retailers wont let you rort the system, is a little over the top.

    They have to take extra time to process all these payments and I'd hate to be the poor sap in queue behind you while they went to this extra time.

    Next will people not shop at Coles because the cashier wont let them use their Flybuys card for the purchasers before or after if those people dont have a flybuys card.

    • _Bruce_ on 16/08/2013 - 09:10
      +6

      And then there's ING who frankly should be cancelling all accounts with dual $99 purchases from a retailer at the same time.

      I would certainly want my bank to if this happened on my accounts.

    • Cluster on 16/08/2013 - 10:17
      +3

      "They have to take extra time to process all these payments and I'd hate to be the poor sap in queue behind you while they went to this extra time."

      I think that's the main problem with this. Maybe at 9am on a Saturday morning when the store is empty it's okay, but consider if even one person is behind in line while the happy ING shopper asks to take five times longer to pay one bill. Nobody would be happy about that.

      • _Bruce_ on 16/08/2013 - 10:28
        +5

        I still think the 'main' problem is that it completely defeats the requirement that transactions over $100 have a PIN/signature.

        • Cluster on 16/08/2013 - 10:36

          That is another important issue. How does the bank differentiate between a greedy customer milking the 5% discount and a thief emptying a customer's account of all the money? You're right that multiple transactions defeat the security measure.

          Maybe the solution is to require a PIN or signature transaction if a second PayWave transaction is attempted within 30 seconds or so? People who hold up a checkout without good reason are like those people who rock up to a self serve checkout with a full trolley and then struggle to clear the checkout as they scan one item and fumble with it for 10 seconds each. It's pointless and frustrating.

        • retiredfeline on 16/08/2013 - 10:43

          There may already be some signals in place. When I wanted to pay for a separate purchase for someone else with Paypass the second time the cashier looked at the screen and asked for PIN or ID. (This was not at Costco BTW.) So people who want to pay multiple $99 lots may be implicitly asking the cashier to take a risk.

        • RockyRaccoon on 16/08/2013 - 11:15

          It would be interesting to know what the cashiers do see. Do they get any info to check. Eg Male vs Female. Or do they only get this if there are multiple transactions at the same time.

          For example if I gave my card to MrsRaccoon, who they say no to, if she swipes.

          While that might be nice to get extra 5% do I want others to get unchallenged access to my funds if I lost my card?

        • _Bruce_ on 16/08/2013 - 12:11
          +1

          For example if I gave my card to MrsRaccoon, who they say no to, if she swipes.

          I have done this and never had a problem. I don't think there are any checks.

        • tonka on 17/08/2013 - 16:27

          I wish my local supermarket understood that, but I'm pretty sure they want everyone to self serve.

  • c64 on 16/08/2013 - 11:27
    +1

    do costco sell their own gift cards? if they do just purchase them first

  • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2013 - 13:03
    -5

    I think more of a SCAM is where retailers have a minimum amount required to use PAYPASS, seriously?? that is the whole point of the damn system, so frustraing. 50c is a lot of money

    • Eivad on 16/08/2013 - 13:15

      50 cents is a lot of money for the retailer, too - if they had to pay it each time someone bought something worth $1 from them.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2013 - 14:33

        merchant fees aren't 50% (they are between 1-1.5%). If you bought something for $1 the fee would be 1c-1.5c max. Cost margins in most circumstances (cafe's for example) are much more than that

        • ilostnemo on 16/08/2013 - 17:02

          It's actually a lot higher than 1.5c for a $1 transaction
          It costs a telephone call for starters.
          Then there is line rental and also the rental of the machine
          Then there is a minimum fee the banks charge as well.

          This is why a lot of shops have a minimum eftpos charge.

        • ironsword on 16/08/2013 - 23:39

          supermarkets make a net profit of ~6% so being charged 1-1.5% on each card purchase eats into their margins…

        • Roary on 17/08/2013 - 02:19
          +1

          A telephone call?
          That was back in the 80's.. Now they just piggie back (encrypted of course) to your existing internet access.

    • Ughhh on 16/08/2013 - 13:27
      +3

      You dont sound like you understand what the word 'scam' means…

      • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2013 - 14:30
        -1

        scam /skam/
        Noun
        A dishonest scheme; a fraud

        Minimum spend amounts for EFTPOS transactions are used by some retailers to cover the cost of using the technology (usually around 1% per transaction depending on volumes). I have personally seen this vary from a 'no minumum spend', all the way up to a '$15 minimum spend'. The fact remains there is no requirement to have a minimum spend on transactions other than to recoup some of costs of the merchant fee by the retailers. I find this misleading (dishonest) and somewhat unfair to the consumer when they obtain Paypass and Paywave products for use on purchases <$100. So in this case it is more like <$100 (but >"retailers minimum spend"). EFTPOS, Paypass/Paywave are technologies released and designed with an intention to bring customers into your business (well anyway this is how the merchant fee is allegedly justified)

  • linkbrah on 16/08/2013 - 15:20
    +17

    Title: Costco shoppers using ING Paywave - BEWARE
    I'm thinking oh shit Costco is rejecting PayWave.

    Reality: Some idiot is having a cry because the poor checkout chick/lad is following the rules.

    What part of transactions under $99.99 don't you understand? I'm sure it is the transactions part.

  • blah-blah on 16/08/2013 - 19:01
    +4

    If don't like Costco can leave and get membership fee back. I ended up doing that because their optical centre was useless, they gave me wrong trail contact lenses the first time and then the third time they pretended my prescription did not exist in lenses at all and that I had to settle for what they had available, when my prescription did exist just not in their brand range. I miss the hot food there but that's all.

  • mily on 16/08/2013 - 21:29
    -2

    Split the goods you are buying, in to piles of $40 or even less, then use the paypass to give them double the trouble. Tell them the breads, milk and other groceries are bought for different family members as GIFTs, therefore separate invoices are needed for each member.

    • leiiv on 17/08/2013 - 10:16

      I don't see any reason why you can't split your goods to chunks of $99 or less BEFORE you come into the register. Just leave the rest on a separate trolley.

  • JR63 on 16/08/2013 - 21:53
    +4

    Doesn't the membership rules state that you are only able to make one individual transaction per shop. The checkout person was simply following the rules as mentioned above.

  • Garagesale on 17/08/2013 - 05:13

    Ing is a good deal for under $100.
    I could see retailers allowing u to do 2 payment for say a 195$ item but 5-6 is really pushing it…both for time taken, eftpos fmultiple fee hit, potential rejection by bank, excessive time at checkout and it doe look a bit dodgy.

  • Briefcase Mong on 17/08/2013 - 15:56

    isn't paypass for purchases under $100.00

  • Ching ching on 19/08/2013 - 17:52
    +2

    I went to Costco on Saturday afternoon with family, the total came to about $220. When the cashier saw my ING card, they asked whether I would like to make $99 worth of separate payments. considering I was follow this post right before my shop, I was surprised they offered to help.

    • cwongtech on 25/08/2013 - 23:22

      Must be another OzBargainer or someone else who knows how to work the ING Paywave :p

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