Kind of interesting that so many fans of expensive Apple products are also too low brow to shop at Nordstroms. And here I thought it was a middle-of-the-road store competing with Bloomingdales while Macy's is a rung down and Neimans a rung up.
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Apple Discussing Mobile Payments Partnership With Nordstrom
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The only time I have been in a Nordstrom was 10 years ago... and it was a "Nordstrom Rack" outlet store. I needed something nice to wear to my grandmother's funeral.
Nordstrom's? What % of the iPhone toting population shops there, even twice a year?
How about getting some "basic" stores on board?
Suggestions, people, suggestions!
You're looking it from the wrong direction. Instead, what % of Nordstrom's patrons own an iPhone? I'd bet 80-90%.
I'd much rather spend my money on the latest tech that affects my life instead of a name on clothes that do nothing for me.
You are not alone. I think I've been in that place one time my entire life. I just know as a guy to avoid that place at all cost; there is nothing good that can come from it.
I think people are misunderstanding. My bet is that Apple will not only support AMEX, Mastercard and Visa, but Store credit cards as well. Maybe I'll coin it the iWallet...or maybe the passbook...wait a minute...
Stores LOVE having credit cards available to their customers....they make money on them like the big 3.
Apple will want every retailer to accept NFC payments with whatever credit cards people choose, not just Amex Mastercard and Visa. Users will have a digital wallet, fingerprint scan while your approaching the till, select what card to use and BAM...payment is made with whatever card you want....Nordstrom is just the first of many. No wallet required.
See my previous May 29 post...I called the Big 3 back then.
Stores LOVE having credit cards available to their customers....they make money on them like the big 3.
Apple will want every retailer to accept NFC payments with whatever credit cards people choose, not just Amex Mastercard and Visa. Users will have a digital wallet, fingerprint scan while your approaching the till, select what card to use and BAM...payment is made with whatever card you want....Nordstrom is just the first of many. No wallet required.
See my previous May 29 post...I called the Big 3 back then.
Nordstrom is actually very progressive fashion retailer. My wife shops there often, especially Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom adopted email based receipt few years ago, which can also be used for returns. My wife always struggles to find the credit card on her purse, so I am betting she would welcome phone-based payment.
I am not at all surprised by the move.
I am not at all surprised by the move.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Take one more step: I suspect Apple is making a play for a little cut of every iPhone-based transaction. If so, that's a very lucrative business (getting paid without having to deliver anything tangible and barely anything at all).
If you can afford to waste $1200+/yr on a smart phone and contract you can shop at Nordstrom. Go to the Nordstrom Rack. They have hundreds of them.
Well, yes...that's the whole point of the need for negotiating. If it was going to be a free service by Apple...that wouldn't make sense.
That also explains why Android NFC payments have not taken off. There is no incentive for stores to allow NFC for just the Big 3. They want customers to use their own card. This is why Apple's NFC will take off.
Apple is doing it wrong. They should focus on the low end retailer and then work their way up.
grocery stores...then:
Wal-Mart
Target
Costco
Kohl's
Kmart
Home Depot
Lowe's
Sam's Club
Sears
JC Penny
Macys
These are the everyday stores people shop at, even high end Nordstrom customers shop at the above stores.
grocery stores...then:
Wal-Mart
Target
Costco
Kohl's
Kmart
Home Depot
Lowe's
Sam's Club
Sears
JC Penny
Macys
These are the everyday stores people shop at, even high end Nordstrom customers shop at the above stores.
In the Apple Store a few days ago I noticed that they had a different portable credit card scanner than the one they used to. The backside of it got flashed to me really fast and I could swear it had the NFC logo on it. I think whatever system Apple is developing is currently in a trial phase at actual Apple Stores.
I get it
But, they also have to first align themselves with other corporations that have a similar brand status as Apple.
After the initial rollout, they can add more mid-tier and big-box retailers. One thing you learn in retail branding is that you don't start with Wal-Mart...you'll get there soon enough.
They want a high-end boutique retailer with some prestige to start with.
But, they also have to first align themselves with other corporations that have a similar brand status as Apple.
After the initial rollout, they can add more mid-tier and big-box retailers. One thing you learn in retail branding is that you don't start with Wal-Mart...you'll get there soon enough.
They want a high-end boutique retailer with some prestige to start with.
You left out Goodwill and the Salvation Army Family Store plus the many senior citizen supported thrift stores.
The killer feature for me would be some way to allow a restaurant server to easily put items onto a customer's iphone as they order so that payment is split up and rapid at the end. Something dead simple so every rinky dink (tasty food) diner can do it and there isn't the big wallet shuffle and receipt stare down at the end of a nice get together.
Agreed. And when the ease of use is demonstrated by the Nordstrom's of the retail world, everyone that offers a store credit card will want to jump on board.
While I’m sure Apple wants to add a few “prestige” customers like Nordstrom, I suspect there’s a few other things at play (that caused them to choose Nordstrom over Walmart/Target/etc.) - just a few ideas (some already posted by other users):
- Nordstrom interest in being a pilot customer
- Relationship between executives
- Technology in place allows for easier adoption/migration (terms, back office, network, POS)
- High percentage of buyers with iOS devices
- Less complexities vs. higher volume stores like Walmart (transaction volume, etc.)
The low-end stores are more likely to have low-end tech support. If something goes wrong, you are looking at your tech-savvy high school sophomore to fix it. Nordstrom is more likely to take such a payment system seriously and implement it with proper training.
Plus there aren't as many Nordstroms as those other stores. You'd be able to have the system trialed nationwide without servicing 400 stores per state, or even worse, having to deal with questions of whether your particular Best Buy supports it yet.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
You forgot what I'm suspecting is probably THE one:
-Nordstrom maybe willing to give Apple a cut of the transaction at the size that Apple wants
Nordstom's for good service during my twice yearly visit when on sale, soon to be fast-swiped with my iPhone.
Backwards
Absolutely backwards. You start with the most prestigious brands in the world, and quickly work your way down. It's not about the size of the retailer...it's about the brand feeling when aligned with the highest-end possibilities first...not about the amount of transactions in the first 60 days.
Absolutely backwards. You start with the most prestigious brands in the world, and quickly work your way down. It's not about the size of the retailer...it's about the brand feeling when aligned with the highest-end possibilities first...not about the amount of transactions in the first 60 days.
Neimans are the slime balls that knew about their customer info security breach BEFORE the holiday season, but waited till after to notify consumers.
They are as low class as you can get.