Publix Rolling Out Apple Pay at Checkout

[switcher3365]

How are they just getting Apple Pay now? Shouldn't they already have it, as it comes "packaged" with normal contactless.

They just didn't have it activated. It was the same way at CVS for a long time before they caved and started accepting Apple and Android Pay.

That doesn't make any sense... I thought they couldn't be separated (maybe I'm wrong?)
Every card issued in the last 10ish years has contactless, why would a shop disable it?

My bank is one of the top 10 largest ones in the United States, and they don't have contactless cards (yet).

Publix didn't just roll that out. It's been a thing for nearly a year. I know this, because every time I asked them when they are going to accept contactless payments, they suggest I use their app.

You're talking about their Walmart Pay-like QR code. It was a decent alternative. But opening the Publix app, selecting "Pay," entering a passcode, and then holding the camera to scan the QR code on the register, having to tell the cashier that you paid with the app, and waiting for them to figure it out how to process the payment because they probably aren't seeing that many people use it in order to build the muscle memory to do it quickly, is a TOTALLY different experience from just using NFC.

 

[thejoshuabradshaw]

I was at a Shell gas station over the weekend (here in AZ) and they had the NFC attached to the pump. Never saw it there before so maybe it’s coming later on. Plus, don’t know if it was functional or not as I use their Shell app along with Apple Pay to pay for gas, and as @Airforcekid mentioned above, it works out really well by giving me discounts on the gas.

The shell app has your linked payment, so it should account anytime you use that payment. It works well inside like that but just not outside. It will be awesome once it's completely rolled-out.

 

[kylew1212]

Damn... the last few months... for chips?

At that rate... you'll get NFC in 2031

I know, insane.. Not only that, but the Kroger gas station is only a few years old at that. I think it was built in 17..

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Now if only Krogers would pull their head out! Grrr....

 

[deeddawg]

Yesssssss. Finally can get 2% on my groceries there with my Apple CC.

FWIW - Citi DoubleCash MasterCard is 2% cash back everywhere.

 

[P-DogNC]

There are two possibilities: 1. Their card terminals were ancient (by European standards) and didn't have contactless support at all. 2. They went out their way and intentionally detected Apple Pay and stopped it from working. That has happened.

Your 2nd assumption is the correct one. A Publix assistant manager revealed to me recently that Publix has been rolling out its own shoppers’ card/app tracking system. This is actually a transgression of Publix‘ former long-held mantra of never having such a shopper ID scheme, just “fair prices for everyone”. There are evidently still companies who never seem to learn from the CurrentC debacle.

I always suspected this motive was the reason Publix refused to accept Apple Pay and was constantly trying to confirm that from a manager somehow. Well, COVID-19 seems to have spurred them on regarding Apple Pay. You would think outfits like Publix would simply be happy to have the increased sales Apple Pay will bring, especially in these glove-wearing, social distancing times. Let’s hope they don’t make us do something stupid and which offers absolutely no security, such as tapping a confirmation button or requiring a signature. Food Lion and ALDI don’t make me do that when I use Apple Pay.

BTW, here in the NC Triangle, Food Lion, Lowe’s Foods, and Wegman’s all have Shoppers’ Card rackets and they all accept Apple Pay. Are you listening Kroger & Harris Teeter? (Kroger own Harris Teeter, thus inflicting their own consumer-unfriendly POS policies upon them.)
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FWIW - Citi DoubleCash MasterCard is 2% cash back everywhere.

But with Apple Card, you get your cash back right away or within 1 day, where it waits for you on the Apple Cash card and can be spent via Apple Pay or sent at no charge to your bank account. Plus, several places give 3% back.

 

[zinacef]

The shell app has your linked payment, so it should account anytime you use that payment. It works well inside like that but just not outside. It will be awesome once it's completely rolled-out.

Actually, the only account I’ve got attached to it is my Apple Pay (Apple Pay MasterCard card), and when I’m at the pump I’ve found it to be really easy to use — just pull up, enter the number of the pump, authorize with Apple Pay, then the app will give you a code which is to be entered on the pump keypad.

Side note - if you’re experiencing any technical issues with their app, try reaching out to their support via the live chat option on the app. I recently experienced some issues with Apple Pay and their app at one particular local station and they were really helpful in sorting it out.

 

[deeddawg]

BTW, here in the NC Triangle, Food Lion, Lowe’s Foods, and Wegman’s all have Shoppers’ Card rackets and they all accept Apple Pay. Are you listening Kroger & Harris Teeter? (Kroger own Harris Teeter, thus inflicting their own consumer-unfriendly POS policies upon them.)

Yep. A shopper-card doesn't prevent a retailer from accepting Apple Pay.

Walgreen's version even works via Apple Wallet - and on Apple Watch.

 

[Dougie Jones]

Traders Joe is the only place in LA where I can use Apple Pay without touching pin pad. Ralphs accepts contactless payments through their app, works ok but feels outdated.

 

[Roy]

I totally hate to burst your bubble but I think the story is all WRONG. Publix just rolled out the "Publix Mobile App" which uses their app to read the QR code at the register, this is NOT ApplePay. The app works the same way that Walmart uses their own app.

Publix Super Markets

ww4.publix.com

I wish/hope that I am wrong but I don't think so.

I’ve been using the Publix app for over a year now. To use it, you have to open your Publix App on your phone. It’s better than pulling out your wallet/credit card. Apple Pay is way easier and quicker, plus I don’t have to open my phone.

 

[P-DogNC]

Now hopefully Harris Teeter follows suit. They used to support Apple Pay for a short time, but discontinued the option. They're the only grocery store in my immediate surrounding area that doesn't support Apple Pay.

Harris Teeter was testing out Apple Pay at a few stores when they were still independent. Then Kroger snapped up the North Carolina chain. Kroger utilizes a consumer-unfriendly shopper card/tracking system and has actively been fighting against implementation of Apple Pay. Harris Teeter’s earlier testing of the waters was thus immediately thrown out the window. Kroger purchased HT so they could close mid-priced Kroger locations in the same market and replace them with higher-priced HT (Publix-level) grocery stores to maximize profits. This is unfortunate, as Kroger is the nation’s largest supermarket chain. ☹

 

[AMTYVLE]

Finally...welcome to 2020 Publix! 🎈🎉🙌🥳

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

China, in one of their moves to control the virus, ordered stores to stop accepting cash of any kind. It made total sense. We have to do it in this country. It's far too easy to spread disease (and cocaine) through the exchange of strips of paper, and discs of metal. I was at the local grocery, and whipped out my iPhone to pay, and the cashier went to reach for it. I said 'Apple Pay. You don't have to touch money, and I don't have to touch the card machine. She laughed and said she wished everyone used it.

Krogers has their 'u-scan(scam?)' system. Just what you need, walking through the store carrying something that a dozen people have coughed all over as they walked through the store being coughed on. Sounds like a stellar idea! Stellar!

(The local grocery put tape x's on the floor at the cashier stations. People in line have to stand on the mark for their place in line. Interesting. How they are going to enforce it, but, they do take Apple Pay. That helps)

 

[jimmysalg]

How are they just getting Apple Pay now? Shouldn't they already have it, as it comes "packaged" with normal contactless.

They had "contactless" deactivated on their terminals
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I wish Home Depot would get on board with contactless...

They actually had it for a while and then deactivated it

 

[MisterSavage]

China, in one of their moves to control the virus, ordered stores to stop accepting cash of any kind. It made total sense. We have to do it in this country. It's far too easy to spread disease (and cocaine) through the exchange of strips of paper, and discs of metal. I was at the local grocery, and whipped out my iPhone to pay, and the cashier went to reach for it. I said 'Apple Pay. You don't have to touch money, and I don't have to touch the card machine. She laughed and said she wished everyone used it.

And don't even get me started how it was only last year where credit card companies officially said signatures weren't required. The last thing I want to do is touch a stylus/pen that so many people have used before me to scribble some squiggly lines that don't look anything like my real signature.

 

[wingsabr]

Where shopping is a pleasure!! SO glad

 

[deeddawg]

China, in one of their moves to control the virus, ordered stores to stop accepting cash of any kind. It made total sense. We have to do it in this country. It's far too easy to spread disease (and cocaine) through the exchange of strips of paper, and discs of metal.

I've seem some stores asking folks to pay with credit/debit cards and not cash for this very reason.

Fortunately the grocery store (independent) near our rural cabin has taken Apple Pay for the past couple years. Love it.

Krogers has their 'u-scan(scam?)' system. Just what you need, walking through the store carrying something that a dozen people have coughed all over as they walked through the store being coughed on. Sounds like a stellar idea! Stellar!

Kroger near home is skeevy so I rarely go, but I've seen those things. Eww even without coronavirus.

I much prefer how Sam's Club has it set up with their phone app. It'll display my membership card for walking in. I scan stuff from the app as I put it in my buggy, then when I'm done I checkout within the app -- skipping the registers/lines/scanners -- door person scans the QR code displayed on the app and I'm out the door.

 

[DailySlow]

I wish Home Depot would get on board with contactless...

Contactless. it's what's for dinner. One doesn't need to dig through a wallet, drag out a card, insert into a "public orifice" for a nice bacteria refresh, type in a pin or button for credit not debit, Pull card out, slip it back into wallet, before you can walk away with your twelve pack and bottle of Pinot G. #workingFromHome
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I've seem some stores asking folks to pay with credit/debit cards and not cash for this very reason.

Fortunately the grocery store (independent) near our rural cabin has taken Apple Pay for the past couple years. Love it.



Kroger near home is skeevy so I rarely go, but I've seen those things. Eww even without coronavirus.

I much prefer how Sam's Club has it set up with their phone app. It'll display my membership card for walking in. I scan stuff from the app as I put it in my buggy, then when I'm done I checkout within the app -- skipping the registers/lines/scanners -- door person scans the QR code displayed on the app and I'm out the door.

I've taken to spraying any cash found in my physical wallet with bactine or rubbing alcohol.
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Now we need Harris Teeter.

Double that!
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Their new/remodeled stores have it, they’ve been rolling it out to the existing ones... now is a good time to do so. I’m friends with one of their IT people in South Florida. He’s been going around to all the stores replacing POS terminals. About time.

That's good news and ONE good thing that may come out of this mess.

 

[jlforester]

Oops... you're right.

The pumps near me let you insert your card... but then it says "Remove card quickly" which means it's a mag-stripe reader.

I can't recall seeing an actual chip reader at the pump either.

So if the earlier poster does have chip readers at his pumps... they're more advanced than the rest of us!

Sheetz has contactless pumps. I use my watch to pay for gas all the time.
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Now if only Krogers would pull their head out! Grrr....

One (of many) reasons I quit shopping there and went to Giant Eagle.

 

[glowplug]

They were being stubborn

I’ve stopped shopping at Publix, and I am stubborn too. Enjoy the Apple Pay.

 

[tigres]

about damn time Publix, my go to. I always pull out my phone just hoping it would work. looks like today's the day to test.

 

[MisterSavage]

I’ve stopped shopping at Publix, and I am stubborn too. Enjoy the Apple Pay.

I don't know if I should be happy they finally did it or annoyed that it took so long. There was no way I was going to use their "Publix Pay" and encourage them.

 

[CarlJ]

Luke, use the Apple Watch, it’s even easier! DV

Really? With my Apple Watch, I need the other hand to press the button on the watch. With my iPhone, I can do it all with one hand.

 

[randian]

Good news. Apple pay used to work in publix when they first got the new chip readers, but at some point publix disabled NFC unilaterally.

Hardly surprising, since Publix was an MCX Consortium member, along with Walmart. They even came out with a "Publix Pay" app to mimic Walmart, but hardly anybody uses it.

 

[zorinlynx]

They were being stubborn

Companies have been disabling Apple Pay to try to get people to use their own apps to pay. Thing is, this hasn't really caught on. Few people want to have to use a different app for every store they shop at, and would rather just pay the same way everywhere.

I think stores are starting to figure this out, and along with covid-19 making contactless payment a good idea, we might finally see the end of purposefully disabled Apple Pay at retail locations. I hope I'm right; Publix is a BIG, BIG deal in the Southeast so kudos to them for finally joining the fray.
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Hardly surprising, since Publix was an MCX Consortium member, along with Walmart. They even came out with a "Publix Pay" app to mimic Walmart, but hardly anybody uses it.

The whole MCX thing is the main reason why NFC took so long to catch on in the US. Screw the people who came up with that.