Apple Pay Gains Momentum With Estimated 250 Million Users, 200% Transaction Growth Predicted Next Year

[bigpoppamac31]

I see it used very infrequently here; but all terminals that support NFC cards (almost all of them now) will work with it. Everyone I see just taps the card.

My debit and credit card don't have the tap feature. Wish they did as I often have issues with the chip. Never had issues with my bank card before the chip came along. Perhaps I'll upgrade to the tap card and see how that goes. I wouldn't mind using Apple Pay but I think I'd feel uneasy somehow when pulling out my phone to tap it on the machine.

 

[avanpelt]

Costco now accepts it! Just did it for the first time yesterday.

Can it be used at their gas pumps too? The gas pumps at my neighborhood Costco got the NFC readers a year or more ago but they still hadn’t been enabled as of a few weeks ago.

 

[Rigby]

My usage has increased drastically over the past year. That's mostly because a major local grocery chain (Safeway) finally adopted Apple Pay, but I also find it in many other places now (like e.g. our company restaurant). There are also unexpected uses. For example, I recently discovered that you can add a card from Chargepoint (the company that runs the electric vehicle chargers at my workplace) to Wallet and simply hold the phone to the charger to unlock it rather than using either the app or digging out their RFID card. Super convenient and something I use almost every day.

The only places I'm missing are the big-box holdouts (Target and Walmart) as well gas stations at the pump (I have so far seen only a single gas station in the south bay that supports that).

 

[PotatoLeekSoup]

Can it be used at their gas pumps too? The gas pumps at my neighborhood Costco got the NFC readers a year or more ago but they still hadn’t been enabled as of a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately not yet. Those pump lines get long and any speed up would help.
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Every place I shop uses it except Publix. If they got on board I’d never carry my wallet with me again.

HEB in Texas doesn't do it either. I feel like these large regional grocery chains hate the idea of losing out on data. Apple Pay blocks the card number. Without that, they cannot track repeat purchases.

Sprouts and Whole Foods are the only grocery exceptions I have seen.

 

[iGeek2014]

That’s not what I said. You may need to re-read what I wrote. I am clearly aware, as I stated, that Apple Pay allows you to store your Walgreens rewards card, and yes it automatically detects it. Walgreens has been a client of mine and I’ve worked with them for years, so I have been using that feature since it came out.

But you still have to end your purchase transaction with two swipes: one for the rewards card, and another for Apple Pay. What I was proposing was that the Walgreens wards card would be linked to your credit card within the Wallet app, so that simply by paying and doing one swipe, it would automatically give you the rewards credit without requiring a second swipe. Make sense?

I get where you are coming from. If you have a Walgreen’s loyalty card and credit card rather than authenticating the rewards card then having to authenticate again to make payment you can do it in one go using biometrics or a passcode.

Am very surprised not one retailer here in the UK offers the feature; it’s literally Woolworths in Australia and Walgreen’s in the US isn’t it?

 

[PotatoLeekSoup]

I think the point of the article is that despite all these anecdotal "no-one users Apple Pay" posts - you are wrong. Apple Pay growth is strong and, more importantly, accelerating. Its the kind of thing that feeds on itself as people see other people using it ... and moving through check out lines 2-3 times faster than those maddening card-chip readers.

My anecdotal (US) evidence is that retailers small to large are slowly swapping out old POS terminals for Apple Pay enabled ones. I get a lot of "wow-that's cool" when paying with my watch.

The chip readers are funny.

Swipe reader: produce card, swipe through, put it back, then device approves it.
Chip reader: produce card, insert, wait, wait, wait, approved, remove card, put it back.

The crummier experience with the chip readers makes Apple Pay more appealing!

 

[PaulRustad007]

I hate that how peer to peer is set up. Using iMessage doesn’t feel like the best approach.

I wish there was a way to open the wallet app and send money through the wallet. It would be cool to have it set up like AirDrop.

AirDrop cash to each other would be nice.

I use AppleCash all the time with the kids, sending and getting money back from them..its been seamless and it just works.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I got out of my way to use apple pay so that I can be a statistic. Only through massive usage can we truly adapt a world where all I need is my phone and photo ID.

NO WALLET LIFE IS THE GOAL.

 

[jayducharme]

I've been using Apple Pay since it began, albeit at just the few retailers I could find that would accept it. I've definitely noticed increased availability within the past year, from turnpike rest stops to mom and pop shops to major retailers. I'm at a point now where I try Apple Pay first, no matter where I am, since I've found that some of the terminals that accept it don't sport the NFC logo. Eventually, I think Walmart, Target and other holdouts will relent and offer it.

Why is it asking you for a pin? I’ve never been asked for a pin and I use it almost everyday.

I've found it to be a crap shoot; some retailers force me to enter a PIN and some don't. Some still ask for my signature and some don't. I think those are a few of the kinks that still need to be ironed out.

 

[upnorth85]

I use my Apple Watch at my local Cub foods grocery and also at Whole Foods. I shop less at Walmart and Target, particularly the latte where I have to enter the pin on my red card (credit card). I also use my Apple Watch at Trader Joes. I don't have to take my credit card out. It is so convenient to use it on Apple watch. I wish home Depot also adopted Apple Pay.

 

[sidewinder3000]

I get where you are coming from. If you have a Walgreen’s loyalty card and credit card rather than authenticating the rewards card then having to authenticate again to make payment you can do it in one go using biometrics or a passcode.

Am very surprised not one retailer here in the UK offers the feature; it’s literally Woolworths in Australia and Walgreen’s in the US isn’t it?

Walgreens is the only company in the US that I am aware of that allows you to put your loyalty card in wallet and have it pop up automatically when you move it near the terminal. There are a few other companies, like AMC movie theaters, that allow you to store your loyalty card in Apple wallet, but from my experience you need to manually find the card when you arrive at the cashier, it doesn’t happen automatically.

And certainly nobody has combined or linked the loyalty card directly to the credit card, so that only one “scan” is needed .

 

[Lozza013]

Love Apple Pay. Use it with my AW Series 3 and iPhone 7 almost everyday. Shame I had to change banks to use it. Looking at you Westpac.

 

[ruthlessjoachim]

I’ll stop short of saying that we here in America are “pathetic”, but there is something discouraging about how behind the times we often are when it comes to technology and changing over to new platforms or systems. Our Internet speeds lag far behind many other industrialized countries, and our slow-trickle adoption of alternative/mobile payments makes us feel almost like a nation of grandparents.

Whatever stories like this pop up, I always wonder what the root cause is. Is it because our corporations are greedier, and try to ring every bit of value they can get out of old capital before switching to new systems? Or do Europe and parts of Asia have governments that are more active in passing legislation that forces change? If there’s anybody that has any real insight in this area, I’m curious.

Setting > Wallet and Apple Pay > Cards > Apple Pay Cash > Cards Details > Pin

 

[Sill]

The only thing I find attractive about Apple Pay would be the PtP payments (which I can't use anyway because the X requires FaceID for any kind of ApplePay stuff). Otherwise, I have no need or use for it. I still cheerfully pay cash for everything and enjoy my privacy.

For the people who use discount cards - many states have laws against requiring a membership to get a discount, unless its a paid membership like Costco or Sam's. Stores usually have a floating discount card sitting up at the register, known as the store or manager card. Next time you are asked if you have the discount card, say, "No, please use the manager's card". You'll get the same discount, plus you keep your privacy. caveat: many POS staff no longer are trained in this, so you'll have to explain it to them.

 

[cbaca51]

I use Apple Pay anywhere I can. It’s so much easier to use then the traditional card. Love to use it.
[doublepost=1533867112][/doublepost]I work at Whole Foods and people always use Apple Pay (including myself)

 

[darkmaxdevil]

If you live in Tokyo, you literally can leave your wallet at home. Just have to keep the phone charged though lol. My phone died while I was riding subway back home once. Without wallet it was not a fun experience though lol

 

[BurgDog]

I tried using it for a bit. Half the places that say they take it it doesn't work so I need to use my card. I have just given up and use my card all the time now, less hassle. Basically I don't see the advantage over my card anyway. Card is just as fast and always works and works everywhere. I don't have the patience to use unreliable payment systems.

 

[Jimmy James]

Apple Pay is such a convenient and pleasant feature, especially compared to using the chip credit card readers. I use it whenever possible and really wish more retail locations in the US would use.

If the terminal has nfc for Apple Pay then it likely accepts card tap as well.

 

[Solomani]

Sounds about right. Last year, I'd use ApplePay transactions about twice a week. This year, I find myself using it at least once per day.

The difficult thing is convincing my other extended family members (and even close friends) to give ApplePay a try, even though almost all of them use iPhones. I tell them how easy it is to use. And they have the usual stupid hangups like "Ummm but is it safe to use??" Then I just walk away as I don't have time to explain the technology or even the advantages of secure contactless payment systems like ApplePay.

In the end, it's not my crusade to convince people the advantages of using ApplePay (or secure NFC payments in general). It's Apple's responsibility to educate people. Does Apple even have a single TV commercial regarding how easy it is to use ApplePay? I've never seen one.
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One killer feature that would take Apple Pay to the next level would be if you could link your rewards cards/clubs directly to the transaction itself. For example, Walgreens has a rewards card that you can store in your Apple wallet, but you have to scan it separately, before you scan for your payment. I think it would be amazing if simply using Apple Pay at Walgreens would automatically trigger your Walgreens rewards card, once you set it up that way in Settings.

Totally agree. Panera has the same thing. A separate Panera Rewards card that is kept inside your Apple Wallet. But that card is scanned first (during purchase, to enable available rewards or discounts), and then you do the fingerprint scan again to pay with the (default) ApplePay credit card.

 

[I7guy]

Sounds about right. Last year, I'd use ApplePay transactions about twice a week. This year, I find myself using it at least once per day.

The difficult thing is convincing my other extended family members (and even close friends) to give ApplePay a try, even though almost all of them use iPhones. I tell them how easy it is to use. And they have the usual stupid hangups like "Ummm but is it safe to use??" Then I just walk away as I don't have time to explain the technology or even the advantages of secure contactless payment systems like ApplePay.

In the end, it's not my crusade to convince people the advantages of using ApplePay (or secure NFC payments in general). It's Apple's responsibility to educate people. Does Apple even have a single TV commercial regarding how easy it is to use ApplePay? I've never seen one.

Does Apple have commercials about any features? How did people figure out you can use the wallet for boarding passes? How is Apple Pay gaining momentum without Apple advertising it? These days almost every business except cvs, takes Apple Pay.

 

[Bustycat]

I will be an Apple Pay user after the September event. I can't wait to purchase in convenient stores like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart, via Apple Pay.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I’ll stop short of saying that we here in America are “pathetic”, but there is something discouraging about how behind the times we often are when it comes to technology and changing over to new platforms or systems. Our Internet speeds lag far behind many other industrialized countries, and our slow-trickle adoption of alternative/mobile payments makes us feel almost like a nation of grandparents.

Whatever stories like this pop up, I always wonder what the root cause is. Is it because our corporations are greedier, and try to ring every bit of value they can get out of old capital before switching to new systems? Or do Europe and parts of Asia have governments that are more active in passing legislation that forces change? If there’s anybody that has any real insight in this area, I’m curious.

In an answer it’s about legacy infrastructure! How it’s setup before digital wallets. Legislature, Gov etc all comes in after that.

Also ...

Munster believes that just 20 percent of global smartphone users use their phone as a wallet, a number that he expects to rise to 80 percent in the future. [\QUOTE]

What about AW users using Apple Pay?

 

[dilbert99]

Apple Pay was absurdly underestimated at launch.

1) builds lock-in

-nope, still have debit card in your wallet incase your phone breaks, I use apple pay on my watch but under no illusion that it is simply just an alternate payment method

2) more secure

-it is based on chip and pin so probably not much different to security of chip and pin

3) send & receive cash from friends

- come back when you can send and receive cash with the whole world.

4) whatever else I'm forgetting

Its just another payment method, like cards, paypal, ...

 

[fairuz]

I hate that how peer to peer is set up. Using iMessage doesn’t feel like the best approach.

I wish there was a way to open the wallet app and send money through the wallet. It would be cool to have it set up like AirDrop.

AirDrop cash to each other would be nice.

If only AirDrop were reliable. AirDrop has failed 90% of the time I've used it. I open it and don't see the other person / myself, or I do and it fails to send. Really don't get how it's so bad.

 

[Abazigal]

Its just another payment method, like cards, paypal, ...

Albeit one I use multiple times a day, every day.

Apple Pay on the phone is faster than fishing out my card, while Apple Pay on the watch feels even faster than using the phone.

Haven’t paid with a physical card in a long time.