I also have an issue with Walgreen...still like 6 things you have to do to check out... If I want cash back, I will use my card.
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Checkout Problems Hindering Growth in Apple Pay Usage
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Yeah, living in the UK, I forget about the US still working in that way.
Some shops I use in the UK will accept just a swipe, some, I'm not sure if all, are limited to an amount, £30 per contact-less swipe, and only a few time a day.
Honestly, I cannot be bothered wondering what will and won't work, and how much it will or won't work with and how many times a day I can or cant use it.
Just slip your car in the slot, type in your PIN and it wil always work anywhere for any amount any number of times a day.
For the sake of a few seconds potential saving, to find out if it will or won#t work, it's not worth messing around.
Amazing! I've had no trouble using it in Australia since October and our retailers don't have any working knowledge of Apple Pay since our banks and Visa/MasterCard in our part of the world don't support it yet.
It takes a second to accept but that's probably because my card in Apple Pay is from a bank in the USA and this is all still faster than pulling another card out of my wallet.
Can't wait for Apple Watch Apple Pay.
It takes a second to accept but that's probably because my card in Apple Pay is from a bank in the USA and this is all still faster than pulling another card out of my wallet.
Can't wait for Apple Watch Apple Pay.
Merchants are the source of the problems for me
Most of the time, I have absolutely no problems using Apple Pay and much prefer it to using my cards. The times when I have had issues were entirely due to problems on the merchant end (terminal failures at BJ's, terminal misconfigurations at Subway, and lack of enough terminals at Panera Bread). Only at BJ's was the staff unable to resolve the problem.
Most of the time, I have absolutely no problems using Apple Pay and much prefer it to using my cards. The times when I have had issues were entirely due to problems on the merchant end (terminal failures at BJ's, terminal misconfigurations at Subway, and lack of enough terminals at Panera Bread). Only at BJ's was the staff unable to resolve the problem.
I agree with this. It is very weird that they require signature when in theory they already got my thumbprint. I also really hate the retailers that ask for ID to verify my identity.
Let me wave my magic phone, let it be paid, and let me go.
It would be ideal to pay and go but even if I have to sign my reason for use is more about security than time.
Home Depot will take my visa but not my master card.
Subway has stopped taking it around here. The employees learned what it was by my using it and have said they don't know why its now off.
I try to use it where I can and in same cases shop in places specifically because they accept it. Still, some of the places I go the most (looking at you Kroger) don't appear to even be interested. I sent a note to their support before asking if it was coming and a glitch with their server sent me automated replies every hour of the day for 6 days straight before it quit. That took yet another call to fix.
Home Depot will take my visa but not my master card.
Subway has stopped taking it around here. The employees learned what it was by my using it and have said they don't know why its now off.
I try to use it where I can and in same cases shop in places specifically because they accept it. Still, some of the places I go the most (looking at you Kroger) don't appear to even be interested. I sent a note to their support before asking if it was coming and a glitch with their server sent me automated replies every hour of the day for 6 days straight before it quit. That took yet another call to fix.
The limit is £20 at the moment (it will be £30 from the autumn), and it doesn't work how you describe.
The card keeps track of both how many transactions you've made since you last used a PIN or signature with your card and the cumulative spend on your card without entering a PIN/signature. That is used to determine if you can use contactless to make a payment - it's not up to the store to decide that. The exact trigger amounts are set by the issuing bank.
Given the £20 limit, and the level of acceptance contactless cards have, most people will never hit the limits because they will be required to use a PIN at some point.
As you've misunderstood the way the system works, this part isn't true.
I was at Whole Foods and the terminal had the Apple Pay logo.
Swiped my iPhone, but was then asked to enter my pin into the pin pad.
I don't use it because I just assume the terminal is't going to work correctly so I just stick with my credit card. I can swipe my card very fast; faster then unlocking my phone, going to passbook, selecting my card, fingerprint.
Swiped my iPhone, but was then asked to enter my pin into the pin pad.
I don't use it because I just assume the terminal is't going to work correctly so I just stick with my credit card. I can swipe my card very fast; faster then unlocking my phone, going to passbook, selecting my card, fingerprint.
I only use it when they have a sign literally saying they accept Apple Pay.
All the stores like CVS that turned it off have totally turned off my desire to test it every time I see the little Wifi Pay logo. I need an Apple sign or I don't bother.
There aren't many places that have that, though.
All the stores like CVS that turned it off have totally turned off my desire to test it every time I see the little Wifi Pay logo. I need an Apple sign or I don't bother.
There aren't many places that have that, though.
This is overblown.
I use it a LOT...and yes, there are problems... but I would say it's about 1/20th of the time I use it there is an issue.
I still would have answered the questions with an "affirmative" that there are problems: but saying that everyone is having problems doesn't really represent how frequent or pervasive those problems are.
So far, my favorite place to use it is at the Shaw's Star Market Grocery store. When you use Apple Pay there it literally doesn't ask you ANY questions (cash, member number, PIN, etc). You don't even have to touch the machine at all.
Walgreens is the worst at this. Even with Apple Pay, checking out is a PITA with all the stupid prompts on the machine...
Also: let's not forget that things are not always peachy with plastic cards either. Why does it always feel like the person in FRONT of me has trouble swiping their damn card?! ;-)
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Whole foods does require a PIN when using Apple Pay that is connected to a debit card. It does work... you just need to put in your PIN.
Hopefully as this gains traction we won't need to put in our PIN or deal with as many prompts in the future....
I use it a LOT...and yes, there are problems... but I would say it's about 1/20th of the time I use it there is an issue.
I still would have answered the questions with an "affirmative" that there are problems: but saying that everyone is having problems doesn't really represent how frequent or pervasive those problems are.
So far, my favorite place to use it is at the Shaw's Star Market Grocery store. When you use Apple Pay there it literally doesn't ask you ANY questions (cash, member number, PIN, etc). You don't even have to touch the machine at all.
Walgreens is the worst at this. Even with Apple Pay, checking out is a PITA with all the stupid prompts on the machine...
Also: let's not forget that things are not always peachy with plastic cards either. Why does it always feel like the person in FRONT of me has trouble swiping their damn card?! ;-)
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Whole foods does require a PIN when using Apple Pay that is connected to a debit card. It does work... you just need to put in your PIN.
Hopefully as this gains traction we won't need to put in our PIN or deal with as many prompts in the future....
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I'd me more shocked if there were NO problems. The first week/month/year is always the hardest, and numerous parties are involved.
Happily, I have escaped any problems! Apple Pay has been terrific for me.
Now, let's compare the rate of "problems" to every competing smart payment system...
Happily, I have escaped any problems! Apple Pay has been terrific for me.
Now, let's compare the rate of "problems" to every competing smart payment system...
The US has always been slow to adopt new technologies and the reason I think Apple should've implimented Apple Pay in country that already widely usung it. And then bring it to the US.
Apple makes great computers and phones, but some services are problematic. Their icloud email search doesn't seem to work for many people and I don't have the feeling they are resolving it. So if their payment system works like their cloud email, then I will make sure I don't rely on Apple for payments.
I used it about 20 or so times around the Bay Area and it worked as advertised. Only yesterday when I tried to pay at Peets coffee that it didn't register. My phone probably misread my finger print. By then the cashier said they don't accept apple pay. It was an NFC reader, I gave up and just gave her my credit card.
Yep, it would definitely get used more in the UK.
The problem right now is getting UK banks to sign up, since Apple decided they wanted a piece of each transaction, along with aggregate purchase data from the banks.
In the US, Apple's terms worked. The fee was okay because US fees are so high it didn't matter much, and there might be some identity theft savings. The banks were also willing to share data in return for Apple not throwing in with credit card competitors like CurrentC.
In the rest of the world, the fees that Apple wants are a huge hike over what the systems pay now, plus non-US banks are balking at sharing data with Apple.
Because, at this time, TouchID has nothing to do with the actual transaction. It's not even needed (you can use a passcode instead). It's currently being used simply as a passcode shortcut to allow Apple Pay to open.
Right now, to a merchant terminal, contactless phone payments are no different than using a regular contactless credit or debit card. If your purchase is over the merchant or bank's authentication limit, you'll get asked for a PIN or signature.
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What's going to be interesting in the US at least, is later this year when Samsung phones start being used with the built-in magstripe compatible LoopPay system.
It could be confusing to Google Wallet and Apple Pay users, to watch a Samsung user tap and pay at say, a CVS terminal, while their own NFC electronic wallets are refused.
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The Toys R Us lady probably didn't even know what it was, and thought you were hacking the terminal with your phone or something, lol.
At Walgreens, I agree, it's not a smooth experience there even if everything works. They usually want you to enter your phone number, to try to tie in your loyalty card, and the clerk usually has to press credit on their end before you tap the phone, or it will try to do debit.
They need to get the big box stores onboard, and the gas station pumps, and then it will be widespread use. Half of my purchases are probably Walmart or Target and a gas station. I've noticed that Walmart has started doing "no pin required" with my debit card there if the transaction is less than $50, which kind of worries me. They seem to be going the wrong way with less security instead of more.
It's not overblown. In the 3 months that I have had my iPhone 6, I have had a total of three (3) opportunities to use Apple Pay. Of the three, only one succeeded, and that was at an Apple store.
So a) there are not enough retailers that accept Apple Pay yet to make it a viable option and b) a 33% success rate is not good.
Good to know I'm not the only one. The one time I used it I had the same problem and whilst I'm still a believer in Apple Pay, they need to figure this out as it's not as simple and user friendly as advertised.
That's inconvenient to have to enter a pin for debit cards. It should be like using the real card and choosing credit instead of debit bypassing the need for a pin.
Oh I think it is very user friendly....I think WALGREENS doesn't get it and wants to throw all sorts of advertising your way on the terminal when checking out.
Petco, Sprouts....a 2 second checkout. Takes longer to get the phone to the terminal EXCELLENT experience.
This will probably launch better in places like Canada and Australia where it seems that merchants and customers are already familiar with tap and pay type transactions.
The US is just so far behind. This will be a big year for cashier confusion as they have to get used to using chip cards as well later this year. So hopefully as they are retrained on their new terminals they will also train people on the NFC aspect.
I've not yet had to sign for a transaction or use ID. I've had flawless transactions at a few McDonald's where I choose a card other than my default because it has a better cash back bonus for restaurants. It is a little tricky to hold the phone to the terminal, then select the alternate card, then place my finger on the TouchID sensor.
My grocery store is much easier. I hold my finger on the home button and touch the phone to the sensor on the terminal. Since I'm using my default card for grocery store purchases, it just registers right away. I can even do it while the checkout person is still scanning items and then the sale completes when done.
If someone asked for my ID, I'm wondering what they would check it against? My name isn't on the transaction at all, so how would they know. And if they asked for my actual card, the numbers won't match since it's a tokenized transaction. I guess having to sign would be annoying, but I would just do that to get them off my back.
These training problems aren't unique to ApplePay....if a clerk is clueless about it, they would be for Google Wallet or LoopPay as well, I'm guessing.
The US is just so far behind. This will be a big year for cashier confusion as they have to get used to using chip cards as well later this year. So hopefully as they are retrained on their new terminals they will also train people on the NFC aspect.
I've not yet had to sign for a transaction or use ID. I've had flawless transactions at a few McDonald's where I choose a card other than my default because it has a better cash back bonus for restaurants. It is a little tricky to hold the phone to the terminal, then select the alternate card, then place my finger on the TouchID sensor.
My grocery store is much easier. I hold my finger on the home button and touch the phone to the sensor on the terminal. Since I'm using my default card for grocery store purchases, it just registers right away. I can even do it while the checkout person is still scanning items and then the sale completes when done.
If someone asked for my ID, I'm wondering what they would check it against? My name isn't on the transaction at all, so how would they know. And if they asked for my actual card, the numbers won't match since it's a tokenized transaction. I guess having to sign would be annoying, but I would just do that to get them off my back.
These training problems aren't unique to ApplePay....if a clerk is clueless about it, they would be for Google Wallet or LoopPay as well, I'm guessing.