Apple Had More Than 1 Million Card Activations During First 72 Hours of Apple Pay

[heeloliver]

Did no one else see Tim Cook stated they dropped the classic because they couldn't source parts? Weird...

 

[bbplayer5]

You set the default card, and that's the one that'll be charged from the lock screen. If you want to use a different card, you leave your finger off the TouchID, and the list of cards will pop up.

Oh wow, thats pretty awesome thanks! So basically just put your phone near the scanner, and wait for the cards to pop up - then select the one you wish.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Nope. That's fuzzy math to the extreme. It's 1 million card activations -- not 1 million user activations. Most people have multiple CCs and just judging from my own actions, I activated 3 of 5 cards. So it's more like 200-300K, not all of which have a CVS or Rite Aid.

Next, personally, I'm not going to boycott any store just because they don't accept Apple Pay. That is totally irrational. I don't believe I'm alone. Only the most ardent Apple zealot would change buying habits on this issue alone.

I don't think Apple Pay at its infancy is going to alter where people shop unless there is a $ incentive. Its still at super geek stage where most people don't know it exists or not sure how it works and don't want to look like an idiot at check out fumbling around.

And if Rite-Aid started accepting Apple Pay I still would never go there. The stores near me are dirty and dated and they are even more overpriced than Walgreens. I simply have no reason to set foot in there.

No one wouldve faulted them for not having it. The fact is Rite Aid/CVS had nfc for awhile and it worked but Rite Aid/CVS were doing the most and turned it off. Could you imagine if CC companies stopped processing payments at these places? Or Banks said they wouldn't accept CVS/Rite Aid transactions?

Be careful some people would argue your reasons for not going to RiteAid/CVS are not valid and that only the most neurotic of germaphobes would avoid these places because they arent "clean enough".

 

[clg82]

It's amazing how much phones have changed our lives.....i literally like most people i'm sure, check for my phone before my wallet before leaving the house daily....I couldn't imagine having all of my credit and debit cards on my phone and not even needing my wallet anymore except for my license and insurance which i'm sure someday will also be on our phones......the future looks bright....and i'm excited!

 

[CB1234]

It's amazing how much phones have changed our lives.....i literally like most people i'm sure, check for my phone before my wallet before leaving the house daily....I couldn't imagine having all of my credit and debit cards on my phone and not even needing my wallet anymore except for my license and insurance which i'm sure someday will also be on our phones......the future looks bright....and i'm excited!

what you say is absolutely true... First thing in the morning that I do, is check my phone is charged and by my briefcase before I make sure that the wallet is in the bag as well.. It has happened many a times, I have left the house without my wallet and had to turn back....

I just wish Apple pay would roll out internationally soon. I hate caring bulky wallets...

 

[Tzerlag]

I wonder how many of those were cards from the same person, though. I'd be interested to see how many *people* added cards.

Good point, I added two.

Also, it's probably impossible to tell, I wonder how many people tried to add a card(s) but couldn't. Count me as one.

 

[caesarp]

Me thinks you are the one over generalizing. Only the most zealous care that CVS or Rite Aid turned off their NFC... or even realized they had it in the first place. Actual # of people that signed up for Apple Pay is far less than the 1m # credit card activations. That's just math. But even if it were 1m. In a country of 240m adults, 1m is around .5%. Google Wallet's user base is pretty small too. Again, just math.

Bottom line here is that average tech-adverse person is not hot and bothered a store has or does not have NFC (or turned it off). Only certified geeks are right now. The average consumer isn't going out of the way or going to buy the same items at a higher $ to use it or prove a stupid point like "don't turn off my NFC!" like it was water. As the awareness of NFC grows and more phones have it things may change. To date thought NFC in the U.S. has been a dud.

Also your logic is a bit stilted. Publix didn't turn off their NFC because they never had it. If they had it they would have been pressed by MCX to turn it off, just as CVS and Rite Aid were. So a personal policy to boycott CVS or Rite Aid for a business decision that Publix also made (not use NFC) is incoherent just because Publix never had to make a decision to turn it off.

Well the average consumer won't download and install and setup CurrentC either -- if and when it ever shows up (outside of the current pilot). We are talking about consumers that intend to use mobile payments. And those that do certainly have a right to be upset at retailers that have the technical capability; demonstrated it worked, and then shut it off due to consortium requirements. And, they haven't been honest about it. They just say "we are not accepting Apple Pay now and we are evaluating mobile payment options". Okay - duh. But WHY aren't you accepting Apple pay now, when it already worked there!

Really? Does anyone believe that is why they shut down NFC? If you shut it down because of contract requirements or you want to use something else in the future, then just say so. Don't pretend its some innocuous decision that has no relation to another mobile payment service. They take us for idiots.

----------

Good point, I added two.

Also, it's probably impossible to tell, I wonder how many people tried to add a card(s) but couldn't. Count me as one.

Come early November the numbers will go up even more as Barclays and other big banks come on board.

I'm hoping TD too. But doubt it.

 

[HenryDJP]

I expected to add only a couple of cards.

But since Wells Fargo is offering a credit the first time I use it with an account, I expect to add up to 6 cards from that bank alone (3 debit, 3 credit) - at least temporarily.

And just one of the reasons the world is in debt...

 

[mchoffa]

Daily Apple Watch charging is a bummer.

In a way, but in reality I'd take it off at night anyway, so why not charge it while it's off my wrist?

Apple's got a nice charging stand for the edition, and I bet 3rd parties will make some nice charging stands for them as well.

 

[j.applewood]

Forgive me please if this seems troll-ish ...

But I'm struggling with the Apple Pay concept. Sure I'm hoping it will change the way everyone pays, but will it actually do so? Hear me out. I'm imagining a world where Apple Pay "wins" and no one carries a wallet anymore, just their phone. But then I run into these thoughts -

1. People still pay with CHECKS in stores. This will die out (literally) in time, so I'm ok here.

2. It will take a generation probably to get rid of physical credit and debit cards, ok here too.

3. There will always be places that only take cash (right?). I'm imagining mom and pop shops in the middle of nowhere that will look at me sideways when I throw my phone at them in hopes to purchase a souvenir. And no, I don't think these will necessarily go away, since somehow certain places have managed to exist without accepting credit cards at all.

4. I can sort of live with 1-3. But until the government gets on board with this and issues e-Driver Licences I will always have to carry a couple things with me.

It's a really cool idea...However, I just can't help but think that Apple is just adding an additional payment option to the world and will never help me live out my no-wallet dream, because of non-adopters.

Please correct me if I'm way off here, because I would love to be.

 

[HenryDJP]

You are over generalizing and incorrect in your assumptions. First, the reason many are boycotting is because Rite Aid and CVS have the technology and they turned it off. And the system they turned it off in favor of (bad grammar) isn't even available yet! It was a ******* move and it pissed off some very loyal customers - both iOS and Android users.

I'm moving over to Walgreens because of this. But, I will continue to shop at Publix, even though they are a CurrentC supporter, because they haven't done anything to piss me off (I've shopped there at the same store for almost 30 years). If they do something that is anti-customer, then I will make a different decision.

And in the real world when someone needs something from the drugstore they will run to any drugstore nearest to them despite Apple pay or not. This whole thing about switching from one drugstore to a different one because they ditched ApplePay is becoming ridiculous.

 

[Tzerlag]

All the retailers and store chains I use in the UK have contactless card terminals.....please could we have this in the UK? Pretty please!!!

#

I see several posts from UK members who want Apple pay. I understand NFC is widespread already there.

Can you (or any UK member) think of any UK (or EU, if applicable) bank regulations that would prevent apple pay?

I'd hate to see a hold up like the iTunes Radio delay happen to you all.

 

[samcraig]

Me thinks you are the one over generalizing. Only the most zealous care that CVS or Rite Aid turned off their NFC... or even realized they had it in the first place. Actual # of people that signed up for Apple Pay is far less than the 1m # credit card activations. That's just math. But even if it were 1m. In a country of 240m adults, 1m is around .5%. Google Wallet's user base is pretty small too. Again, just math.

Bottom line here is that average tech-adverse person is not hot and bothered a store has or does not have NFC (or turned it off). Only certified geeks are right now. The average consumer isn't going out of the way or going to buy the same items at a higher $ to use it or prove a stupid point like "don't turn off my NFC!" like it was water. As the awareness of NFC grows and more phones have it things may change. To date thought NFC in the U.S. has been a dud.

Also your logic is a bit stilted. Publix didn't turn off their NFC because they never had it. If they had it they would have been pressed by MCX to turn it off, just as CVS and Rite Aid were. So a personal policy to boycott CVS or Rite Aid for a business decision that Publix also made (not use NFC) is incoherent just because Publix never had to make a decision to turn it off.

Nope. That's fuzzy math to the extreme. It's 1 million card activations -- not 1 million user activations. Most people have multiple CCs and just judging from my own actions, I activated 3 of 5 cards. So it's more like 200-300K, not all of which have a CVS or Rite Aid.

Next, personally, I'm not going to boycott any store just because they don't accept Apple Pay. That is totally irrational. I don't believe I'm alone. Only the most ardent Apple zealot would change buying habits on this issue alone.

I don't think Apple Pay at its infancy is going to alter where people shop unless there is a $ incentive. Its still at super geek stage where most people don't know it exists or not sure how it works and don't want to look like an idiot at check out fumbling around.

And if Rite-Aid started accepting Apple Pay I still would never go there. The stores near me are dirty and dated and they are even more overpriced than Walgreens. I simply have no reason to set foot in there.

And in the real world when someone needs something from the drugstore they will run to any drugstore nearest to them despite Apple pay or not. This whole thing about switching from one drugstore to a different one because they ditched ApplePay is becoming ridiculous.

I have often not agreed with Chupa - and especially HenryDJP. However they are really both completely on the money on this one.

The is a TINY vocal contingency who are chest beating over this. It's not even a blip of a consideration for most. I live in NYC and while my experiences certainly don't make for facts around the US - I still haven't seen anyone use Apple Pay in a store and I have been to several over the past week that accept NFC payments.

What's also missing from the equation of activations vs how many potential customers CVS/Rite Aid is losing is the fact that many of those, no doubt occurred after NFC was turned off. Any those people are probably completely oblivious to where they can and can't use NFC at this point. They aren't going to shun a store they weren't using NFC payments at to begin with.

Again - only a vocal minority of internet indignant.

 

[mercuryjones]

I have often not agreed with Chupa - and especially HenryDJP. However they are really both completely on the money on this one.

The is a TINY vocal contingency who are chest beating over this. It's not even a blip of a consideration for most. I live in NYC and while my experiences certainly don't make for facts around the US - I still haven't seen anyone use Apple Pay in a store and I have been to several over the past week that accept NFC payments.

What's also missing from the equation of activations vs how many potential customers CVS/Rite Aid is losing is the fact that many of those, no doubt occurred after NFC was turned off. Any those people are probably completely oblivious to where they can and can't use NFC at this point. They aren't going to shun a store they weren't using NFC payments at to begin with.

Again - only a vocal minority of internet indignant.

The problem being, they didn't just ditch Apple Pay, but also Google Wallet. They have their own agenda to push, so if you are okay with them instituting their own NFC style payment system, instead of the ones that are already out there and in use, go ahead. No one is going to stop you.
Me? I never really purchased from these stores to begin with, and I'm certainly not going to start now with the course they've taken.

 

[peterh988]

I see several posts from UK members who want Apple pay. I understand NFC is widespread already there.

Can you (or any UK member) think of any UK (or EU, if applicable) bank regulations that would prevent apple pay?

The only problems I foresee are the £20 spend limit needs to be removed to make it worthwhile, which shouldn't be a problem, and the big supermarkets will need to upgrade their tills to NFC readers, right now it's pointless to have NFC at the checkouts as the vast majority of people spend over the £20 limit, so they'd go unused. (Tesco even have their own brand NFC card, but don't accept NFC at the tills!)

I can see that hampering, but not causing too much of a problem.

 

[Aloft085]

Forgive me please if this seems troll-ish ...

But I'm struggling with the Apple Pay concept. Sure I'm hoping it will change the way everyone pays, but will it actually do so? Hear me out. I'm imagining a world where Apple Pay "wins" and no one carries a wallet anymore, just their phone. But then I run into these thoughts -

1. People still pay with CHECKS in stores. This will die out (literally) in time, so I'm ok here.

2. It will take a generation probably to get rid of physical credit and debit cards, ok here too.

3. There will always be places that only take cash (right?). I'm imagining mom and pop shops in the middle of nowhere that will look at me sideways when I throw my phone at them in hopes to purchase a souvenir. And no, I don't think these will necessarily go away, since somehow certain places have managed to exist without accepting credit cards at all.

4. I can sort of live with 1-3. But until the government gets on board with this and issues e-Driver Licences I will always have to carry a couple things with me.

It's a really cool idea...However, I just can't help but think that Apple is just adding an additional payment option to the world and will never help me live out my no-wallet dream, because of non-adopters.

Please correct me if I'm way off here, because I would love to be.

You're looking at it from an all-or-nothing point of view. Apple Pay doesn't have to eliminate checks and credit cards to be successful, and it doesn't have to completely replace your wallet either. It just has to provide enough benefits that people use it regularly. Here are the main advantages as I see them:

1) Faster checkout, and no need to sign credit card receipts.

2) Ability to slim down wallet and only carry the bare essentials.

3) Ability to pay when you've forgotten or lost your wallet.

 

[bawbac]

As I have pointed out before, Pay is 'The Next Big Thing'.

Nice Segway...

 

[samcraig]

The problem being, they didn't just ditch Apple Pay, but also Google Wallet. They have their own agenda to push, so if you are okay with them instituting their own NFC style payment system, instead of the ones that are already out there and in use, go ahead. No one is going to stop you.
Me? I never really purchased from these stores to begin with, and I'm certainly not going to start now with the course they've taken.

There's little problem because I imagine so few people use NFC to pay to begin with. The "problem" is mostly in forum users heads. I can't imagine the general public being all that caring.

I've had the ability to use NFC payments for a few years now - and don't. Not my thing.

----------

You're looking at it from an all-or-nothing point of view. Apple Pay doesn't have to eliminate checks and credit cards to be successful, and it doesn't have to completely replace your wallet either. It just has to provide enough benefits that people use it regularly. Here are the main advantages as I see them:

1) Faster checkout, and no need to sign credit card receipts.

2) Ability to slim down wallet and only carry the bare essentials.

3) Ability to pay when you've forgotten or lost your wallet.

1. Do we know that over a maximum you still don't need to sign?
2. How long before you can REALLY leave your cards at home without concern over whether the place you are going has NFC capabilities or not.
3. In my experience - I have forgotten my phone infinitely more than I have forgotten my wallet. I've also never lost my wallet. I've temporarily lost my phone however (fortunate to have had someone find it and return it!)

 

[Tzerlag]

Again - only a vocal minority of internet indignant.

I'm not taking sides nor calling the minority you mentioned a representative sample, but they exist and will do whatever they do. Whether we think them rational or not.

Some will shout loudly and do nothing, others won't say a word but change their habits consciously or not. And every variation on the theme.

Boycott seems too strong a word.

I food shop generally at three stores depending on my needs, schedule, and commute. One of the stores takes Apple pay. The small shift in convenience may be enough to cause me to gravitate toward that store more than usual. Security and privacy concerns may increase that gravitation even further.

Only time will tell how the masses behave.

 

[BJMRamage]

I've added an Amex.
my other cards won't be going in (not accepted and not using)

So far...I've used it ZERO times. I was at a store that uses it the day before launch. haven;t been to a store that uses it since and not going out of my way to spend money.

I do like the Transaction notification though via Passbook.

 

[reclusive46]

The only problems I foresee are the £20 spend limit needs to be removed to make it worthwhile, which shouldn't be a problem, and the big supermarkets will need to upgrade their tills to NFC readers, right now it's pointless to have NFC at the checkouts as the vast majority of people spend over the £20 limit, so they'd go unused. (Tesco even have their own brand NFC card, but don't accept NFC at the tills!)

I can see that hampering, but not causing too much of a problem.

The £20 limit doesn't apply to non-card contactless transactions anyway as long as the other device supports verification on the device or online PIN (I.e. typing your PIN on the terminal after a tap, which cards even support in Australia and NZ).

If you go to a BP you'll notice that the contactless reader is enabled for transactions above transactions £20 already but as no UK contactless card supports contactless on PIN, it doesn't work yet, but it will work with a mobile device that supports on device verification.

 

[j.applewood]

You're looking at it from an all-or-nothing point of view. Apple Pay doesn't have to eliminate checks and credit cards to be successful, and it doesn't have to completely replace your wallet either. It just has to provide enough benefits that people use it regularly. Here are the main advantages as I see them:

1) Faster checkout, and no need to sign credit card receipts.

2) Ability to slim down wallet and only carry the bare essentials.

3) Ability to pay when you've forgotten or lost your wallet.

But I want it all!

 

[x13gamer]

Does it disturb anyone else that apple "knows" you added cards? I thought everything was going to stay on the device.

 

[gadgetguy03]

It's amazing how much phones have changed our lives.....i literally like most people i'm sure, check for my phone before my wallet before leaving the house daily....I couldn't imagine having all of my credit and debit cards on my phone and not even needing my wallet anymore except for my license and insurance which i'm sure someday will also be on our phones......the future looks bright....and i'm excited!

They'll probably add your Driver's License to CurrentC

You already give them the number.. might as well

----------

Does it disturb anyone else that apple "knows" you added cards? I thought everything was going to stay on the device.

They have various anonymously collected data that probably shows how many cards are registered in the system, how many transactions are made, and how much. That way they can tout stuff like this and bill Visa, etc. their .15% cut of each transaction.

 

[AdonisSMU]

I'm not taking sides nor calling the minority you mentioned a representative sample, but they exist and will do whatever they do. Whether we think them rational or not.

Some will shout loudly and do nothing, others won't say a word but change their habits consciously or not. And every variation on the theme.

Boycott seems too strong a word.

I food shop generally at three stores depending on my needs, schedule, and commute. One of the stores takes Apple pay. The small shift in convenience may be enough to cause me to gravitate toward that store more than usual. Security and privacy concerns may increase that gravitation even further.

Only time will tell how the masses behave.

I'm in that camp. Where do I sign up. I am vocal but I will make the shifts where I can. It just so happens that I live in NYC where there is a Duane Reade on every corner and here CVS and Rite Aid are dirty and disgusting and that it is reason enough not to go to CVS and Rite Aid. However, I don't think people should be talking down to people who are incensed and indignant about Rite Aid and CVS turning off NFC.

With that said Duane Reade checkout lines are really long and they never have enough people on staff to keep the lines short. Contrast that with CVS who has the self POS terminals where you can get in and get out very quickly and with Apple Pay I was finished within seconds when it was still available. That convenience is a HUGE factor. Both CC and Cash take longer to use at CVS from my experiences.

At the end of the day people have to do what they think is best for them. If their money is important enough to them to shift their buying habits, I can't fault them for it.