CVS Stores Reportedly Disabling NFC to Shut Down Apple Pay and Google Wallet

[Moto G]

Here's what payment is for: BUYING GOODS.

We all know you're excited about showing off your big, shiny iPhone 6(+) in public, showing how "hip and edgy" you are to "be seen" using this "cool" new (variant of) technology (because to be honest, that is ALL THIS IS ABOUT)... but PER-LEASE - get over yourselves. Once the novelty of holding your iPhone next to a PDQ has worn off, and once it becomes just another everyday transaction payment method, you'll just be A.N. Other in the crowd, with your boring metallic phones, blending into the hubbub of everyday life.

Wake up to what REALLY matters - you get the goods you're paying for, not HOW you do so.

#vanityfest

 

[VARTV]

I used Apple Pay at The Home Depot yesterday. We have a Lowes nearby...

 

[Supermallet]

Here's the thing.

Stores can opt to not support Apple Pay.
You don't have to support those stores.
But then complaining about some other format of payment they will take is ridiculous. No one is forcing you to use THAT form of payment either.

No one is saying these companies can't use MCX/CurrentC. What they're saying is don't take away legitimate forms of payment that you ALREADY SUPPORT in order to push customers toward this particular form of payment that may not be in the best interest of the customer using it.

While this annoys me because it's such a blatant anti-consumer move, what really gets my goat is that I'm sure there are people who have been using Google Wallet or Wave Pass or any other pre-existing form of contactless payment at these stores for years, and now they're also being blocked because CVS and Rite Aid want to push a system that isn't even open to the public yet. So the next most convenient option is swiping their card, which is totally unsecure. These companies are putting our sensitive data at risk by choosing to shut off these payments even though they already accepted them in the past.

I get it if a company never accepted NFC, and now isn't upgrading their terminals simply to support NFC. To upgrade their terminals costs money, time, and possibly training of their employees (which equates to more money and time spent). But these stores already have NFC terminals. They already work. No extra money is being spent. And I as a consumer had the option to use these more secure methods at these stores. Now, because the stores want me to use this other service that I am not inclined to use, I'm stuck using an unsecure method of payment (or cash, which I never carry) just for the privilege of shopping at their stores. No thanks. Walgreens gets my money from now on. And it has nothing to do with me wanting to use my shiny new phone to pay. It has everything to do with security and consumer choice.

 

[paulsdenton]

What a bummer! We get all our family's prescriptions at Rite-Aid.

All the pharmacy stores are located near each other, so ultimately we will have a choice.

In our family, everyone from great-grandfather to great grandchildren have iPhones!

 

[Ludatyk]

This is stupid, ineffective, and just being an ass. How about not shopping there and actually calling corporate to tell them why you are not shopping there? That will be far more effective if people did that. Hell, spreading internet memes and making it very well known on the net will have more effect.



Do you really think corporate cares about a cashier complaining about sucky customers (suck it up, it's your job!)? They care more when customers actually put in effort to call them and tell them they are unhappy (after all most customers won't put the time in so every customer who does means there are others who also agree with him).



On top of that, you just make everyone who agrees with you look bad because then people stop sympathizing with you when you look like an ass. Who wants to associate themselves with some crazy guy who is willing to go out of his way to make some poor wage slave's job harder (a wage slave who had nothing to do with the policy).

To call the method ineffective I think you would be wrong. If more users decided to do it.. The retail stores will actually pay more attention to it. Do I actually plan to do it.. No, I just thought it would be a funny idea.

Calling into stores to have your voices heard is one thing.. But actually putting those voices to action is another. As far as I know cashiers aren't getting paid by every time they scan a customer product, they get paid hourly. The stores will understand the level of importance when a potential customer leaves...

 

[Moto G]

pay them in pennies. go to the bank, get some rolls of pennies and empty them out. take them to anyone who is shutting off apple pay and pay them in pennies

way better than an unofficial boycott that won't work

Hey what a GREAT idea. That'll really get you seen as a considerate, well balanced person who they should pick out from the crowd and listen to. Once they've taken on board that you're not like the rest of the world with it's gripes and superficial complaints, you'll be well on the way to a massive change, revolutionising the way businesses look at technology...

Or maybe they'll just bar you from all their stores for being a muppet - then you'll have NO payment options to exercise. Doh.

 

[12vElectronics]

Here's what payment is for: BUYING GOODS.

We all know you're excited about showing off your big, shiny iPhone 6(+) in public, showing how "hip and edgy" you are to "be seen" using this "cool" new (variant of) technology (because to be honest, that is ALL THIS IS ABOUT)... but PER-LEASE - get over yourselves. Once the novelty of holding your iPhone next to a PDQ has worn off, and once it becomes just another everyday transaction payment method, you'll just be A.N. Other in the crowd, with your boring metallic phones, blending into the hubbub of everyday life.

Wake up to what REALLY matters - you get the goods you're paying for, not HOW you do so.

#vanityfest

Best post of the day. Sig worthy actually.

 

[kdarling]

So this is a competition thing now. Completely excluding a form of payment because they want to use their own system.

Yep, that's what happened for years to Google Wallet, too, because of carriers wanting to push their own system.

Likewise, what are the odds of Apple allowing Google Wallet to use the NFC on an iPhone 6? Right. Zero, because Apple wants to push their own app so that they make money from it.

Greed has taken over common sense and respect for customer choice.

In an ideal world, we should be able to set ANY wallet as our default. The decision should be ours, not the merchant nor the manufacturer of our phone.

 

[babbit]

True. And the reason why it's so popular is primarily the Starbucks rewards program. This is the strength of the MCX system as well. It will integrate with loyalty programs. If the app is implemented well, I could see it becoming popular. However, personally I would prefer Apple Pay (and similar systems) to succeed because of the better privacy protections and security. I'm not a fan of signing up to dozens of loyalty programs.

The main problem with MCX is security. In some ways it is less secure than traditional cards if the store doesn't not have NFC. Because MCX is NFC optional, many stores will opt not to upgrade to NFC POS. At those stores, QR codes are generated and scanned from your phone as payment. QR codes basically have 0 security measures on its own. The way it is generated in MCX gives many opportunities to steal a temporary code especially if a Trojan or virus is uploaded to your phone.

Now if a store is upgraded to take NFC payments from MCX, then the whole hardware and software infrastructure is there to take apple pay and google wallet. It makes no sense to explode one or the other.

 

[Menel]

No one is saying these companies can't use MCX/CurrentC. What they're saying is don't take away legitimate forms of payment that you ALREADY SUPPORT in order to push customers toward this particular form of payment that may not be in the best interest of the customer using it.



While this annoys me because it's such a blatant anti-consumer move, what really gets my goat is that I'm sure there are people who have been using Google Wallet or Wave Pass or any other pre-existing form of contactless payment at these stores for years, and now they're also being blocked because CVS and Rite Aid want to push a system that isn't even open to the public yet. So the next most convenient option is swiping their card, which is totally unsecure. These companies are putting our sensitive data at risk by choosing to shut off these payments even though they already accepted them in the past.



I get it if a company never accepted NFC, and now isn't upgrading their terminals simply to support NFC. To upgrade their terminals costs money, time, and possibly training of their employees (which equates to more money and time spent). But these stores already have NFC terminals. They already work. No extra money is being spent. And I as a consumer had the option to use these more secure methods at these stores. Now, because the stores want me to use this other service that I am not inclined to use, I'm stuck using an unsecure method of payment (or cash, which I never carry) just for the privilege of shopping at their stores. No thanks. Walgreens gets my money from now on. And it has nothing to do with me wanting to use my shiny new phone to pay. It has everything to do with security and consumer choice.

spot on!

 

[ProfessorHenry]

pay them in pennies. go to the bank, get some rolls of pennies and empty them out. take them to anyone who is shutting off apple pay and pay them in pennies

way better than an unofficial boycott that won't work

Or just swipe your credit card and move on with your life.

 

[Aloft085]

Apple Pay is a way for us in America to start to catch up with the rest of the world, and yet American corporations are finding ways to kill it as best they can.

Despicable and embarrassing anti-consumer behavior.

I for one will be boycotting any corporation that chooses to deliberately stand in the way of progress.

Forget catching up. Apple pay is a leapfrog of pin and chip. In comparison, pin and chip is just as antiquated as our magnetic strip credit cards. I agree with your sentiments, however.

 

[ElectronGuru]

CVS Stores Reportedly Disabling NFC to Shut Down Apple Pay and Google Wallet

The only one on that list I use regularly is Shell. Occasional purchase at Kohls or Target.

Same here. The funny part is that oregon is 100% full serve, so you only get out of the car if you need to wash your windows. With Apple pay you'd have to get out of the car to use your phone, so I would probably use a credit card regardless, which can be handed off to the attendant.

 

[bluestarCVO]

Just because the beta version of CurrentC is in the App Store right now does not mean that it will continue to be. Apple has in the past blocked apps that performed a similar function as one of their own. I would love to see Apple and Google team up together on this and both block CurrentC from their respect app stores. The service would then have no hope of ever even getting started. It's really kind of ironic. The two major services that the merchants are blocking (Apple Pay and Google Wallet) are owned by the two companies that CurrentC is dependent upon to be installed on their smartphone platforms. What goes around comes around!

 

[iJandro]

Dear CVS,
I'll have your Bankruptcy papers at the ready...

 

[doelcm82]

pay them in pennies. go to the bank, get some rolls of pennies and empty them out. take them to anyone who is shutting off apple pay and pay them in pennies

way better than an unofficial boycott that won't work

Too much work for me.

I understand the boycotts and elaborate stunts when the issue is something like Human Rights. For something like this, just decide what is best for you, and do that. For me, shopping at Walgreens instead of CVS is an easy choice. Shopping at Walgreens instead of Rite Aid is even easier, because there isn't a Rite Aid near me.

 

[skywiseca]

The best way to deal with this is to show them they are losing business because of this.
Go into the store, grab your cold meds and when they say they don't take ApplePay/Google Wallet/Touchpay, let them know you're disappointed in their taking a step back in security and you're taking your business elsewhere. (Walgreens if you want to drop names)

 

[Tubamajuba]

Many are saying they will not shop at CVS, which is their right. Are these same people going to stop shopping at Best Buy, Target, Kohls, Wal Mart, Lowes, Sears, etc? If not, then nothing has been achieved.

It's one thing to simply not install the technology. It's another thing altogether to have already deployed the technology nationwide, then disable it. In practice it all boils down to the same thing, but any company that will bend over backwards to prevent payment anonymity is one that raises a red flag to me.

Me personally? I won't go out of my way to avoid those stores, but I'll certainly choose a retailer that allows me to use Apple Pay over one that doesn't. For example, every CVS in my area is right by a Walgreens. I don't have to go out of my way to use Walgreens, so I'll absolutely choose them 100% of the time if it's up to me. But if I'm with a friend and they say "Hey, I need to stop by CVS", I really won't care. I'll go with them, and even buy things there if I need them.

Practicality and ideology have to meet somewhere. You shouldn't be so over-the-top ideological that you cut off your nose to spite your face, but you shouldn't be so bent on being practical that you close the door to better solutions.

Many people on both sides of this argument are destructively ideological.

 

[babbit]

Apple pay users are a fraction of a fraction of a percent of these companies consumers. If most retailers follow this example, apple pay won't have much use. What good is protecting my credit card number at 1/10 the places I shop? I'm very frustrated with credit card theft and the USA is really fighting the solution for some reason. Visa/mc hold the power and the risk. They can force acceptance to some degree I would imagine.

VISA and mastercard ARE both forcing retailers to adopt Apple pay. They are charging stores less processing fee per transaction when payments are through Apple pay. However, it looks like the fraction of percent fee savings isn't enough to sway these companies.

 

[Padmini]

Ridiculous.

 

[HiRez]

And how are customers going to pay using their soon-to-come mobile payment system? By opening up a CVS or CurrentC app? Wow sounds convenient. No thanks.

I am guessing they might have a little problem getting those apps approved by Apple when they try. "Rejected: duplicates existing functionality." Haha!

 

[d21mike]

All about security

This is about Security. It is about hacks that steal your personal information and your credit card numbers. Honestly I think swiping my credit may be just as quick then using my phone to pay. But I will start using this because I want to protect my credit card information.

Are all of you forgetting about the Target Hack and many others. If these stores do not have your credit card number they can not loose it.

For me it is definitely not about showing off my new phone.

 

[Menel]

Just because the beta version of CurrentC is in the App Store right now does not mean that it will continue to be. Apple has in the past blocked apps that performed a similar function as one of their own. I would love to see Apple and Google team up together on this and both block CurrentC from their respect app stores. The service would then have no hope of ever even getting started. It's really kind of ironic. The two major services that the merchants are blocking (Apple Pay and Google Wallet) are owned by the two companies that CurrentC is dependent upon to be installed on their smartphone platforms. What goes around comes around!

This would be a dirty move. And whoever did it first, google or apple, would get some PR mud on their face, and maybe antitrust lawsuit for abusing their vertical integration position.

But I'd personal support the move. I like.

 

[wxman2003]

The way consumers make purchases in the US will not change for years. We will all get chip and pin cards next year, and guess what, that will be the way the vast majority will pay for years to come. Most people will not use their phones to make purchases, even though in a few years, the majority of smartphones out there will support NFC. People will still use their cards. It's habit and most will see no advantage in changing, simply because they do not even know what NFC can do, nor will they care. So we will be in the extreme minority for years to come.

 

[Gregintosh]

Here's what payment is for: BUYING GOODS.

We all know you're excited about showing off your big, shiny iPhone 6(+) in public, showing how "hip and edgy" you are to "be seen" using this "cool" new (variant of) technology (because to be honest, that is ALL THIS IS ABOUT)... but PER-LEASE - get over yourselves. Once the novelty of holding your iPhone next to a PDQ has worn off, and once it becomes just another everyday transaction payment method, you'll just be A.N. Other in the crowd, with your boring metallic phones, blending into the hubbub of everyday life.

Wake up to what REALLY matters - you get the goods you're paying for, not HOW you do so.

#vanityfest

What you don't seem to get is that some people want to start leaving their house carrying just their phone.

I already have a Kevo lock, so I can get into my house without my keys. I would also like to be able to start leaving the wallet at home and paying with my phone.

So it's not about "showing off" or being mad we can't do something thats a novelty somewhere. It has an effect on our options for going out and what we need to bring with us when we do.

I like leaving the wallet behind and have wanted to be able to do that for a long time. That is one less thing to carry, and quite frankly more devastating if you lose it than losing a phone (since now the thief or finder has your home address and is able to use it to buy stuff, which means you have to go through cancellations and getting new cards, going to the DMV to get ID replaced, etc... none of which you have to go through when losing a phone.)

So if a place doesn't accept ApplePay I am just not going to shop there. And its a problem if everyone stops accepting it or starts to refuse it (when it previously worked) because then I won't be able to accomplish my goal of leaving the wallet at home.

I imagine Apple Pay launch partners won't stop taking it, so at least I can eat out at Subway or Panera (my favorite places before Apple Pay, so glad they're both on board!) and if I need to stop by somewhere I will certainly stop by Walgreens over CVS (where as previously I didn't have a preference).

What makes me mad is not even the retailers who don't take it, but the fact that a retailer who CAN take it and HAS BEEN TAKING IT stops because of some b.s. reason. Retailers should be looking out for their customers. What's even worse is not even that they won't take Apple Pay but that their own solution ISNT EVEN READY UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

If they already had their competing app, then fine, maybe I would download it on the off chance I end up in their store so I can keep using my Mobile phone for payments and leave the wallet at home. But now they don't even have any option to do that for maybe another year, when up until 24 hours ago they did.

My prediction: Their own system will fail with 12-24 months (especially if Apple blocks their app from the app store and excludes the tens of millions of iPhone users from it) and within the next 2.5 years or so everyone will be on Apple Pay. Maybe even quicker.