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McDonalds staff confused by Apple Pay

DKDonkeyKong

DKDonkeyKong

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 3, 2014
11
0
Cambridge, MA
I just got my new Gold iPhone 6 Plus (128GB) yesterday. I went to McDonalds, excited to purchase lunch using my new device. The lady at the front gave me my total, and I said "I'm going to pay using my new iPhone". She immediately gave a very confused look and told me I could pay using cash or credit. I said that Apple Pay is an NFC-based feature and should work with any NFC terminal. She told me to wait just a moment while she spoke with her manager.

At that point I was rather embarrassed and told her I'd just pay with my card. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing experience... I thought by now it would be more widely accepted. Anyone have any tips? Did I just get a bad Apple? (no pun intended)
 
You don't need to tell them you're going to pay with Apple Pay. Just put the iphone near the terminal with fingerprint it should go thru automatically. My understanding is that the cashier doesn't have to click any button to activate Apple pay. I'm pretty sure most cashiers are clueless let alone what NFC does.
 
dojoman said:
You don't need to tell them you're going to pay with Apple Pay. Just put the iphone near sensor with fingerprint it should go thru automatically. My understanding is that the cashier doesn't have to click any button to activate Apple pay.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I thought she'd have to activate the terminal or it wouldn't be ready for Apple Pay.
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
Thanks. I thought she'd have to activate the terminal or it wouldn't be ready for Apple Pay.
Click to expand...

You do have to say debit or credit. They do have to push the button saying you're using a card and not cash. But from their perspective it's exactly the same no matter if you're using your plastic card or your card through the phone.
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
Thanks. I thought she'd have to activate the terminal or it wouldn't be ready for Apple Pay.
Click to expand...

I have stopped even trying to tell anybody I want to use Apple Pay. They just get confused and it holds things up. I have had good luck just telling them I want to use a credit card, then I pay with Apple Pay and they don't know the difference.
 
Most people that work at McDonalds aren't also MacRumors forum visitors. I doubt most people even know what NFC or ApplePay are.
 
Small White Car said:
You do have to say debit or credit. They do have to push the button saying you're using a card and not cash. But from their perspective it's exactly the same no matter if you're using your plastic card or your card through the phone.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Isn't this kind of confusing then? If a cashier hasn't heard of Apple Pay won't they be confused at why I'm holding my phone and not swiping a card? Seems like it'll look like I'm hacking the terminal!
 
Tip?

Do NOT involve the cashier.

While they ring up, I generally have my phone near the terminal w home button pushed. This works over 50% of time.

For those other times, when they ask cash or credit, simply say credit.

People spend too much time talking to the cashiers. They're easily confused.
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
Hmmm. Isn't this kind of confusing then? If a cashier hasn't heard of Apple Pay won't they be confused at why I'm holding my phone and not swiping a card? Seems like it'll look like I'm hacking the terminal!
Click to expand...

They're going to be confused either way, just tell them you're paying with credit.
 
Not everyone knows what Apple Pay is and not everyone knows what NFC is. You dont go and say "I'm going to pay cash" do you? (unless the asked) Apple pay pops up as soon as you hold your phone over the NFC terminal. If anything, say youre going to use credit.

Imagine someone going and saying "Im going to use Google Wallet" or "Im going to pay with Softcard"
 
By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion. :eek:
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion. :eek:
Click to expand...

You are making a mountain out of a molehill.
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion. :eek:
Click to expand...

Simple solution: Dont say how youre paying, unless asked (then say credit in that case). If you hold your phone over the terminal, Apple Pay will automatically open. If it doesnt, then you can tell them you're paying with credit so they can activate the terminal. Sometimes its already activated, sometimes its not.
 
Why do you feel the need to tell them how you are you are going to pay? Just use Apple pay and when they see you paided they probably won't ask any questions.
 
User confused why McDonalds workers are confused confuses me. It's McDonalds, not NASA.
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
I just got my new Gold iPhone 6 Plus (128GB) yesterday. I went to McDonalds, excited to purchase lunch using my new device. The lady at the front gave me my total, and I said "I'm going to pay using my new iPhone". She immediately gave a very confused look and told me I could pay using cash or credit. I said that Apple Pay is an NFC-based feature and should work with any NFC terminal. She told me to wait just a moment while she spoke with her manager.

At that point I was rather embarrassed and told her I'd just pay with my card. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing experience... I thought by now it would be more widely accepted. Anyone have any tips? Did I just get a bad Apple? (no pun intended)
Click to expand...

You dont have to announce to the world your using Apple Pay right now you look like an idiot to most just use the darn thing no need to brag about it (what it seems like to most people).
 
No problem here using it at a McDonalds. When I used it in an Apple Store he had to ask some other employees how to do it! Also used it at a vending machine and a Whole Paycheck supermarket.
 
Just go on a mini tirade.

It's NFC, do you work here, at a place that takes NFC, yet you don't even know how to work a service you guys provide?

LET ME SPEAK to a manager. This is insane. You won't take my money? Even tho your organization takes this type of payment?

Why even advertise it if the employees aren't even trained to use it?

Who is your regional manager I will write him an essay and letter explaining the lack of training here in this sector.
 
talmy said:
No problem here using it at a McDonalds. When I used it in an Apple Store he had to ask some other employees how to do it! Also used it at a vending machine and a Whole Paycheck supermarket.
Click to expand...
Same here! McDonald's was fine- Apple Store was confused and amazed it worked. You would think at least Apple Store employees might be trained on their own product.

But I also didn't cause a huge nightmare as the OP did. I just waved my phone over the terminal at McD's (with my finger on TouchID sensor), and it was done. No reason to fight with employees, ask for managers, cause long lines etc..
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
Anyone have any tips?
Click to expand...
Consider who you're dealing with. Don't overcomplicate it. Tell them cash or credit. They don't need to know you're using Apple Pay, using your phone, that it's NFC and all the rest.

DKDonkeyKong said:
Hmmm. Isn't this kind of confusing then? If a cashier hasn't heard of Apple Pay won't they be confused at why I'm holding my phone and not swiping a card? Seems like it'll look like I'm hacking the terminal!
Click to expand...
No -- what you did is confusing to them as evidenced by your experience.

DKDonkeyKong said:
By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion.
Click to expand...
I've had absolutely no problems telling the cashiers "credit" at various retailers with NFC-enabled terminals. Again, they don't need all the various details nor do they really care. They're just trying to process your transaction and move on to the next customer.
 
Last edited:
Don't bother even telling them.

Most McDonalds have the NFC terminal right in front of the POS system. Just tap your phone and use TouchID when they ask for payment. No reason to tell them.
 
DKDonkeyKong said:
I just got my new Gold iPhone 6 Plus (128GB) yesterday. I went to McDonalds, excited to purchase lunch using my new device. The lady at the front gave me my total, and I said "I'm going to pay using my new iPhone". She immediately gave a very confused look and told me I could pay using cash or credit. I said that Apple Pay is an NFC-based feature and should work with any NFC terminal. She told me to wait just a moment while she spoke with her manager.

At that point I was rather embarrassed and told her I'd just pay with my card. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing experience... I thought by now it would be more widely accepted. Anyone have any tips? Did I just get a bad Apple? (no pun intended)
Click to expand...

I agree with every else, just tell the cashier credit. That's all I did at Whole Foods, they didn't need to do anything else and it went through fine. I'm so going to test this at McD's for the heck of it.
 
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