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Frequently Asked Questions

Payment Methods

In the PriceSmart warehouse clubs*, we accept the following types of payment:

  • Cash
  • Debit Card
  • Credit Cards*
  • PriceSmart Amex credit card (in Central America, except Panama)
  • PriceSmart Visa credit card (in Colombia and Panama)
  • PriceSmart Mastercard credit card (in the Caribbean except Aruba and USVI)
  • Checks (Business Members, previous authorization)
  • Gift Certificate / Cash Card
  • Smart Checks (Central America only)

 

* For online shopping, in Colombia we accept Visa, Credencial and American Express credit cards; all other countries except Nicaragua accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards. In Nicaragua, the only credit cards accepted at the club and online are American Express and the cobranded PriceSmart Credomatic American Express.

 

Membership FAQs

 

Why do I have to be a member to shop at PriceSmart?
Our goal is to provide such great value that you will save your annual membership fee many times throughout the year. The annual fee we collect from our members offsets many of our operational costs, so we can keep our prices as low as possible. Many of our members save the amount of their membership fee in the first few trips to PriceSmart. We are convinced that our Membership has great value because it allows our members to save all year round.

Where can I use my PriceSmart membership?
Your membership is international and you can use it in any of the 12 countries and one U.S. territory where we operate (the number of clubs in each country is in parentheses): Colombia (10), Costa Rica (8), El Salvador (4), Guatemala (5), Honduras (3), Nicaragua (2), Panama (7), Aruba (1), Barbados (1), Dominican Republic (5), Jamaica (2), Trinidad and Tobago (4), U.S. Virgin Islands (1).

Can someone else shop with my membership card?
No, PriceSmart membership is non-transferable; if you lend your card to another person he/she will not be able to shop with it.

Can I bring a friend with me to PriceSmart who is not a member?
You may bring up to three guests* into a club each time you shop; however, only PriceSmart members may purchase items. Of course your friends are always welcome to join PriceSmart! *Guest access may be limited at the discretion of our clubs to ensure the safety and well-being of Members.

Why do I have to show my membership card upon entrance to the Club?
Since our members pay a fee to shop at PriceSmart, we do not allow non-PriceSmart members to shop. Your picture appears on the card because your membership card can be used only by you and is non-transferable. Your picture also prevents unauthorized use should your card ever be lost or stolen.

Why am I asked to show my receipt as I exit the Club?
Staffing the doors is our most effective method of maintaining accuracy in inventory control. It benefits both us and our members. This practice ensures that you received everything you paid for and were not overcharged or undercharged for any item.

What types of payment are accepted at PriceSmart?
We accept the following types of payment (please note that the only credit card accepted at PriceSmart Nicaragua are American Express and the cobranded PriceSmart Credomatic American Express):
- Cash
- Debit Card
- Credit Cards
- PriceSmart Visa credit card (except for Nicaragua)
- Checks (Business Members, previous authorization)
- Gift Certificate / Gift Card

Why don't you have sales or discounts?
Our goal is to provide you with low prices every day; and therefore we do not run off-price sales, or offer coupons, rebates, or discounts.

How do I renew, add or delete cards from my account?
Renewal fees are due 12 months after your sign up or make a renewal payment. We will automatically extend your membership for an additional 12 months from the date we receive your renewal fee. You will not receive new membership cards each year. Membership renewal must be completed for all card holders on the membership account when the renewal is processed. Diamond Members may be renewed online, in our Memberships section, or at the cashiers in clubs. Business Members should be renewed at the membership counter.

How do I know when my membership expires?If you visit us frequently, our cashiers will let you know, before paying for your merchandise, that your membership will expire on your next visit, and you will be invited to renew it at that time. Also, we will email you or call you to remind you that your membership has expired, and will offer you the different options to renew it. Please visit a PriceSmart club near you to update your contact information. Your updated information is very important for us, as it allows us to properly update you on your account's status.

If I decide to renew my membership in person, do I have to go to the club where I originally signed up?
No, you can renew you membership online, in our Membership page, or at any club in the country where you signed up.

Can I change my additional cardholders every year?
Absolutely. It is up to the primary member to decide which additional memberships will be renewed. You may change or add supplemental members at the PriceSmart membership counter inside our clubs.

What do I do if my membership card is stolen or lost?
We will ask you to come to any Membership Counter at your closest PriceSmart warehouse club with an official picture ID. The replacement fee is $5.00 U.S.

Can I return an item to any PriceSmart location?
Our members are always first, so if one of our members wants to return an item from another country and has the receipt and is in the refund time frame, meaning this that fulfill our refund policy, YES we will make the refund.