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Using Venmo In Stores [Complete 2023 Guide]

By: Author Jeremy Davidson

Posted on Last updated:

Categories Venmo, Financial Apps

Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be financial advice and is for informational purposes only. aTimeforCash is reader-supported. We may earn commissions if you buy through our links at no cost to you.

Over 50 million people currently use the Venmo app.

Many Venmo users would like to use Venmo to purchase items at stores, grocery stores, or gas stations.

But can you? If so, how?

In This Post:

How to Pay with Venmo In Stores (Step-By-Step)

You can pay with Venmo in stores using QR codes. Merchants may have QR codes that you can scan to proceed with the transaction. Alternatively, a merchant may need to scan your in-store QR code for you to pay with Venmo.

If your preferred merchant presents you with a QR code, you can pay with Venmo by:

  1. Launching the Venmo app on your smartphone
  2. In the bottom left corner tap on the Scan button.
  3. Carefully follow the on-screen prompts.
  4. Allow the camera to scan the merchant’s QR code.
  5. Scan the merchant’s QR code and make the necessary payments.

To scan the Venmo QR code from text, ensure that you have the message open. Press send for the code to be sent to you as a regular message. You won’t need to type or do anything as your phone number is linked to your Venmo app. 

Alternatively, if the merchant needs to scan your in-store QR code, click on the show to pay to present the QR code and make the payments. 

Are There Fees for Using Venmo In-Store?

Venmo doesn’t charge any transaction fee when you purchase items from participating businesses. Also, Venmo doesn’t charge for any purchases funded using a credit card.

Can You Add Money to Venmo In Stores?

The only way to add money to a Venmo account is in the Venmo app. 

Venmo doesn’t have a way to add money to your account at a store. 

What is a Venmo In-Store Offer?

A Venmo in-store offer enables Venmo users to get unique offers when they use Venmo QR codes with some merchants.

You can scan the offer to store it on your account, and later use it when you want to purchase with the merchant. 

How Do I Add an Offer to my Venmo Account?  

You can add an offer to your Venmo account by using the app to scan the QR code. That will save the offer.

Simply click on the scan button on your personal Venmo profile home screen. The scanned code will be stored on your Venmo account. 

These offers are saved on Offers and Memberships under your Venmo account settings. To use the coupon, tap on the offers to apply it when purchasing with the merchant.

Note that in-store offers have an expiry date displayed in the Venmo application. You can learn more about offers expiring on the “See terms” tab from within the app.

How Can You Use a Venmo QR Code?

Using a Venmo QR code doesn’t need you to set up an account or provide extra details. Your Venmo app should have a show-to-pay QR code option.

If you cannot trace the QR code option, you’ll need to update the Venmo app to the most recent version.

There are two ways to use Venmo QR codes in stores to make purchases. The merchant can present you with a QR code. You’ll need to scan the code to proceed with the transaction. 

The process involves:

  1. Launching the Venmo app on your smartphone
  2. In the bottom left corner tap on the Scan button.
  3. Carefully follow the on-screen prompts.
  4. Allow the camera to scan the merchant’s QR code.
  5. Scan the merchant’s QR code and make the necessary payments.

You may need to confirm the purchase in your Venmo app to complete the transaction. 

However, if the merchant needs to scan your in-store QR code, simply click on Show to Pay to present the QR code. 

Can You Use Venmo at Gas Stations?

Yes, you can use the Venmo debit card at a gas station.

Chevron also accepts Venmo as a direct payment option. Chevron and Texaco smartphone apps now have Venmo as a payment option. 

Can You Use Venmo at Grocery Stores?

Yes, you can use Venmo to pay at grocery stores like Giant Eagle and Target. Stores like Walmart accept Venmo debit and credit cards as a method of payment.  

Can You Use Venmo at ATMs?

Venmo allows you to use a Venmo debit card to make cash withdrawals at ATMs. All you need is to look for acceptance marks like PULSE, Mastercard, or MoneyPass. 

Note that there is a $2.50 ATM domestic withdrawal free. However, you can withdraw funds using your Venmo debit card when you use a MoneyPass ATM within the U.S.

Can You Use Venmo at Retail Stores?

Yes, you can shop at different retailers and pay using Venmo. Some retailers allow you to scan your Venmo QR code at checkout for in-store purchases. 

Retailers like Forever 21, Boxed, Lululemon, Poshmark, Hulu, Hollister, among others directly accept Venmo as a payment. 

Alternatively, you can use a Venmo credit and debit card to pay at retail stores like Amazon, Under Armour, Walmart, Nike, Macy’s, Home Depot, and Walmart. 

Can You Use Venmo to Buy Fast Food?

Direct Venmo payments are currently not supported by fast-food restaurants. However, you can still order your fast food through Grubhub and Uber Eats and pay with Venmo.

Alternatively, you can use the Venmo card to buy fast food like you would pay using a debit card.

Wrapping up

A Venmo account is set up to use QR codes in stores. If your phone doesn’t have a Show to Pay QR code, update your Venmo app to the latest. 

It’s easier to now pay using Venmo in stores like Forever 21, Target, Walmart, Uber Eats, Adidas, Home Depot, Macy’s, Nike, to name a few. You can now enjoy simple, safe, and contactless transactions with Venmo. 

References

  1. https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046392254
  2. https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034178134-Venmo-Offers
  3. https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000985448-Using-Your-Venmo-Debit-Card#:~:text=Yes!,when%20completing%20a%20purchase%2C%20nationwide.&text=A%20%242.50%20ATM%20Domestic%20Withdrawal,a%20bank%20or%20financial%20institution.
  4. https://venmo.com/business/accept-venmo-in-stores/