ChazSch
macrumors 6502
where do you live? I live outside LA (about 60 miles) and while few merchants have the terminal, it works great at them.
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Checkout Problems Hindering Growth in Apple Pay Usage
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where do you live? I live outside LA (about 60 miles) and while few merchants have the terminal, it works great at them.
You can, go into setting apply pay and set the default card. Next time you pay instead of unlocking the phone and going to apply pay just hold the phone over the terminal with your finger on the scanner, do not unlock the phone. The charge will process on your default card.
Part of the problems lies squarely with the users asking "I'd like to pay with Apple Pay." Just say "Credit" and there will be less confusion.
Doesn't work as promised
I've made many ApplePay transactions. I've had a few terminal failures, but mostly the problem is: it just doesn't work the way it was promised to work.
I have a debit card linked. (I don't have any straight credit cards.) I have never been able to simply tap the phone and do my fingerprint to pay. I have had to enter a PIN, give a signature, answer questions about whether I want cash back or if the amount is correct, etc.
It's so universal that I actually went back and watched the keynote again to see if I had imagined the part where they showed checkout with just a tap and fingerprint, but that's exactly what they showed.
With all those extra steps, ApplePay provides only marginal utility. If I'm paying with ApplePay, I don't want cash back, I shouldn't need to sign or enter a PIN, and there's no reason to make me confirm the transaction amount. Just process the payment and let me leave!
I've made many ApplePay transactions. I've had a few terminal failures, but mostly the problem is: it just doesn't work the way it was promised to work.
I have a debit card linked. (I don't have any straight credit cards.) I have never been able to simply tap the phone and do my fingerprint to pay. I have had to enter a PIN, give a signature, answer questions about whether I want cash back or if the amount is correct, etc.
It's so universal that I actually went back and watched the keynote again to see if I had imagined the part where they showed checkout with just a tap and fingerprint, but that's exactly what they showed.
With all those extra steps, ApplePay provides only marginal utility. If I'm paying with ApplePay, I don't want cash back, I shouldn't need to sign or enter a PIN, and there's no reason to make me confirm the transaction amount. Just process the payment and let me leave!
ChazSch
macrumors 6502
and if Google pay will work like google products, specifically google glass, I wouldn't want that either. Two sided coin my friend.
my iCloud email is PERFECT
if I based my decisions on Apple's old operating systems, I would hate apple pay too. But happily, things have moved on.
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this is one of those complaints that are based on user inexperience rather than the whole process.
ghostface147
macrumors 601
It's cool and all, but just a gimmick so far. It will take time of course. The issues I see are terminals that are NFC capable, but not activated, employees who have no idea how to use it (drive thru McDonalds), or places that do take it and lane I choose is the only one where it doesn't work.
I like the concept, just not enough places yet. It'll come around.
I like the concept, just not enough places yet. It'll come around.
So far I am not terribly impressed. I didn't expect to be either so it's all good. Card swipe is still faster for the most part. Take out phone to tap and still have to put in pin or choose credit so i don't have to or decline cash.. Just let me pay that 's all I want to do.
ChazSch
macrumors 6502
can you be more specific on WHICH retailer this was? and, as stated above, if its strictly a debt card, you will need a pin evidentially.. If its a debt/credit card...tap and go like the keynote
I know how to use contactless and have for years.
Specifically, terminals have 250ms to complete interaction with the card for PayPass Mag Stripe and 500ms to complete interaction with the card for PayPass M/CHIP. I always give it at least a second.
Card interaction time has NOTHING to do with the failures I'm seeing. At Albertson's I get all four green contactless indicators (communication with card complete) but no confirmation tone or transaction. No amount of time changes this, though multiple taps sometimes does (several attempts).
At McDonald's (where MasterCard doesn't work) there are no visual indicators, though the ATC is incremented, so the terminal is communicating with the card - just getting nowhere.
At Staple's, Rosauer's, Missoula Fresh Market, and Walgreen's (where Amex doesn't work), interaction with the card completes and the transaction is declined. At Missoula Fresh Market the error is "DECLINE JH - NO CUSTOMER RECEIPT DATA FOUND". Amex sees these declines when you call and claims the reason is trying to use a card that is no longer valid, totally untrue of course. They've replaced the card with no luck.
The reality is that contactless acceptance in the US is very hit-or-miss due to software problems. I expect most of this to clear up when EMV is enabled, due to the certification process involved with EMV.
jlseattle
Cancelled
Apple Pay
I used it and it was awkward to me. The stores machine I used it with at first didn't react (take my apple pay information) from my phone and then eventually it acted like I swiped my card but there wasn't any communication on the terminal that it took it and I could enter my pin. It was rather confusing and didn't leave me with a sense of security about my information being passed along effectively. So it ended up being such a hassle to make sure the two machines were communicating that I just ended up going back to swiping my card. I think to get me engaged with Apple pay they are going to have to change the way registers interact with your phone. I would rather the machine push out information to my phone and then I verified through my phone back to the machine. It is more logical and works. So I would verify the amount on my phone and send that encrypted information back to the machine. It would be great if it pushed details of the sale I could verify. And I wouldn't have to touch the germ infested pin pads to enter my pin #.
I used it and it was awkward to me. The stores machine I used it with at first didn't react (take my apple pay information) from my phone and then eventually it acted like I swiped my card but there wasn't any communication on the terminal that it took it and I could enter my pin. It was rather confusing and didn't leave me with a sense of security about my information being passed along effectively. So it ended up being such a hassle to make sure the two machines were communicating that I just ended up going back to swiping my card. I think to get me engaged with Apple pay they are going to have to change the way registers interact with your phone. I would rather the machine push out information to my phone and then I verified through my phone back to the machine. It is more logical and works. So I would verify the amount on my phone and send that encrypted information back to the machine. It would be great if it pushed details of the sale I could verify. And I wouldn't have to touch the germ infested pin pads to enter my pin #.
Mattsasa
macrumors 68020
SO many times I will be somewhere where I know they accept Apple Pay.
And I hold out my phone and they say "sorry we don't support that here"
and then I ignore them, and put my finger on my reader, and it says "done."
then they look at their computer, and say "oh never mind, it worked, I have no idea how"
And I hold out my phone and they say "sorry we don't support that here"
and then I ignore them, and put my finger on my reader, and it says "done."
then they look at their computer, and say "oh never mind, it worked, I have no idea how"
AFEPPL
macrumors 68030
I'm with you. i have no intention of ever using apple pay.
Chip and pin works well as does the contactless payment on the normal bank card.
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You can't really compare time to swiping the card. Online magstripe is FAST. Compare to dipping the card, since that's what it's intended to replace ultimately.
WordsmithMR
macrumors 6502
I have also had a major problem with terminals not recognizing ApplePay. The same terminals that are advertising all over the stores entrance at and the register that they do in fact accept it. Not sure why they is an issue :/
Normal bank cards in the US do not have contactless (and they're chip and signature, not chip and PIN 🙁 )
I have had a few errors while trying to use Apple Pay, mostly at Subway where I have perhaps a 50/50 success rate. I could be COMPLETELY wrong about this, but it seems like Subway restaurants don’t have/use their own card readers on the register, so they use the Pin Pad card reader that is normally over on the customer's side. This means the pin pad is always over on their side of the counter, discouraging people from using NFC payment solutions. This subsequently means their employees are not very familiar with the concept, which seems accurate: every time I have asked to use Apple Pay I had to instruct the Subway employee to hit the Credit key so I could use it.
Then, there are some Subway stores that don’t seem to have NFC at all, it is disabled, or they have absolutely no idea how to use it. I was told a few times that they don’t accept Apple Pay.
In most other places I haven’t had an issue, when the terminal supports it. Therein lies the crux of the problem: Even when a store supports NFC, it doesn’t mean all the registers have it. Panera Bread is infamous for this — in my local stores, only half the registers support it and they tend to be the registers that are never staffed. I would say I am able to make an NFC payment at Panera only 15% of the time, despite trying Every. Single. Time. Heck, I go there just to use Apple Pay!
Then, there are some Subway stores that don’t seem to have NFC at all, it is disabled, or they have absolutely no idea how to use it. I was told a few times that they don’t accept Apple Pay.
In most other places I haven’t had an issue, when the terminal supports it. Therein lies the crux of the problem: Even when a store supports NFC, it doesn’t mean all the registers have it. Panera Bread is infamous for this — in my local stores, only half the registers support it and they tend to be the registers that are never staffed. I would say I am able to make an NFC payment at Panera only 15% of the time, despite trying Every. Single. Time. Heck, I go there just to use Apple Pay!
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ecschwarz
macrumors 65816
I've had to play Apple Pay ambassador and answer questions about it ("Is it an app?!") a few times, but I use it all the time at places where I can. Meijer had some older terminals that sometimes failed, but those were recently replaced at all locations near me (maybe because of the failure rates?). I think the biggest issue in my experience has been faulty/non-working NFC terminals (McDonald's and Subway especially) or staff that doesn't quite know what to do or just assume that they can't take NFC payments.
Nonetheless, I always try to be polite because I can't blame them for the obvious lack of training, even when restaurants and retailers have "we take Apple Pay/Google Wallet/Softcard" signage.
Nonetheless, I always try to be polite because I can't blame them for the obvious lack of training, even when restaurants and retailers have "we take Apple Pay/Google Wallet/Softcard" signage.
michelepri
macrumors 6502a
I'm sorry but it's not really clear to me what countries would be more prepared than the US. Certainly not Germany, where simple card payments are still problematic and cash withdrawal has costs beyond reasonable for most western countries. The US might not be perfect but they are ahead most of the times,
pay transaction.The thing about this is that when it works, it's so very slick. When it doesn't work? It's sort of embarrassing to use, especially when you have people standing in line waiting for you and you're sitting there waiting for Touch ID to work.
Also, one of the problems is that store staff just aren't educated about it. You essentially need to treat this like a credit card transaction. If cashiers don't hit the credit card button on their terminal, it's not going to activate. A lot of people don't seem to know that.
Also, one of the problems is that store staff just aren't educated about it. You essentially need to treat this like a credit card transaction. If cashiers don't hit the credit card button on their terminal, it's not going to activate. A lot of people don't seem to know that.
swordfish5736
macrumors 68000
Apple Pay
The first time I used ApplePay was at Whole Foods, this was a couple of months after ApplePay was in service. I mentioned to the Cashier, I finally get to try ApplePay. She said, you have to open "The App" on your phone, ect. I knew that was counter-productive, then I saw the ApplePay alert on my locked screen, placed my finger on the print-reader, felt the buzz, done and done. She just kinda looked at me like WTF just happened, her register went thought it's thing, asked if I wanted a receipt and I was done. All within a few seconds.
Got an oil change the other day. When it was time to pay, I actually had to hand my card over to the Counter Clerk, where they manually entered the CC info into their computer. This is a big, high volume auto tire and repair business, they don't even have a mag-strip slider, I really felt vulnerable. I haven't had to present my card over to a clerk like that in a long time. So, yeah...I hope more and more businesses start to adapt ApplePay. But like a lot of other post have mentioned, it's the cashiers/clerks, ect who need to be educated at locations where ApplePay is accepted.
The first time I used ApplePay was at Whole Foods, this was a couple of months after ApplePay was in service. I mentioned to the Cashier, I finally get to try ApplePay. She said, you have to open "The App" on your phone, ect. I knew that was counter-productive, then I saw the ApplePay alert on my locked screen, placed my finger on the print-reader, felt the buzz, done and done. She just kinda looked at me like WTF just happened, her register went thought it's thing, asked if I wanted a receipt and I was done. All within a few seconds.
Got an oil change the other day. When it was time to pay, I actually had to hand my card over to the Counter Clerk, where they manually entered the CC info into their computer. This is a big, high volume auto tire and repair business, they don't even have a mag-strip slider, I really felt vulnerable. I haven't had to present my card over to a clerk like that in a long time. So, yeah...I hope more and more businesses start to adapt ApplePay. But like a lot of other post have mentioned, it's the cashiers/clerks, ect who need to be educated at locations where ApplePay is accepted.
One HUGE bonehead thing I did the first time trying Apple Pay was that I kept putting my thumb on the thumb that is displayed on the screen rather then the reader...lol. All of the employees working at Nugget grocery store were watching me an unable to help. They thought I was doing it right so I eventually chose to just do the pin manually. It was a headache and I later felt really stupid about it when I realized why it didn't work. That said, there could be others doing the same in that survey.
I think it's insane they didn't add an option to the survey for people who tried Apple Pay but we're turned off due to the pin and signature requirements at so many places. I've honestly not been to one place not requiring it. I use my Chase check card. Everything else is really smooth... It's like a dream. Until you look like a tech nerd wasting their time because you have to enter a pin or signature anyways. I hope they convince retailers to stop requiring this. Until then, I might have to just use my card.
I think it's insane they didn't add an option to the survey for people who tried Apple Pay but we're turned off due to the pin and signature requirements at so many places. I've honestly not been to one place not requiring it. I use my Chase check card. Everything else is really smooth... It's like a dream. Until you look like a tech nerd wasting their time because you have to enter a pin or signature anyways. I hope they convince retailers to stop requiring this. Until then, I might have to just use my card.
Love Apple Pay, most payment terminals do not work, even the ones that clearly have contactless payment capabilities. I assume this will change over time. When it does work, they always want a signature, which should not be required, thats what the fingerprint is for. I always just draw a dot and enter.
more terminals and do not require a signature
more terminals and do not require a signature
iReality85
macrumors 65816
It sounds like the mess lies on the retailers' end, not Apples. But with time comes experience.
Businesses should look to Starbucks as a good case study, though. I know in-house account/rewards cards aren't the same thing as credit cards, especially on the back end, but really the customer/register interaction is quite similar aside from the verification step. A lot (and I think that's an understatement) of Starbucks' customers have been paying via their iPhones/smartphones for a couple of years now, way before Apple Pay was out. It always goes seamlessly at the register every time. I don't know if the average Starbucks goer is more tech savvy, or if the baristas are more knowledgeable about transactions, or if it's a time passed sort of thing. It's been like second nature and a smooth experience for awhile now.
Businesses should look to Starbucks as a good case study, though. I know in-house account/rewards cards aren't the same thing as credit cards, especially on the back end, but really the customer/register interaction is quite similar aside from the verification step. A lot (and I think that's an understatement) of Starbucks' customers have been paying via their iPhones/smartphones for a couple of years now, way before Apple Pay was out. It always goes seamlessly at the register every time. I don't know if the average Starbucks goer is more tech savvy, or if the baristas are more knowledgeable about transactions, or if it's a time passed sort of thing. It's been like second nature and a smooth experience for awhile now.