I used Apple Pay on AW for the first time

[deeddawg]

Forgive the obvious question, but why did you need to sign? I’m in the UK and I’m genuinely confused....

Short answer: some of the US merchant payment processors are still in the 20th century.

While we've gone to chip cards mostly, it's all chip+sign not chip+PIN. Idiotic, right? Not sure of why, perhaps the card companies figured people couldn't handle pins even though they do for their debit cards (which I NEVER use).

Some places will still print out a slip and require signature even for ApplePay transactions. Other places don't. It's semi-random and even the transaction amount doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

[tgara]

Using the AW for Apple Pay is awesome!!

And why on earth some require you to sign is beyond me. I always slash a single line across when they ask me to sign. These credit card companies need to get with the times and quit this signing crap...it doesn’t mean a thing!

I'm on a quest to use Apple Pay through my Watch with all shopping transactions on a single day.

Whole Foods -- check!
Local liquor store -- check!
Local coffee roaster -- check!
Ace Hardware Store -- Check!
Petco & PetSmart -- Check!
Staples -- Check!

I can even get cash from a BofA ATM using Apple Pay if the machine has an active NFC reader.

One place that is conspicuously absent is CVS. They have their own stupid system CVS Pay. Feh.

As for signing, I sometimes have to do it if I use a Credit Card associated with my Apple Pay. Depends usually on the purchase amount. Under $25 usually doesn't require a signature.

Paying with a Debit Card associated with Apple Pay, I usually have to key in my PIN onto the NFC reader.

 

[convergent]

I was at a Chevron gas station picking up some beer and tried using Apple Pay on my Apple Watch 3 LTE as I didn't bring my phone with me for Samsung Pay, which I usually use at that store. (I usually carry Samsung phone and leave my iPhone at home. However, I didn't bring any phone with me when I left the house for some errands.)
I double clicked on the power button and put it against the NFC sensor and almost instantaneously the watch vibrated to signal the completion of payment process. The casher handed me the receipt to sign, I signed it and I was out the store with my beer.
Of all places, the Chevron station closest to my home has NFC card reader. How convenient. I love it.

It is slick. Of course if you brought your Samsung Pay device it would work in most cases even if the terminal did NOT have NFC installed. After having an AW S0 for 2 years, I didn't use it much for payments because more often than not it didn't work. I've used the Gear S3 more in a couple of weeks because it works just about everywhere.

 

[xraydoc]

I use it all the time. Even the cafeterias, vending machines and coffee stands at my workplace take it.

What kind of annoys me, however (and I know it’s because the transaction is secure and doesn’t leave your name all over the store’s records) is when I use it at the Apple Store. I usually request an email-only receipt, and when I use Apple Pay, I have to spell out my email address for them. If I use a physical card, they know it’s me and already know my email address.

 

[deeddawg]

One place that is conspicuously absent is CVS. They have their own stupid system CVS Pay. Feh.

Switch to Walgreens. They're solid on Apple Pay. Also their Walgreens loyalty card has a Wallet card so you can scan it via Apple Waych NFC as well.

 

[co1f]

I use it all the time. Even the cafeterias, vending machines and coffee stands at my workplace take it.

What kind of annoys me, however (and I know it’s because the transaction is secure and doesn’t leave your name all over the store’s records) is when I use it at the Apple Store. I usually request an email-only receipt, and when I use Apple Pay, I have to spell out my email address for them. If I use a physical card, they know it’s me and already know my email address.

Yeah, that annoys me too that I have to give them my email, when should already know who I am. It would be nice if they ask: “Can I email your receipt to your AppleID?” ... now would that be so difficult?!?

 

[bbeagle]

After having an AW S0 for 2 years, I didn't use it much for payments because more often than not it didn't work. I've used the Gear S3 more in a couple of weeks because it works just about everywhere.

You can only make 5 payments, then you need to sync up with your phone. That makes it a non-starter for me right there.

I've read that most people have difficulty with the MST part of the Samsung Pay using watches. It just doesn't work most of the time. Works well with the phones, but not the watches.

 

[Ntombi]

I'm on a quest to use Apple Pay through my Watch with all shopping transactions on a single day.

Whole Foods -- check!
Local liquor store -- check!
Local coffee roaster -- check!
Ace Hardware Store -- Check!
Petco & PetSmart -- Check!
Staples -- Check!

I can even get cash from a BofA ATM using Apple Pay if the machine has an active NFC reader.

One place that is conspicuously absent is CVS. They have their own stupid system CVS Pay. Feh.

Switch to Walgreens!

They not only have Apple Pay, I really like their app, especially for prescriptions.

Also, they treat and pay their employees better. Because of this, their employees (including pharmacists and pharmacy techs) tend to stay longer, which leads to better service, IME.

(I don’t work for Walgreens, but I did for a while in college, and I’ve kept up with their corporate culture since.)

 

[deeddawg]

My only thing with Walgreens is the inherent hypocrisy of a pharmacy selling tobacco products; while I dislike other aspects of CVS, I respect them for taking a stand on that one.

 

[Ntombi]

My only thing with Walgreens is the inherent hypocrisy of a pharmacy selling tobacco products; while I dislike other aspects of CVS, I respect them for taking a stand on that one.

Agreed.

 

[Ledgem]

I like using the Apple Watch for payments, but often need to use the phone. The places I shop at don't have their receiver positioned very well for getting the Watch next to it, so sometimes I'll try for a few seconds and then give up; the Watch practically needs to make contact with the payment receiver, whereas the iPhone seemingly can be an inch or two away. Distance aside, it's easier to angle the iPhone, whereas twisting your arm around with the Watch can be a challenge...

No fault of Apple's, it's completely on the store, but some experiences I've had...

 

[newellj]

I think it may depend on a number of conditions, credit card issuer, amount of the transaction and the policies of the business.

Yes, in a couple of places I have to sign. It's not how it's supposed to work but it's not a big deal. Anything that gets physical cards out of my wallet and promotes electronic payment like Apple Pay is OK with me.

 

[tgara]

Switch to Walgreens. They're solid on Apple Pay. Also their Walgreens loyalty card has a Wallet card so you can scan it via Apple Waych NFC as well.

I would, but it’s not that easy. All our prescriptions are at CVS and their stores are much more convenient to get to than the nearest Walgreens. I think cvs will ultimately succumb to Apple Pay in time.

 

[deeddawg]

I would, but it’s not that easy. All our prescriptions are at CVS and their stores are much more convenient to get to than the nearest Walgreens. I think cvs will ultimately succumb to Apple Pay in time.

Sorry to hear that. Around here Walgreens and CVS are roughly equivalent in accessibility, but I realize that isn't the case everywhere.

 

[Ntombi]

If you ever decide to switch over, Walgreens can handle the paperwork of moving all your scripts.

I just moved my mom's and stepmom’s scripts over from CVS to Walgreens a few years back, and it was painless.

That doesn’t address the accessibility issue, of course.

 

[throAU]

I am hoping all major retailers will upgrade their card readers with NFC reader soon. I have been using Samsung Pay for the last two years and it's been really convenient but if I can use AW for all offline transactions, the iPhone will become my primary phone again.

It’s about time.

We’ve had NFC payments literally everywhere here in Australia for about 10 years now...

 

[numbersyx]

In Canada we've had contactless payments here for years and they all accept Apple Pay. Only problem is when the watch uses American Express as the card - more often than not it gets rejected. Have to switch to another card to make it work.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

Feel so sorry for you guys in the U.S., sounds a right mess over there! Not talking about Trump either... lol

 

[convergent]

Feel so sorry for you guys in the U.S., sounds a right mess over there! Not talking about Trump either... lol

This is where Samsung's unique approach actually works well in the US. They have NFC for the newer terminals that have it, and also MST which works on nearly every terminal that has a card swipe capability. Unfortunately its Samsung patented tech they acquired, so no others can use it.