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What to expect from Costco switch from American Express to Visa
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Costco's new deal with Visa, effective Monday, has numerous benefits for cardholders, such as 4 percent back on gasoline purchases. - photo by Sarah Anderson
Sarah Anderson
Deseret News
Published: Jun 26, 2016, 2:39 PM
Costco has switched from 16 years of only accepting American Express credit cards to now only accepting Visa-branded credit cards any Visa card, not just the new one for Costco's 81 million cardholders.

NPR's report on the change noted a few things those with a Costco American Express card should know:

  • The new card should have been mailed already. Costcos website states that those who have not received a new credit card should contact Citi to ensure that their address is correct and request a new card.
  • The old American Express card will no longer work.
  • Reward points and balances will transfer over to the new card.
  • No additional fees for the switch.
While NPR reported that the new Visa cards wont offer the same roadside assistance that American Express did, there are new benefits.

Perhaps the best, according to Time.com, is that the Citi's Anywhere Visa offers 4 percent cash back on the first $7,000 spent at a eligible gas stations, compared to the old cards 3 percent back on the first $4,000.

The Anywhere Visa also offers 3 percent cash back at restaurants and some travel purchases, 2 percent back on Costco purchases, whether made online or in-store, and 1 percent back on everything else, according to Time.com.

The new Costco credit card is a much richer card than the American Express incumbent, according to Sean McQuay, NerdWallet credit card expert.

And theres the simple fact that more people have Visa credit cards than American Express about three times as many, according to the Nilson Report. About 118 million people in the U.S. possess at least one Visa card, NerdWallet reports.

While Costco reported a negative earnings impact of about $11 million in May from lost credit card sign-ups, Business Insider has called the Visa-Costco deal a catalyst for growth. The company expects not only a flood of new cardholders, but savings of up to $220 million, thanks to lower interchange fees.

Business Insider had earlier reported that American Express ended its co-branding agreement with Costco after the two could not reach terms that would have made economic sense for our company and shareholders.

A modest slowdown in billings, loans and revenue growth tied to Costcos U.S. co-brand was observed throughout 2015, with more sluggishness expected in 2016, American Express chief financial officer Jeffrey Campbell told Business Insider.

A report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, however, advises that consumers hold off on destroying that old American Express card for now, until theyre sure there are no returns to be made or that no other issues with the card have cropped up.

Returns for purchases on the old Costco cards will be handled on a case-by-case basis, according to the Star Tribune.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.