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Retailers Cite 'Insufficient Customer Demand' as Biggest Reason for Not Supporting Apple Pay
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So instead retailers can cite "Insufficient demand—oh, except for that cmChimera guy" as their biggest reason for lacking Pay.
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I don't actively seek out stores with Apple Pay, but whenever I find myself in one I happily use it instead of pulling out the card. I would prefer to use it more often, but a store without it doesn't stop me from shopping there.
The circular self-fulfilling argument:
People don't use it because we don't offer it.
Demand is zero because it's a soft complaint that only our cashiers know about, and they're too busy to remember every complaint.
We don't offer it because people don't demand it.
People don't use it because we don't offer it.
Demand is zero because it's a soft complaint that only our cashiers know about, and they're too busy to remember every complaint.
We don't offer it because people don't demand it.
I have to say Apple Pay has been great where its used. I sometimes forget my wallet, but I almost never forget my phone, so its nice knowing I can still buy things with it. I hope more stores support it, much more convenient then carrying around a bunch of cards, and more secure too.
Yea, I don't see much benefit to using these smartphone payment systems just yet. It looks cool, but the options of pulling out my debit card or some cash are just as convenient... and it's a lot less stressful when you drop what you're paying with too.
A whole lot of the lack of demand on the retailer side is related to the "supply" on the financial institution side. I've been harassing my credit union for months trying to get them to give an update as to when they'll support Apple Pay. They, in turn, point fingers at Apple as the slow-moving party. Until my debit/credit card with the credit union works with Apple Pay, the matter of the retailers accepting it is pretty moot. I imagine there are millions like me (who won't do business with regular banks). So, if Apple wants to find a root cause for that population, they have found the enemy, and it is evidently them. I'm all too happy to adopt when I can, and then I can start harassing the retailers to accept the more secure payment method.
I use it when I'm buying something and I see this icon:
I don't look for the Apple Pay sticker.
My success rate is 100%, out of 30-40 times using it in the last 4 months.
I don't look for the Apple Pay sticker.
My success rate is 100%, out of 30-40 times using it in the last 4 months.
Hmm...yet every time I use Pay either the store clerk or the person behind me in line asks me about it. Just a few weeks ago at Subway the cashier was like "did you just pay with your phone? That's so cool!"
How can there be consumer demand if the option to use it isn't there in the first place?
This is a bit like when the Las Vegas/ Clark County government noted riding bikes on roadways are dangerous and said they wouldn't make bike paths along roadways because the don't see many people riding bikes along the roadways.
Never, ever give someone your credit card. The cashier should not be touching it. You're opening yourself to fraud. Every cashier should be taught not to touch your card, if they do, be suspicious.
October, 2015 is the magic month. After that, if they don't support contactless payments, they are responsible for fraud, so if we just wait, then we're good.
In my observations, I've found that we (USA) react rather than are proactive. Oh well. By this time next year, I have a feeling that a lot of retailers will take contactless payments as a matter of loss prevention, rather than "keeping up with the Joneses," or being proactive.
This is the #1 reason. Retailers want to share our data amongst each other and sell it to the highest bidder and use it in other ways unrelated to the transaction without our expressed and written consent.
This kind of post is hilarious. How long will you remain resolute when it’s cheaper at the store that doesn’t support Apple Pay? I’ll wager not long at all.
"Yeah, that PS4 is $50 cheaper down the road if I swipe my credit card but it’s not secure or convenient enough so I’ll just pay the extra thanks”. LOL.
For most of us, Money Talks.
But...........what I will say is that your attitude is correct. It's just not one that tends to last long among the great population.
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Seen as the UK has been equipping itself with contactless payment terminals for 3-4 years now its about time they just launched it over here - we're ready Apple, just press the damn button, we're much more equipped than you backwards Americans! (that is a joke, I love my American cousins, but really - for ONCE we're a step ahead in terms of technology with Chip and Pin and contactless in the UK and most of Europe, I can't believe America still uses the magnetic strip and an easy to forge signature)
The fingerprint does not work form me most of the time in the summer and not at all in the winter: I guess my skin is a little dry. So I prefer to not have my phone password protected. Otherwise I have to type it in a hundred times a day when I check the weather or map or go to Starbucks or whatever. After 6 months of doing that and realizing I hadn't used Apple Pay but once just to try it out, I turned off the password which automatically disconnected ApplePay.
The problem is that most places don't have contactless payments set up to begin with. And I find it absolute BS that the new "chip and signature" system is the best we can do in 2015. That does nothing to prevent issues with lost cards which chip/pin (not required in the US) and secure payment systems like Apple Pay and Android Pay can prevent.
My experience as well.
In tribute to our cool friends to the North, Apple Pay works at pretty much all of the terminals in Canada as well.
Works fine in the UK if you register with an American iTunes account. Goes over the £20 limit too that we have with contactless payment. No idea why Apple can't just say yes to UK iTunes accounts to allow it to be used, Apple has zero part in any of the transaction, it is your phone that creates the token to communicate with the terminal.
Same as other Apple services that as US only such as Radio, Trailers etc.
It's a niche service. Few have an interest in it. I know I don't worry about supporting Apple Pay right now. It's not worthwhile.
Not surprising since only people with two specific smartphones can use Apple Pay. Apple should have been silently putting in NFC chips in iPhones since the iPhone 5. That way when Apple Pay launched, the large percentage of iPhone users could use Apple Pay. Google out-did Apple in this regard, because now if Android Pay gains traction, pretty much every recent Android phone will be able to use it.
I use it whenever I can and I definitely favor places that have it. Its kind of nice to just hold my arm out the window at the McDonalds drive through to pay from the watch.
(9 times of of 10 the cashier has never seen that before and thinks it's the coolest thing)
(9 times of of 10 the cashier has never seen that before and thinks it's the coolest thing)
