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DKDonkeyKong

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 3, 2014
11
0
Cambridge, MA
I just got my new Gold iPhone 6 Plus (128GB) yesterday. I went to McDonalds, excited to purchase lunch using my new device. The lady at the front gave me my total, and I said "I'm going to pay using my new iPhone". She immediately gave a very confused look and told me I could pay using cash or credit. I said that Apple Pay is an NFC-based feature and should work with any NFC terminal. She told me to wait just a moment while she spoke with her manager.

At that point I was rather embarrassed and told her I'd just pay with my card. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing experience... I thought by now it would be more widely accepted. Anyone have any tips? Did I just get a bad Apple? (no pun intended)
 

dojoman

macrumors 68000
Apr 8, 2010
1,923
1,062
You don't need to tell them you're going to pay with Apple Pay. Just put the iphone near the terminal with fingerprint it should go thru automatically. My understanding is that the cashier doesn't have to click any button to activate Apple pay. I'm pretty sure most cashiers are clueless let alone what NFC does.
 

DKDonkeyKong

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 3, 2014
11
0
Cambridge, MA
You don't need to tell them you're going to pay with Apple Pay. Just put the iphone near sensor with fingerprint it should go thru automatically. My understanding is that the cashier doesn't have to click any button to activate Apple pay.

Thanks. I thought she'd have to activate the terminal or it wouldn't be ready for Apple Pay.
 

Small White Car

macrumors G4
Aug 29, 2006
10,959
1,420
Washington DC
Thanks. I thought she'd have to activate the terminal or it wouldn't be ready for Apple Pay.

You do have to say debit or credit. They do have to push the button saying you're using a card and not cash. But from their perspective it's exactly the same no matter if you're using your plastic card or your card through the phone.
 

Weaselboy

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 23, 2005
33,181
13,609
California
Thanks. I thought she'd have to activate the terminal or it wouldn't be ready for Apple Pay.

I have stopped even trying to tell anybody I want to use Apple Pay. They just get confused and it holds things up. I have had good luck just telling them I want to use a credit card, then I pay with Apple Pay and they don't know the difference.
 

T5BRICK

macrumors G3
Aug 3, 2006
8,307
2,358
Oregon
Most people that work at McDonalds aren't also MacRumors forum visitors. I doubt most people even know what NFC or ApplePay are.
 

DKDonkeyKong

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 3, 2014
11
0
Cambridge, MA
You do have to say debit or credit. They do have to push the button saying you're using a card and not cash. But from their perspective it's exactly the same no matter if you're using your plastic card or your card through the phone.

Hmmm. Isn't this kind of confusing then? If a cashier hasn't heard of Apple Pay won't they be confused at why I'm holding my phone and not swiping a card? Seems like it'll look like I'm hacking the terminal!
 

noisycats

macrumors 6502a
Jun 1, 2010
772
864
The 'ham. Alabama.
Tip?

Do NOT involve the cashier.

While they ring up, I generally have my phone near the terminal w home button pushed. This works over 50% of time.

For those other times, when they ask cash or credit, simply say credit.

People spend too much time talking to the cashiers. They're easily confused.
 

T5BRICK

macrumors G3
Aug 3, 2006
8,307
2,358
Oregon
Hmmm. Isn't this kind of confusing then? If a cashier hasn't heard of Apple Pay won't they be confused at why I'm holding my phone and not swiping a card? Seems like it'll look like I'm hacking the terminal!

They're going to be confused either way, just tell them you're paying with credit.
 

its Dale

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2013
446
111
LA California
Not everyone knows what Apple Pay is and not everyone knows what NFC is. You dont go and say "I'm going to pay cash" do you? (unless the asked) Apple pay pops up as soon as you hold your phone over the NFC terminal. If anything, say youre going to use credit.

Imagine someone going and saying "Im going to use Google Wallet" or "Im going to pay with Softcard"
 

DKDonkeyKong

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 3, 2014
11
0
Cambridge, MA
By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion. :eek:
 

jabingla2810

macrumors 68020
Oct 15, 2008
2,271
938
By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion. :eek:

You are making a mountain out of a molehill.
 

its Dale

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2013
446
111
LA California
By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion. :eek:

Simple solution: Dont say how youre paying, unless asked (then say credit in that case). If you hold your phone over the terminal, Apple Pay will automatically open. If it doesnt, then you can tell them you're paying with credit so they can activate the terminal. Sometimes its already activated, sometimes its not.
 

The Doctor11

macrumors 603
Dec 15, 2013
5,964
1,401
New York
Why do you feel the need to tell them how you are you are going to pay? Just use Apple pay and when they see you paided they probably won't ask any questions.
 

bpeeps

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2011
3,670
4,607
User confused why McDonalds workers are confused confuses me. It's McDonalds, not NASA.
 

Gincoma

macrumors 6502
Sep 10, 2013
286
0
I just got my new Gold iPhone 6 Plus (128GB) yesterday. I went to McDonalds, excited to purchase lunch using my new device. The lady at the front gave me my total, and I said "I'm going to pay using my new iPhone". She immediately gave a very confused look and told me I could pay using cash or credit. I said that Apple Pay is an NFC-based feature and should work with any NFC terminal. She told me to wait just a moment while she spoke with her manager.

At that point I was rather embarrassed and told her I'd just pay with my card. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing experience... I thought by now it would be more widely accepted. Anyone have any tips? Did I just get a bad Apple? (no pun intended)

You dont have to announce to the world your using Apple Pay right now you look like an idiot to most just use the darn thing no need to brag about it (what it seems like to most people).
 

talmy

macrumors 601
Oct 26, 2009
4,723
280
Oregon
No problem here using it at a McDonalds. When I used it in an Apple Store he had to ask some other employees how to do it! Also used it at a vending machine and a Whole Paycheck supermarket.
 

Bobby Corwen

macrumors 68030
Jul 16, 2010
2,723
474
Just go on a mini tirade.

It's NFC, do you work here, at a place that takes NFC, yet you don't even know how to work a service you guys provide?

LET ME SPEAK to a manager. This is insane. You won't take my money? Even tho your organization takes this type of payment?

Why even advertise it if the employees aren't even trained to use it?

Who is your regional manager I will write him an essay and letter explaining the lack of training here in this sector.
 

AppleWes

macrumors 6502a
Oct 9, 2013
519
428
No problem here using it at a McDonalds. When I used it in an Apple Store he had to ask some other employees how to do it! Also used it at a vending machine and a Whole Paycheck supermarket.
Same here! McDonald's was fine- Apple Store was confused and amazed it worked. You would think at least Apple Store employees might be trained on their own product.

But I also didn't cause a huge nightmare as the OP did. I just waved my phone over the terminal at McD's (with my finger on TouchID sensor), and it was done. No reason to fight with employees, ask for managers, cause long lines etc..
 

takeshi74

macrumors 601
Feb 9, 2011
4,974
68
Anyone have any tips?
Consider who you're dealing with. Don't overcomplicate it. Tell them cash or credit. They don't need to know you're using Apple Pay, using your phone, that it's NFC and all the rest.

Hmmm. Isn't this kind of confusing then? If a cashier hasn't heard of Apple Pay won't they be confused at why I'm holding my phone and not swiping a card? Seems like it'll look like I'm hacking the terminal!
No -- what you did is confusing to them as evidenced by your experience.

By the different responses people keep giving ("Say you're paying with credit", "Don't say anything", "They need to activate the terminal, "They don't") it sounds like there's still a LOT of confusion.
I've had absolutely no problems telling the cashiers "credit" at various retailers with NFC-enabled terminals. Again, they don't need all the various details nor do they really care. They're just trying to process your transaction and move on to the next customer.
 
Last edited:

2298754

Cancelled
Jun 21, 2010
4,890
941
Don't bother even telling them.

Most McDonalds have the NFC terminal right in front of the POS system. Just tap your phone and use TouchID when they ask for payment. No reason to tell them.
 

cmichaelb

macrumors 68020
Aug 6, 2008
2,277
737
Italy
I just got my new Gold iPhone 6 Plus (128GB) yesterday. I went to McDonalds, excited to purchase lunch using my new device. The lady at the front gave me my total, and I said "I'm going to pay using my new iPhone". She immediately gave a very confused look and told me I could pay using cash or credit. I said that Apple Pay is an NFC-based feature and should work with any NFC terminal. She told me to wait just a moment while she spoke with her manager.

At that point I was rather embarrassed and told her I'd just pay with my card. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing experience... I thought by now it would be more widely accepted. Anyone have any tips? Did I just get a bad Apple? (no pun intended)

I agree with every else, just tell the cashier credit. That's all I did at Whole Foods, they didn't need to do anything else and it went through fine. I'm so going to test this at McD's for the heck of it.
 
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