'Amazon Pay Places' Lets You Make Real-World Purchases, Starting with TGI Friday's Pickup Orders

[MacRumors]

Amazon today announced a new feature coming to its iOS and Android apps called "Amazon Pay Places," which will let users pay for in store items and order ahead meals using the payment information saved in their Amazon accounts (via TechCrunch).

Amazon is opening up the feature with a small scale launch, however, and only enabling pay-ahead food orders through one restaurant, TGI Friday's, at locations in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Richmond, Virginia, and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

To use Amazon Pay Places, users on the Amazon iOS mobile app can tap on the hamburger icon to find "Programs and Features" in the navigation tab, where Amazon Pay Places will be located. When tapped, users will be able to browse TGI Friday's menu, place an order, and pay directly within the app.

Amazon is today introducing a new feature called Amazon Pay Places, that allows customers to pay for in-store and order ahead shopping experiences using their Amazon app. That is, instead of using cash, check, credit or debit while shopping out in the real world, you can just use your Amazon account information instead.

According to TechCrunch, Amazon Pay Places will eventually encompass multiple in-store and "physical world" retail applications in the future, placing the Amazon iOS app as more of a potential Apple Pay competitor than the initial launch's focus on ordering ahead. Amazon didn't mention when new partners will be announced for Pay Places, or when the feature might launch in markets outside of the United States, where it will currently only be supported.

Amazon Pay Places is an expansion on the company's current "Amazon Pay" checkout option, which allows retailers to place a button on their websites to give users an easy checkout option, similar to PayPal. With Pay Places, the company is now looking to slowly expand the use cases of Amazon Pay out into stores and restaurants in the real world, although it remains unclear how such in-store transactions will work.

Article Link: 'Amazon Pay Places' Lets You Make Real-World Purchases, Starting with TGI Friday's Pickup Orders

 

[dalthicks]

Amazon today announced a new feature coming to its iOS and Android apps called "Amazon Pay Places," which will let users pay for in store items and order ahead meals using the payment information saved in their Amazon accounts (via TechCrunch).

Amazon is opening up the feature with a small scale launch, however, and only enabling pay-ahead food orders through one restaurant, TGI Friday's, at locations in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Richmond, Virginia, and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

To use Amazon Pay Places, users on the Amazon iOS mobile app can tap on the hamburger icon to find "Programs and Features" in the navigation tab, where Amazon Pay Places will be located. When tapped, users will be able to browse TGI Friday's menu, place an order, and pay directly within the app.
According to TechCrunch, Amazon Pay Places will eventually encompass multiple in-store and "physical world" retail applications in the future, placing the Amazon iOS app as more of a potential Apple Pay competitor than the initial launch's focus on ordering ahead. Amazon didn't mention when new partners will be announced for Pay Places, or when the feature might launch in markets outside of the United States, where it will currently only be supported.

Amazon Pay Places is an expansion on the company's current "Amazon Pay" checkout option, which allows retailers to place a button on their websites to give users an easy checkout option, similar to PayPal. With Pay Places, the company is now looking to slowly expand the use cases of Amazon Pay out into stores and restaurants in the real world, although it remains unclear how such in-store transactions will work.

Article Link: 'Amazon Pay Places' Lets You Make Real-World Purchases, Starting with TGI Friday's Pickup Orders

And the award for the worst name in history goes to...

 

[826317]

Realistically who will use this..

 

[orbital~debris]

Sounds a little convoluted.
But I sometimes wonder if this is intentional, allowing an app/service to 'sneak in' new features/modes of use after launch, with the service morphing instead of requiring a product launch new of something new & unproven. This sort of thing is also done by Google (see their iOS search app).

 

[samcan]

Realistically who will use this..

Anyone who orders ahead to save time. I use the Starbucks app to do this for my morning coffee. My order is ready for pickup when I get to the store. The same goes for when I get lunch. A number of local restaurants have a similar service that allows you to pre-order and pay for pickup as well as pre-order and pay to eat in. When I’m seated the food arrives soon after we get there.

WalMart has a pickup service as does Best Buy and almost every major retailer. So to answer your question, a lot of people who don’t like the current brick and mortal retail experience or waiting unnecessarily.

 

[nburwell]

Anyone who orders ahead to save time. I use the Starbucks app to do this for my morning coffee. My order is ready for pickup when I get to the store. The same goes for when I get lunch. A number of local restaurants have a similar service that allows you to pre-order and pay for pickup as well as pre-order and pay to eat in. When I’m seated the food arrives soon after we get there.

My wife and I do this frequently with our local Starbucks and Panera. But I think what @CerebralX was referring to (correct me if I'm wrong) is why would someone launch the Amazon app to order ahead at TGI Friday's. If they wanted to order ahead, they (presumably) would have the TGI Friday's app installed on their device and order via the app.

I particularly love doing this when I order something from Best Buy. I order online or via the app and pick up my item within the hour. That way I'm in and out within five minutes instead of snaking around the store unnecessarily.

 

[macduke]

Can't wait to use this every time I want the high quality dining experience of soggy fried rubber at TGI Friday's.

 

[paul4339]

Realistically who will use this..

Whole Foods shoppers - order & pay for your groceries ahead and just pickup your pre-paid order at the store.

.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Sounds like CurrentC again, go to the Amazon App to complete your in store purchase. No thanks. I could see it for ordering ahead but there's already Amazon Restaurants and they support more than just TGIF (as well as a very crowded marketplace of competitors such as Postmates, Uber Eats, Eat24/Yelp!, and Grub Hub). Hopefully there's more to it otherwise this just isn't appealing.

 

[terrapinjess]

I'd love to know how Wilkes-Barre made the cut... I'm from that area and let's just say I can totally see people flocking to TGI Frid.... ok I take it back. That's probably the best place to try it out.

 

[Foggydog]

I was just about to say that I would like that other restaurants as well, but seriously, everyone has their app for ordering ahead. Hmmmmm

 

[hotgril]

Can't wait to use this every time I want the high quality dining experience of soggy fried rubber at TGI Friday's.

The best places around here are either cash only or charge 10-20% extra for credit. Some accept Venmo. Not gonna happen for me.