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So after you've had the card one year they double cash back? How long does that last? Thanks for the info btw

I think it's just the first year; I got an email from Discover saying that in Sept 2016 all cash back I earned up to that point would be doubled.
 
I'm not sure why it's so hard for multi-billion dollar companies to invest into consumer facing terminals with screens, NFC capabilities, and chip card slots.

Because they're expensive, and usually on lease. So you only get to trade in the device if the bank lets you.

If you look them up (eg alternatives to square reader) you'll often find the things costs hundreds if not thousands of dollars per month.
 
And then I'm the 40-something guy who comes in and have these 18-year old 'kids' tell me how computers work. Guess what? I was there at the START of the industry, made my own computers. Work in Software. And you think because I'm older, I'm clueless with technology, and tell me that my equipment won't work with Monster Cables? Or don't understand a TiVo, and tell me that you can't replace it's hard drive, or some other stuff I KNOW about?

Umm dude I never said any of this. Here's the thing, there are people who are older who know a lot. But in the same breath, there people who are younger who could actually teach you something too. Don't think just b/c somebody is younger, that they don't know anything. I'm a 20 something year old kid, and I know when it comes to phones and tablets I know a lot more than the average person. Again, just b/c somebody's younger doesn't mean they are automatically stupid or something. Just like if you're older, it doesn't mean you don't know anything. It works both ways man.

I've worked at Best Buy and I've had customers who actually showed me some things that I didn't know. Thought that was pretty cool actually. Like I've said, yeah I know a lot. But damn it, I don't know everything and you're never too young or old to learn something new. I've also had customers who thought they knew what they were talking about (arrogant as hell about it too) but in reality didn't know a damn thing.
 
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I still don't understand why Walmart is stubbornly refusing to accept NFC at all. That's all they would have to do is turn on the NFC on the terminals. Boy they really want that customer data badly don't they. I think it is a small extra charge to have the terminals accept NFC but it's pocket change, shouldn't make a difference.
A lot of Wal-Marts terminals are old MX860's without NFC, with some MX915's and a bunch of iSC250's, well the latter which do support NFC as well, but all those MX860's would either have to be replaced or they would have to install the addon for them. My Wal-Mart has nothing but iSC250's so they would not have to replace any at my local store to enable NFC. Plus yeah Wal-Mart is the founder of MCX, Best Buy is as well, but they changed their minds about supporting Apple Pay. :p
My local Best Buy has it enabled now too, so I'm pretty sure they must all have it now, sweet!
 
In the UK I went to use Apple Pay via my mobile at Greggs. After asking me for the £5.33 I offered up my mobile. She looked at me as though I was crazy, uttering the words "err, that's a mobile phone sir".

It would have been quicker and a whole heap less embarrassing if I had just presented my card. Great technology, but clearly a long way from being commonplace.

I find it easier to ask to pay by contactless as they know what this is. Then I present my phone and they (sometimes) go "wow, did you just pay with your phone. That's so cool".
 
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A lot of Wal-Marts terminals are old MX860's without NFC, with some MX915's and a bunch of iSC250's, well the latter which do support NFC as well, but all those MX860's would either have to be replaced or they would have to install the addon for them. My Wal-Mart has nothing but iSC250's so they would not have to replace any at my local store to enable NFC. Plus yeah Wal-Mart is the founder of MCX, Best Buy is as well, but they changed their minds about supporting Apple Pay. :p
My local Best Buy has it enabled now too, so I'm pretty sure they must all have it now, sweet!

Just in the last year, all the Walmarts at least in my area had all the terminals replaced with new ones that support chip and pin for the new regulations, so I would imagine they probably have the NFC hardware in them. If they don't, then that was a stupid decision to replace lots of terminals with stuff that doesn't have every possibility.
 
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Just in the last year, all the Walmarts at least in my area had all the terminals replaced with new ones that support chip and pin for the new regulations, so I would imagine they probably have the NFC hardware in them. If they don't, then that was a stupid decision to replace lots of terminals with stuff that doesn't have every possibility.
The MX860's support EMV too but lack the Contactless addon, while the MX915 and iSC250 both support NFC with built in readers that are of course turned off at Wal-Mart.
 
On monday I picked up a prescription at riteaid and they are now fully supporting ApplePay. As much as I have complained, I see the tide starting to turn as more and more big names are supporting ApplePay. I was actually at the farmers market, where most vendors use square, and a couple of them said they planned to upgrade to the reader that will accept apple pay. So things are looking up in the US for contactless payments!
It's probably unofficial.
 
What bugs me about Apple pay still is that some terminals make you enter a pin and some make you sign. Isn't that the point of my finger print...

If it's run as a credit card transaction, it shouldn't require you to do anything. If it's run as a Debit Card, it should only ask for a PIN if the value exceeds the limit specified on the original card's microprocessor. I don't have any NFC enabled debit cards to even test that in Canada, because strangely every card I have isn't NFC except for the Credit card which is now on the second card, and will get replaced this year. They all have chips though.

So when I get the 6S I'm going to setup my US-based bank's US debit card and see what happens. Until one of the Canadian banks offers Apple Pay, I'll just periodically use the Apple Pay USD just to see what works and what doesn't.
 
I'm still not fully in the "Go Apple Pay" camp. I like the idea, I like it a lot. But I'm not thrilled that one of my banks didn't do squat to verify my identify before letting me add my card. I feel like Apple should have never made that optional.

The other part i'm not thrilled about is that I'm still being asked for my pin number, last four digits, sign this slip etc. That's not Apple's fault but its annoying. There should be no reason for that stuff. And Apple presented it as quick and easy and without it. So lets see them sort out the software
 
The official rollout it now. It is a staged rollout so not every store will get it at once. There is a release schedule that finishes at the end of September.

This update to the POS system will enable Apple Pay, Android Pay, Contactless, and Chipped Cards (EMV).

Just today it rolled out to another 130+ stores in Michigan, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois.

Cool! Are there any plans to have the NFC logo shown, or at least something that says "Tap Card" or something? Right now I doubt anyone even knows it's working as there is no indication of it at my store.
 
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Great news with this, once Kroger, Target and some gas station chain (I know Exxon is doing it, but my next door station still doesn't have NFC), then literally 90% of my regular purchasing needs will be covered by Apple Pay.

Come on Kroger and Target!!!
Wait Exxon Mobil is doing Apple Pay where did you hear that at? Kroger probably won't support it for awhile its not even being talked about and they are barely going to make the EMV liability shift it looks like. Target said it would be in early 2016 when they turn NFC on.
 
Wait Exxon Mobil is doing Apple Pay where did you hear that at? Kroger probably won't support it for awhile its not even being talked about and they are barely going to make the EMV liability shift it looks like. Target said it would be in early 2016 when they turn NFC on.

Ironically Kroger has had new terminals for a very long time, so you'd think they'd have turned things on sooner.
 
Ironically Kroger has had new terminals for a very long time, so you'd think they'd have turned things on sooner.
They probably use a crappy merchant service provider. It's part of the reason why our health office doesn't have EMV yet. A lot of people are at the mercy of lazy merchant service providers. They are turning on EMV the first week of October. *facepalm*
 
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They're based in Minneapolis so they're everywhere (doesn't hurt to support a local company that employs thousands locally). They match Amazon prices and I can get it same day (same day Amazon delivery is coming in a couple months now that they're building a ton of new distribution facilities here). They also often beat Amazon prices on some items like hard drives.

Exactly. I definitely believe Best Buy has improved lately and for many people, Best Buy would be sorely missed if they closed. Amazon.com isn't the answer for everyone and every situation. It's nice to have an option you can drive/walk to sometimes.
 
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