CVS and Rite Aid Officially Disable Apple Pay Support At Stores Nationwide

[iMcCoy]

I'm going to Duane Reade (Walgreens)

Why any business would want to alienate their customers is beyond me. I have a CVS, Rite Aid and Duane Reade all a half block from where I live. By default I've been shopping at CVS but I'll be at Duane Reade from now on. They all have the same stuff at similar prices, so no big deal to me.

 

[lipnorth]

After all the breaches, you trust companies with your info?

After getting new credit cards issued about 2x a year due to data breaches, you want to trust these companies with more of your info with their proprietary systems and access to your bank account. No thanks. These companies are far from proving they are secure.

Apple Pay was a simple, secure solution, leaving my bank account alone and keeping my credit card out of the transaction.

I use my credit card as protection from fraud. I'll go back to cash before I use these non-secure solutions.

And I will reward Apple Pay providers with my business and actively avoid companies putting up artificial barriers to progress.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

True, but accessibility to something bad doesn't really help MCX in the long run.

Yes, but consumers have glommed on to plenty of hard to use things in the past because it was readily accessible. I give you Windows 95. At any rate, go back to my original post -- it wasn't to accessibility, only availability. It's up to MCX to build on that aspect that gives them a head start. That's how the whole competition thing works. Each has good features, bad features. The consumer has to weigh those and pick one... or none.

Personally, I agree, MCX, as now conceived is too limiting, too complex. But, again, not the point of my original post; only that we have two competing systems, etc.

 

[JAT]

Lots of people are missing the point that CVS likely was forced to make this decision to comply with the terms and conditions of the 3-year agreement required by MCX.

Supposedly it specifically prohibited a competing mobile application. Now they allowed NFC Google wallet transactions likely because the use was miniscule and it wasn't considered a threat.

But MCX's main goal is to circumvent the credit card process and associated fees. The threat became real when Apple launched a potentially far superior mobile app with a large loyal customer base and backing from all the major credit cards and banks. Additionally it allowed for much more secure transaction (which retailers want) and anonymity (which retailers don't want.)

This sounds like MCX is trying to circle the wagons and make sure they don't support a competing product. Unfortunately for CVS and Rite Aid, they still had technology that supported NFC...so they are taking the backlash on the issue.

I agree, but would say they've misunderstood. I'll bet neither Apple's nor Google's wallet breaks their agreements, and they are being foolish.

 

[skellener]

CurrentC is still a long way off. It will also fail. Eventually these clowns will fall in line. To be honest I rarely ever go into a Rite Aid, and when I do it's not to spend much, usually less than $20. More than happy to just use a plain old credit card at Best Buy if I need to. Never been to a Walmart and never go in the Gap or CVS.

 

[SusanK]

If people wouldn't have realised that ApplePay "accidentally" works as well, they may not have disabled NFC altogether ..

Or asking foolish questions about Apple Pay and expecting store staff to teach them to use their device. Not all but there were quite a few posts on MR complaining that the retailer failed to teach employees how to use Apple's product.

People leave the I'm special because I have an Apple product mentality at home. It annoys others.

 

[logicstudiouser]

This is just shooting yourself in the foot. If these pharmacy chains were in Europe, they probably could have gotten away with this because the iPhone is not nearly as popular as it is in the United States. My guess, they will give up when there is customer backlash.

 

[MeFromHere]

It was 410 reviews when I left my review last night. MXC will be a memory soon

Yikes! When I looked at it yesterday, it only had 3 reviews on the current version. 1,166 now.

Apple doesn't need to remove the app from the store, even if they wanted to. The user community is storming the MCX castle with pitchforks and torches!

Repairing this 1-star rating is going to be difficult for them.

 

[840quadra]

This is just shooting yourself in the foot. If these pharmacy chains were in Europe, they probably could have gotten away with this because the iPhone is not nearly as popular as it is in the United States. My guess, they will give up when there is customer backlash.

Google Wallet was also blacklisted, so it wasn't just Apple Pay that was turned off. Curious what these merchants will do when EMV, and other systems based on EMV are turned on later next year.

 

[CausticPuppy]

All that will do is annoy the 19 year old making $10/hour working the register. Douchey move.

Once enough annoyed 19-year-olds complain to their management, and enough of those complaints get back to corporate, then maybe it'll work.

 

[JAT]

You're acting very foolish & don't have the most basic understanding of what has happened.
Up to them disabling nfc I actually didn't even ****need*** my iphone at all at their stores for an easy transaction... I take out my nfc chipped card, tap it, enter pin, done.
No swiping. Awesome.
They took that away.
I'm not sure what you ***think*** (& I use the term loosely) happened, lol... Only iphone payments blocked??!! No. All nfc. It's lame. Lol, there are cvs apologist fanboys now??!!

No, just the usual, those who hate people that prefer Apple products.

 

[mabhatter]

I don't see why not. There is no legal requirement to use NFC.

I think the point is that the service WAS ALREADY WORKING because NFC was configured for another promotion. These companies are SPENDING MONEY to DISABLE a feature that already piggybacks on a WORKING SERVICE they have in place.

I could understand issues with unexpected training of staff, or technical issues of not getting their money, that can cost money and time they don't want to pay... But this is just an Executive "we don't wanna play" fit, like a spoiled kid on a playground.

 

[j-a-x]

Walgreens also supports Passbook so you don't have to carry around a stupid plastic barcode card. There are lots of reasons for Apple users to switch to Walgreens. The Walgreens in my hood is a few blocks farther from my house but no biggie - I need the exercise.

 

[robbyx]

Of course that officer from MasterCard wants people to pay however they want to, because it always means more profit for them! MasterCard are certainly not doing it out of love!

And the stores said they are evaluating their options which is exactly what they should do, considering the costs involved.

Then why did these retailers spend tons of money to upgrade credit card terminals to support NFC only to turn it off? And they don't pay any more when someone uses Apple Pay than they do when someone swipes a credit card. It's stupid. They've both lost my business. And I don't even have a device that supports Apple Pay.

 

[Praesto]

You do realize you'd have to have counted those pennies before going to the store to know you'd have enough to cover the transaction, right?

I would only have to count between 1 and 100 pennies.

All others would be picked up from the bank in rolls. Each roll would = 1 dollar. Nice and simple.

 

[giantfan1224]

It's almost like CVS and Rite Aid woke up and thought "Hey, how can we alienate as many customers as quickly as possible just for the hell of it?"

 

[Euge]

Good luck using this method. You of all people should be caution using any payment method that is untested. Ask yourself do you really trust this after what happen to you with Home Depot.

So the option to not using a more secure method of payment that hasn't been fully tested in the field, is to use the existing method of payment which has already been hacked and proven insecure?

 

[richardsonrs]

You're acting very foolish & don't have the most basic understanding of what has happened.
Up to them disabling nfc I actually didn't even ****need*** my iphone at all at their stores for an easy transaction... I take out my nfc chipped card, tap it, enter pin, done.
No swiping. Awesome.
They took that away.
I'm not sure what you ***think*** (& I use the term loosely) happened, lol... Only iphone payments blocked??!! No. All nfc. It's lame. Lol, there are cvs apologist fanboys now??!!

I believe all the NFC chicken littles are acting foolish. I am very aware of what has happened and sadly if you have already been using NFC at CVS them I am a truly sorry that you have to go through the trouble of carrying a different card with you. It sucks I know. However NFC is still not the most common way to pay and you were pretty much one of few who did it. I ask cashiers all the time if anyone pays with the terminals and most of them either say no or say what's NFC? You are the minority as of now even with Apple Pay active. I'm no apologist just a realist saying its business as usual get over it. You can still pay ANYWHERE.

 

[SusanK]

I'd had a similar idea to this, but it was more troll-y: fill up a shopping cart (or 2 baskets, if carts aren't available) to the brim, take them to the counter, and when they say they don't take Apple Pay, tell them that's all you have and walk out without making a purchase. Have fun re-stocking the shelves!

Lost employee time and lost sales will make their way up the chain faster than hitting them with a big pile of coins.

This may be perceived as a nuisance entering the store, selecting many items and not being able to complete the transaction.

They may gift wrap this nut and deliver it to Walgreens.

Acting stupid reflects negatively on the entire Apple community. Please don't behave that way.

 

[KPandian1]

CurrentC - a store card?

Sounds like CurrentC that is basically a store card, with no consumer guarantees like a Credit Card in case of fraud, wants to be bigger with the same terms. Big as in MC, Visa, etc., without the responsibilities!

They have direct access to your Bank account, full history of any purchase and your medical details!

My bank issued debit card is only used at the banks' ATMs. Period!

In the last year, my legitimate use of CC at retail stores (Walmart), especially booths, have been hacked and three different high volume purchases made with the information - this includes the Target fiasco and a Delta baggage booth/kiosk at JFK! I was held "not responsible" for all of them! The only hassles were the phone calls and new card numbers entry into the bill pay systems.

Wow, someone try stopping me from running to get one of these CurrentC or MCX accounts!

 

[Euge]

The 19 year old choose to work at that company, and therefore assumes their company culture. I see no reason why we should not do this.


I would pay in straight pennies pick my stuff up and walk away. If all the money is there I am not obliged to stay.

What you would be doing is childish. Speaking from experience in retail, retaliation like this does nothing. Corporate doesn't like to hear customer complaints from employees. They like to hear it directly from their customers.

I know it would feel better for you to be able to vent frustration directly to them but trust me, it's not as effective as you would imagine.

If you want to be heard reach out directly to corporate:
http://www.cvs.com/help/email-customer-relations.jsp?callType=store&topicid=200018&_requestid=177211
https://www.riteaid.com/customer-su...1&utm_campaign=Affiliate&utm_content=2-170603
If enough people do this then THAT would be much more effective.

 

[mozumder]

Of course it's a douchey move. It's an appropriately douchey response to a douchey manoeuvre by the company.

And they'll complain to their boss, and they'll complain to their boss, and so forth. This is how things get fixed - from the grassroots level. Enough people do it and there'll be an obvious monetary penalty to the company. Until they're negatively impacted, they won't give a crap about the customer.

Or you could be an adult and not care?

 

[Gutwrench]

Not accepting money seems like a poor business decision.
It will be interesting to see how this works out for them.

Didn't they recently stop selling cigarettes? Not that I think there's anything wrong with that, but it shows CVS is willing make policy changes that negatively affects their revenue.

I already sent them my complaint via their website. They are free to set their corporate policy and I'm free to shop where I wish.

 

[riverfreak]

Very true. But what method of payment *is* 100% safe? Even if you pay in cash you may be mugged for it or pickpockets in the street.

Yes, and the implementation of credit cards -- even with chip -- is oh so secure.

The promise of Apple Pay coupled with an iPhone is that there is also a biometric component to the payment. To the best of my knowledge, no other system offers that. It isn't just NFC.

 

[KPandian1]

Reneging!

Acting stupid reflects negatively on the entire Apple community. Please don't behave that way.

Yeah, don't do that! The worst paid employees (minimum wage or less) of the entire corporation will bear the brunt of the ire, and Apple or any other NFC users look like moronic slugs!

You can't do that after eating at a restaurant either!