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Apple Responds to CVS/Rite Aid Controversy: 'Overwhelmingly Positive' Response, Working to Add Merchants

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MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Last week, news surfaced that popular drugstore Rite Aid was disabling support for NFC and Apple Pay in its retail stores and over the weekend, CVS followed in its footsteps. Apple has now commented on the situation, telling Business Insider that it's working to get as many merchants on board with Apple Pay as it can.
The feedback we are getting from customers and retailers about Apple Pay is overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic. We are working to get as many merchants as possible to support this convenient, secure and private payment option for consumers. Many retailers have already seen the benefits and are delighting their customers at over 220,000 locations.
Click to expand...
Both CVS and Rite Aid are members of Merchant Customer Exchange or MCX, a team of retailers that are designing their own payments system to compete with Apple Pay.

applepaysetup1.jpg

Headed up by Walmart, which has also publicly stated that it won't be supporting Apple Pay, MCX is composed of several different retail outlets and restaurants, including Best Buy, Lowe's, Old Navy, Southwest, Target, 7 Eleven, Dunkin Donuts, Hobby Lobby, and more.

MCX's payment solution, CurrentC, is currently in testing in Minnesota and takes a decidedly different approach to mobile payments. CurrentC does not use NFC, instead basing payments around the scanning of QR codes with a smartphone camera. CurrentC is highly beneficial to merchants, but appears to be of questionable value to customers given that it requires both a social security number and a driver's license number, along with access to a bank account.

Despite only being available in Minnesota at the time being, MCX's CurrentC app has received hundreds of negative reviews from Apple Pay supporters. Android and iOS users on reddit have also teamed up to call for a boycott on all MCX partners, as disabling NFC support to prevent Apple Pay purchases also disables Android-based payment solutions like Google Wallet.

Though quite a few big name retailers have opted out of Apple Pay, Apple has signed on with several major partners including Macy's, Chevron, Disney, McDonald's, Nike, Petco, Whole Foods, and more. Apple Pay is accepted at the retail stores of any of its partners, and at any store that accepts NFC payments.

Update 6:55 PM PT: Walmart, one of the major retailers behind MCX, has given Business Insider a statement on why it has opted not to accept Apple Pay, stating that it believes merchants are in the "best position" to create a mobile payment service for consumers.
There are certainly a lot of compelling technologies being developed, which is great for the mobile-commerce industry as a whole. Ultimately, what matters is that consumers have a payment option that is widely accepted, secure and developed with their best interests in mind. MCX member merchants already collectively serve a majority of Americans every day. MCX's members believe merchants are in the best position to provide a mobile solution because of their deep insights into their customers' shopping and buying experiences.
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Article Link: Apple Responds to CVS/Rite Aid Controversy: 'Overwhelmingly Positive' Response, Working to Add Merchants
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/27/apple-working-to-add-apple-pay-partners/
maflynn

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,470
43,392
What can they say, honestly. Just promote the positives and ignore the negatives.
 
willmtaylor

willmtaylor

macrumors G4
Oct 31, 2009
10,314
8,198
Here(-ish)
QR codes. Talk about skating to where the puck is instead of where it will be.

Or maybe it's where the puck was several periods ago....


P.S. Maybe, to ensure compatibility, we'll be asked to install a program using 8" floppies, Oregon Trail style.
 
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N

newdeal

macrumors 68030
Oct 21, 2009
2,510
1,769
Its almost comical how bad this other system is. It has become totally obvious with the target and home depot hacks that these companies are not able to keep my data safe. The last thing I want is for them to have more data including driver licence and social security number. This is going to be a prime target for hackers
 
M

mozumder

macrumors 65816
Mar 9, 2009
1,285
4,416
CurrentC looks stupid as far as user-experience goes. Doesn't Apple have a policy of not allowing apps that compete against their products? Apple should just straight up disallow that CurrentC app from their App store.

It's incredible how bad some companies are at design.. how could any adult come up with something as horrible as CurrentC? Are these companies run by trained monkeys?
 
greytmom

greytmom

macrumors 68040
Jun 23, 2010
3,566
1,002
Is Rite Aid really that popular? They closed all of them around here years ago...
 
J

j4m13

macrumors member
Jul 21, 2013
65
38
In the Article they never mentioned CVS/Rite Aid at all. It could have just been a generic statement.
 
N

newdeal

macrumors 68030
Oct 21, 2009
2,510
1,769
willmtaylor said:
QR codes. Talk about skating to where the puck is instead of where it will be.

Or maybe it's where the puck was several periods ago....
Click to expand...

it will take longer for the camera to autofocus than it does to complete the transaction with apple pay
 
AustinIllini

AustinIllini

macrumors G5
Oct 20, 2011
12,682
10,517
Austin, TX
Most of the MCX members will accept Apple Pay as early as they can. Possibly earlier if they can figure out a way to break the agreement.
 
E

Erphern

macrumors 6502
Mar 6, 2013
285
75
UK
I'd like to think that most iPhone owners wouldn't be seen dead at Walmart, but the weird thing about poverty is that you'll find those who can barely feed their kids who still find a way to have a new phone.

Also: CVS - no Apple Pay and no cigarettes. Walgreens it is, then!
 
NightFox

NightFox

macrumors 68040
May 10, 2005
3,239
4,486
Shropshire, UK
I still don't get the difference between high profile "partners" who have "signed up to Apple Pay", and any old retailer who accepts NFC payments. Surely there's no difference; is it just Apple marketing spin?
 
C

camarobh

macrumors 6502
Jul 17, 2007
360
22
San Diego, CA
Consumer choice

Any rival payment systems should roll out when they are ready and compete for our business. Having a capability in place and turning it off is anti-consumer choice and just plain stupid.

Vote with your wallet.
 
A

astubbs

macrumors newbie
Oct 16, 2008
13
0
mozumder said:
CurrentC looks stupid as far as user-experience goes. Doesn't Apple have a policy of not allowing apps that compete against their products? Apple should just straight up disallow that CurrentC app from their App store.
Click to expand...

That would be a truly comical outcome.
 
R

regbarc

macrumors member
Oct 14, 2012
35
2
Giving your driver's license number, social security number, and checking account number to merchants who have repeatedly had their mobile payments systems hacked with customer information stolen...brilliant. They'll have to hire police to stop the stampede of people trying to sign up for CurrentC.
 
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