What is Modo, Argentina's virtual wallet (Discounts at Coto and other stores) - Mercado Pago competitor

[Betsy Ross]

Anyone else having problems with MODO? I updated to their latest version and today when I went to log in it said it had to validate security and scanned my face like Mercado Pago app does some time. They compare it to the RENAPER database but it keeps crashing. Anyone else having the same issues?

Yep. The same thing is happening to me. I was prompted to update the app and when I tried to use it the same thing. It isn't just you. Must be a bug in their update.

 

[Wally]

Anyone else having problems with MODO? I updated to their latest version and today when I went to log in it said it had to validate security and scanned my face like Mercado Pago app does some time. They compare it to the RENAPER database but it keeps crashing. Anyone else having the same issues?

Thanks for the head's up. Just tried and app crashing too. Sounds like they need to fix it.

 

[GlasgowJohn]

Last weekend in Dia, Modo wouldn't allow me to pay.

I had just used it in JUMBO, so the app was working, and my credit was good.

I left 60 mil of merchandise on the counter as no one could solve the problem.

 

[earlyretirement]

Last weekend in Dia, Modo wouldn't allow me to pay.

I had just used it in JUMBO, so the app was working, and my credit was good.

I left 60 mil of merchandise on the counter as no one could solve the problem.

I can't even validate my identity after this latest update. It asks me to take a photo of my face, then another with eyes closed and then it just says they can't validate my identity even though this works with Mercado Libre asks me to validate my identify with a photo. Sounds like the latest update screwed something up. So now MODO is useless to me.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

weird, were you in Argentina with the App Store associated with the country? i have been using MODO Nov2024-May2025 every week without issues. just used it Friday at Carrefour for 25% back (Santander debit Visa)

right now at the Hypermarket you can buy Apolo liter beers (plastic bottles like the 361 brand) for 1,490 Pesos, or 1,300 Pesos wholesale, or if you use the 20k Peso max reintegro you could get them for 25% off, buying over 50 of them, which would be 1,118 Pesos per liter, basically $1 USD... winning!

Loading…

www.carrefour.com.ar

 

[earlyretirement]

weird, were you in Argentina with the App Store associated with the country? i have been using MODO Nov2024-May2025 every week without issues. just used it Friday at Carrefour for 25% back (Santander debit Visa)

right now at the Hypermarket you can buy Apolo liter beers (plastic bottles like the 361 brand) for 1,490 Pesos, or 1,300 Pesos wholesale, or if you use the 20k Peso max reintegro you could get them for 25% off, buying over 50 of them, which would be 1,118 Pesos per liter, basically $1 USD... winning!

Loading…

www.carrefour.com.ar

No I'm not in Argentina now. Maybe that's why but it was always working fine. I will try again in 2 weeks as I have to come back. Work has really picked up. I'm buying 3-5 properties each WEEK now so I have to probably move back full time to BA within a year. Especially now that I'm planning on building my own 5 star boutique apartment hotel.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

Especially now that I'm planning on building my own 5 star boutique apartment hotel.

woot! and 25% back with MODO is going to add-up for the hundreds of purchases you're going to have to make this year. for everyone else working on their DNI/residency, check out these deals today and tomorrow 31May2025 at Makro Mayorista in Mendoza:

ThemeNcode PDF Viewer [Do not Delete] - Makro > Tu mejor aliado

This page is used for Viewing PDF.

makro.com.ar

• 920 Pesos for cheapo toilet paper four-pack
• 2000 Pesos for 200g butter
• 1070 Pesos for a kilo of rice
• 569 Pesos for a kilo of flour

and i don't think these prices include the 25% MODO discount (i can use both BNA and Santander debit cards on MODO for 10,000 Pesos back each month, each bank, so 20,000 "reintegro" which is hard to accomplish since i don't spend that much).

looks like prices in Pesos are going down, but the confounding factor is if the US Dollar is losing its power, we might see a situation where there is deflation in Argentina with its Pesos, where people are rewarded for holding Pesos that gain in strength compared to the lower cost of goods, and compared to the Dollar. and so things could get more expensive in Dollars, but cheaper in Pesos...weird! @earlyretirement ever seen a time in the past 2 decades where this happened?

and regarding your recent tweet, i just have NOT seen that at all:


i'm actually seeing prices go down slowly for many foods and tons of stuff on MercadoLibre. feels good to be out of CABA, i guess!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. https://x.com/BowTiedMara/status/1927399732583825474

6. https://x.com/TraductorTeAma/status/1927788075016503479

 

[Betsy Ross]

woot! and 25% back with MODO is going to add-up for the hundreds of purchases you're going to have to make this year. for everyone else working on their DNI/residency, check out these deals today and tomorrow 31May2025 at Makro Mayorista in Mendoza:

ThemeNcode PDF Viewer [Do not Delete] - Makro > Tu mejor aliado

This page is used for Viewing PDF.

makro.com.ar

• 920 Pesos for cheapo toilet paper four-pack
• 2000 Pesos for 200g butter
• 1070 Pesos for a kilo of rice
• 569 Pesos for a kilo of flour

and i don't think these prices include the 25% MODO discount (i can use both BNA and Santander debit cards on MODO for 10,000 Pesos back each month, each bank, so 20,000 "reintegro" which is hard to accomplish since i don't spend that much).

looks like prices in Pesos are going down, but the confounding factor is if the US Dollar is losing its power, we might see a situation where there is deflation in Argentina with its Pesos, where people are rewarded for holding Pesos that gain in strength compared to the lower cost of goods, and compared to the Dollar. and so things could get more expensive in Dollars, but cheaper in Pesos...weird! @earlyretirement ever seen a time in the past 2 decades where this happened?

and regarding your recent tweet, i just have NOT seen that at all:


i'm actually seeing prices go down slowly for many foods and tons of stuff on MercadoLibre. feels good to be out of CABA, i guess!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. https://x.com/BowTiedMara/status/1927399732583825474

6. https://x.com/TraductorTeAma/status/1927788075016503479

I am not seeing prices fall on things too much in BA. Prices in pesos are more stable but like you said prices in USD can actually go down. I have never seen that.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

and i don't think these prices include the 25% MODO discount

confirmed that the total price post-Makro-discounts will still result in 25% back with BNA debit mastercard MODO, so i got 10,000 Pesos back for spending 40,000 Pesos in May (and still going on in June). so the toilet paper (it's not cheap, it's nice!) was 690 Pesos per four-pack, or at 1,170 ARS/USD about 15 cents USD per roll of simple hoja 🙂

I am not seeing prices fall on things too much in BA

there's one near Villa Pueyrredon and one by Barracas: https://makro.com.ar/tiendas/

...so it would be interesting to see if anyone living in Buenos Aires here goes to Makro or other similarly-priced mayorista Costco-like places. it seems like their prices are country-wide, and you can see their 3 flyers online here until 11Jun:

1. https://makro.com.ar/themencode-pdf...ads/MM-JUNIO-1-V3.pdf#zoom=auto&pagemode=none

2. https://makro.com.ar/themencode-pdf...loads/6-PROV-V6-B.pdf#zoom=auto&pagemode=none

3. https://makro.com.ar/themencode-pdf...loads/GT-JUN-1-V3.pdf#zoom=auto&pagemode=none

(so these prices are relevant to CABA as well, unless someone has gone there and found otherwise. same with Carrefour/Jumbo/Cencosud/Atomo/SuperA/etc. prices that i see online)

and finally, i was wondering if anyone has subscribed to Santander Sorpresa before with that bank Santander Rio...i see offers for rewards, but not sure if it's worth the few bucks to join. if anyone with a DNI used/uses SantanderSorpresa, let us know!

"Up to 40% in clothing purchases, supermarkets, pharmacies, fuel and much more. For only[...] $3,500enjoy exclusive savings [...] Up to

$20,000​

$5,000 ​

$10,000 FarmaCity"​

Sorpresa Santander | Banco Santander

Enterate cómo suscribirte a Sorpresa Santander, y recibí grandísimos ahorros exclusivos en tu celular.

www.santander.com.ar

 

[Uncle Wong]

I can’t wait to get my DNI! I want to use Mercado Libre so bad!

 

[StatusNomadicus]

Mercado Libre

imagine how much money Argentina loses because Expats can't use MercadoPago, MercadoLibre, get a bank account other than BNA's horrible savings account post-Precaria, etc. - crazy that Milei's team hasn't deleted all this nonsense yet! although this is good news for stuff under $8,500 USD:



if it's something important and not super expensive, i can order to your (stable) address and you can just send me the money back via crypto or applepay or whatever, once you get it. shoot me a message if so...especially stuff like Whey Protein and alfajores etc. are WAY cheap on MercadoLibre

 

[Darksider415]

...so it would be interesting to see if anyone living in Buenos Aires here goes to Makro or other similarly-priced mayorista Costco-like places. it seems like their prices are country-wide, and you can see their 3 flyers online here until 11Jun:

1. https://makro.com.ar/themencode-pdf...ads/MM-JUNIO-1-V3.pdf#zoom=auto&pagemode=none

2. https://makro.com.ar/themencode-pdf...loads/6-PROV-V6-B.pdf#zoom=auto&pagemode=none

3. https://makro.com.ar/themencode-pdf...loads/GT-JUN-1-V3.pdf#zoom=auto&pagemode=none

(so these prices are relevant to CABA as well, unless someone has gone there and found otherwise. same with Carrefour/Jumbo/Cencosud/Atomo/SuperA/etc. prices that i see online)

Part of the reason I bought a car was to be able to make Makro runs. Their aged steaks are awesome and cheap, and their house brand TP is good quality without breaking the bank.

10/10 recommend Makro

 

[Finance Prof]

Last weekend in Dia, Modo wouldn't allow me to pay.

I had just used it in JUMBO, so the app was working, and my credit was good.

I left 60 mil of merchandise on the counter as no one could solve the problem.

I also had problems using Modo. 🙁

 

[StatusNomadicus]

Makro runs. Their aged steaks are awesome and cheap, and their house brand TP is good quality without breaking the bank.

fantastic; i'm literally on the same page here in Mendoza - i said once i get my DNI i would buy a cheap A-to-B car, but mannnnnnn Migraciones in Buenos Aires is delaying things so much!

the TP (brand M&K or something) is soft and single-ply, but for 920 Pesos/four-pack (pre-25%-off sale price) when compared to the same product Higienol being 4500 Pesos at times, it's a no-brainer. wish i would have discovered this store sooner! i'll be going 1x/month minimum, and it's a quick tram ride to get at the closest intersection to it 🙂 so only 2000 Pesos roundtrip with my Sube card, but i think paying with Santander will be cheaper with the cash-back rewards i see on MODO/etc.

I also had problems using Modo. 🙁

my chick had issues with BNA's side of MODO this weekend, but BNA apps and accounts always seem to glitch when i need them...otherwise MODO with Santander has been fantastic!! don't judge MODO for BNA's communist failings...give them a try with a different bank!

Santander Sorpresa

i haven't joined yet because i'm asking Santander about the cost, but it shows both prices of 2,100 Pesos and 3,500 Pesos to join, per month, automatic subscription. would be $2 USD or $3 depending on which price is correct.

Online Banking Santander

Online Banking Santander

www2.personas.santander.com.ar

 

[Uncle Wong]

I asked my friends and they all said MODO was having issues so sounds like systemwide glitch.

 

[VINO]

I asked my friends and they all said MODO was having issues so sounds like systemwide glitch.

Mine also is having problems which is sad as I use it all the time.