Latest Apple Pay Retailers Include LCBO and Former CurrentC Backers

[jayducharme]

The chip and signature may help at some level but nothing in that validates who you are since you can just scribble on the pad.

My banks sent me chip cards over the past two months. They're a joke. I can't understand how they're supposed to be more secure. If a transaction is under $25, it doesn't even ask for my PIN! Anyone could get my cards and run up dozens of small transactions without ever authenticating. Plus I hate how the terminals hold your card hostage until the transaction is over. I'm used to swiping through the card reader and immediately putting the card away.

Apple Pay transactions too always ask for my PIN or for me to sign for anything over $25 at most stores (though oddly, not all). I always find that strange because the cashier never even looks at my signature, and my fingerprint is a much better verification than my PIN.

 

[Reason077]

Government of Ontario = World's largest liquor retailer.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Ah, if only they had QT's around me so I could ApplePay me some Hole Bunches. Seriously addicting. OTOH probably a good thing they aren't in the area.
[doublepost=1468285263][/doublepost]

My Starbucks THINKS they take Apple Pay, but they don't... The new chip readers are there, but no NFC enabled. Big chain to make such a mistake.

Just an FYI. Starbucks hasn't completed it's ApplePay store rollout yet. Should be done by end of the year. Until then the only way to use ApplePay in any SB is via the mobile app.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

Ah, if only they had QT's around me so I could ApplePay me some Hole Bunches. Seriously addicting. OTOH probably a good thing they aren't in the area.
[doublepost=1468285263][/doublepost]

Just an FYI. Starbucks hasn't completed it's ApplePay store rollout yet. Should be done by end of the year. Until then the only way to use ApplePay in any SB is via the mobile app.

Probably no big deal for most frequent SB fans who just use their SB app to rack up points anyway.

 

[BruiserB]

I learned something new about Apple Pay I have to share.

If your card gets stolen or replaced. Your apple pay is automatically suspended. If you leave it alone and activate your replacement card, your apple pay will come back automatically. I did not know this. So I erased the old card. And got An email later on that said it would come back.

I think it depends on how an individual bank handles it. I had a Chase card number stolen. They immediately canceled the physical card when I called them and while I was still on the phone my ApplePay info updated with a new card number. I could keep using ApplePay while I waited for the new card to come. The last 4 digits of the new card matched the updated ApplePay card. Super convenient and I was never without access to my account.

 

[ipedro]

I've been shopping at the LCBO with ApplePay for a while now. Almost every major retailer in Canada already accepts ApplePay, even if not explicitly mentioning it. All the electronic transaction providers have been actively replacing retailers' terminals to the new ones with NFC and most large and small retailers have had those new terminals for over a year now. The only major holdout is Hudson's Bay which for some reason has these ancient massive cube shaped PIN pads that don't accept tap payments.

 

[Westside guy]

My Starbucks THINKS they take Apple Pay, but they don't... The new chip readers are there, but no NFC enabled. Big chain to make such a mistake.

My local Starbucks accepts Apple Pay, so I'm guessing this may be a problem specific to your local store.

Most of the time I pay via the Starbucks app; but a couple months ago there was a time when their online store was having issues, and I couldn't reload my "card" (the Starbucks app on my phone). When it came time to pay, I was able to successfully use my iPhone to make an NFC payment on their payment terminal.

 

[tmiw]

My local Starbucks accepts Apple Pay, so I'm guessing this may be a problem specific to your local store.

Most of the time I pay via the Starbucks app; but a couple months ago there was a time when their online store was having issues, and I couldn't reload my "card" (the Starbucks app on my phone). When it came time to pay, I was able to successfully use my iPhone to make an NFC payment on their payment terminal.

BTW, you can reload your Starbucks card in-store. That's how I'm able to tap my phone and get the stars.

 

[Reason077]

My banks sent me chip cards over the past two months. They're a joke. I can't understand how they're supposed to be more secure. If a transaction is under $25, it doesn't even ask for my PIN! Anyone could get my cards and run up dozens of small transactions without ever authenticating.

It's more secure to not disclose your PIN for small transactions.

If someone steals your contactless card they may be able to run up a few small transactions, but there's built in mechanisms to limit this. Eg: an unusual burst of transactions in a short period will trigger a PIN request.

On the other hand, if someone "shoulder surfs" your PIN number, they can take your card straight to an ATM and drain your entire daily limit. This actually happened to my girlfriend at a pub in London - not fun.

 

[mrcobra92]

What about... CVS

It works now with AMEX, I reported it to macrumors awhile ago...

 

[fischersd]

I've been shopping at the LCBO with ApplePay for a while now. Almost every major retailer in Canada already accepts ApplePay, even if not explicitly mentioning it. All the electronic transaction providers have been actively replacing retailers' terminals to the new ones with NFC and most large and small retailers have had those new terminals for over a year now. The only major holdout is Hudson's Bay which for some reason has these ancient massive cube shaped PIN pads that don't accept tap payments.

Yep, LCBO's worked fine with Apple Pay on the iPhone and Apple Watch from day one (only ones that wouldn't have would have been those whose payment terminals were antiquated, not supporting NFC).

Strangely enough at the Beer Store Apple Pay only works with the iPhone, not the Apple Watch (tried it a half dozen times - nada) - only retailer I've seen with this issue. I'm guessing it's a software issue with their TD payment machines - hopefully they do a software update soon to fix it!

 

[ipedro]

I've used my AppleWatch at the beer store. The only time my AppleWatch didn't work and the iPhone did was once at a Pizza Pizza. The trick is waiting for the tap screen to come on before getting close.

 

[AsherN]

I think the difference between being able to use Apple Pay at a NFC terminal and a store "accepting" Apple Pay is how the store processes the transaction. The former sees it as a tap transaction limited by whatever amout the retailer puts on tap trabnsaction. The later sees it as coming from Apple Pay and treats it as a Chip-and -PIN transaction, removing the $$$ cap.

 

[V.K.]

I think the difference between being able to use Apple Pay at a NFC terminal and a store "accepting" Apple Pay is how the store processes the transaction. The former sees it as a tap transaction limited by whatever amout the retailer puts on tap trabnsaction. The later sees it as coming from Apple Pay and treats it as a Chip-and -PIN transaction, removing the $$$ cap.

I think that's correct. I believe it may also affect some merchant fees but that would be irrelevant for customers. That no transaction cap thing seems very glitchy though. I recently tried to use Apple Pay in the Yorkdale Apple Store in Toronto to pay for a Time Capsule and it didn't work because the transaction was over 100$. Had to enter the PIN.

 

[cub850G2]

CVS has removed the software block on most if not all CVS locations but as mentioned only contactless MSD cards work due to a programming issue or certification issue or both. To fix it will probably take 3-4 months time. QT is missing the Apple Pay stickers on all but the initial Apple Pay trial area but otherwise works totally fine there.

The social media people at both Sheetz and CVS don't seem to be in the loop about contactless at all. So the person who went to Sheetz and used contactless at the pump matches up with what I've heard from someone higher up at Sheetz who said they NFC would come to the pumps(since they have the readers already) then inside later like 6 months(Didn't have the readers yet) which was back in April so probably 2-4 months now for inside. That Sheetz location is on the MC Contactless Locator so that may be the indicator that is on at the pumps.

 

[American Hero]

I really don't understand Target. Simply allow your Target cards to be attached to Apple Pay, and you can still gather information on your customers. If you already allow Apple Pay through your app, then why does the CEO give a rats ass about people using it in the store?
[doublepost=1468347439][/doublepost]

You guys talking about chip and pin must not be US based. Here in the US we have the less secure chip and signature. No chip and pin in use. Apple Pay is a step up. The chip and signature may help at some level but nothing in that validates who you are since you can just scribble on the pad. At least adding the pin adds a second factor and Apple Pay has the fingerprint.

That's because we live in a stupid, outdated capitalist society.

 

[tmiw]

I really don't understand Target. Simply allow your Target cards to be attached to Apple Pay, and you can still gather information on your customers. If you already allow Apple Pay through your app, then why does the CEO give a rats ass about people using it in the store?

Some people aren't going to get the REDcard or use the app, so it's a bit difficult to track people if NFC's enabled.

 

[American Hero]

Already the CHIP is too slow for most people so many retailers have not turned it on.

If that's their excuse, I hope the chargebacks start to ramp up.

Would be nice to see some of these retailers get $2 billion a year in credit card chargebacks.

Maybe they'll realize that they should implement the proper payment systems like they have in most other countries instead of using the excuse, "this is America, we can whine if we want so that means we'll have to be as resistant as possible before caving."
[doublepost=1468348091][/doublepost]

Some people aren't going to get the REDcard or use the app, so it's a bit difficult to track people if NFC's enabled.

This stupid country is run by big businesses rather than the average citizen.

If you can't track what I buy... Guess what? Oh well, sucks to be you Target.

You shouldn't be storing my payment info and tracking my purchases anyways.

 

[jhollington]

LCBO took Apple Pay one day 1. That is because they accepted NFC payments for the last 5 years.

What people need to understand: all retailers accepting NFC (tap to pay) accept Apple Pay.

Yeah, but the problem with the LCBO is that somebody in upper management got confused, and there was a memo that went out telling them to NOT accept Apple Pay after it launched, and only recently did a new memo go out rescinding the previous one.

I didn't have any problems myself, but I know people who went into an LCBO and had cashiers covering the terminals and saying "We don't accept Apple Pay" when they pulled out their iPhones, all because of a memo that some misinformed luddite sent out.

I've been using Apple Pay at the LCBO with my U.S. VISA Debit card since early 2015. It's always worked fine, except that you can't go over $100, even with a card that doesn't have a limit — the LCBO is the only retailer I've been to where the terminal shuts off the tap function is the transaction goes over $100. Most terminals will still accept tap and then just come back with a "Decline" code is the transaction exceeds the card provider's limit (which is usually $100 for Canadian banks and retailers).

 

[tmiw]

This stupid country is run by big businesses rather than the average citizen.

If you can't track what I buy... Guess what? Oh well, sucks to be you Target.

You shouldn't be storing my payment info and tracking my purchases anyways.

At some point you have to accept what you can't change and change what you can. Having that much anger all the time is not healthy at all.

 

[AsherN]

I've been using Apple Pay at the LCBO with my U.S. VISA Debit card since early 2015. It's always worked fine, except that you can't go over $100, even with a card that doesn't have a limit — the LCBO is the only retailer I've been to where the terminal shuts off the tap function is the transaction goes over $100. Most terminals will still accept tap and then just come back with a "Decline" code is the transaction exceeds the card provider's limit (which is usually $100 for Canadian banks and retailers).

Actually, I prefer that way. The limit can be at the retailer's discretion. I'd rather the terminal tells me I can't tap than let me do it and decline the transaction. Saves time.

 

[aacealo]

Just used Apple Pay at a Sheetz to pay for gas at the pump. The process they took me through needs work (it asked for the 3 digit CVV #...), but it worked. I guess that means they've re-enabled the functionality, and possibly that their pricing war with Apple/MCX lockout is over.

 

[American Hero]

At some point you have to accept what you can't change and change what you can. Having that much anger all the time is not healthy at all.

Perhaps if our fellow average citizens could run for office instead of having "life long" corrupted politicians everywhere, we would have some change in this country.

Big businesses need to be told to sit down and shut up for a change, and corrupted politicians need to be kicked out of Washington for those who actually have the people's best interest in mind.

In the EU the government says, "You're taking chip and pin and you're going to like it, or else we're shutting you down. The safety of people's money and information is more important than your ridiculous profits."

At least we're making slight progress here in the states. I've recently noticed my local Arby's and Subway takes chip now.

 

[cub850G2]

Just used Apple Pay at a Sheetz to pay for gas at the pump. The process they took me through needs work (it asked for the 3 digit CVV #...), but it worked. I guess that means they've re-enabled the functionality, and possibly that their pricing war with Apple/MCX lockout is over.

Ah so that matches what I've heard outside.

 

[tmiw]

Just used Apple Pay at a Sheetz to pay for gas at the pump. The process they took me through needs work (it asked for the 3 digit CVV #...), but it worked. I guess that means they've re-enabled the functionality, and possibly that their pricing war with Apple/MCX lockout is over.

What did you put for the CVV? I know that the DAN is accessible to us via the detail page in Wallet but I didn't think that was.

...the government says...

I'm fairly sure Visa et al did a liability shift in Europe just like here. It just happened long enough time ago that everyone has it now.

My point is that you're not going to change the fact that the US market has basically decided on chip and signature as the "standard". Or that some stores will probably only upgrade once their current machines break and not a second sooner. You can decide to get a chip and PIN card though (there are a few options, so it's not like banks aren't allowed to issue them at all) and can decide to spend your money at the places that have upgraded already; I even provide a resource in my signature if you need help finding such places. Seems more productive than simply complaining, is all.