Rite Aid Reverses Course, Will Accept Apple Pay Starting August 15

[WigWag Workshop]

Like I stated in the over thread, we don't have a choice for our medications, we have to use CVS. However, there is NO way our family will be using CurrentC, also we are in the "test-market" so I will be interested in what our pharmacists has to say about CurrentC customers. The lines are long has it is, I can't imagine how much longer it will take if the majority of the folks use this archaic system.

 

[BruiserB]

My only issue with Apple Pay is there will always be someone who doesn't accept it. So the need to carry a wallet will still happen. I don't want to be stuck in the middle of no where and the cab driver only accepts cash or physical credit cards.

While its nice to have in retail stores, I don't think I would ever be caught without my physical wallet. And I can see restaurants supporting this by either bringing a device to your table or as you walk out.

That's a bit like someone 20 years ago saying "My only issue with Credit Cards is there will always be someone who doesn't take them. So the need to carry my checkbook will still happen. I don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and the cab driver only accepts cash or checks."

I haven't carried a checkbook in 15 years. And I now keep one $20 bill tucked in my wallet, just in case. Otherwise I use my credit card for every transaction I make. Over time I think it's entirely plausible that phone based payments could become the norm, especially with the enhanced security of being fingerprint authenticated. There are even states that are experimenting with digital driver's licenses that can be loaded on a mobile device. I think it is entirely possible that the wallet will become a relic of the past. Likely some places will still take "old-fashioned" credit cards (just like you can still write a check at some stores), and certainly cash will be around for a while, but I think mobile payments will be the norm sooner than you think!

 

[tmiw]

Over time I think it's entirely plausible that phone based payments could become the norm, especially with the enhanced security of being fingerprint authenticated. There are even states that are experimenting with digital driver's licenses that can be loaded on a mobile device. I think it is entirely possible that the wallet will become a relic of the past. Likely some places will still take "old-fashioned" credit cards (just like you can still write a check at some stores), and certainly cash will be around for a while, but I think mobile payments will be the norm sooner than you think!

Going from checks to credit cards was a much bigger jump than cards to NFC will be. People really don't like it when I say this but I can also see NFC not getting a foothold for a very long time, especially if people are okay with chip and signature. (Of course, I hope it does, or at least makes enough progress that the parties involved won't be blinded by the short-term.)

 

[BruiserB]

Going from checks to credit cards was a much bigger jump than cards to NFC will be. People really don't like it when I say this but I can also see NFC not getting a foothold for a very long time, especially if people are okay with chip and signature. (Of course, I hope it does, or at least makes enough progress that the parties involved won't be blinded by the short-term.)

I actually think chip cards may speed the change to mobile. They are forcing the merchants to upgrade to hardware that usually is also capable of supporting NFC. Also the waiting time between inserting a chip card and being able to remove it seems like forever. It's probably no longer than the authorization that takes place after a swipe or an ApplePay transaction, but it seems longer since you must stare at the terminal and wait for approval to remove the card. People are going to be annoyed by this and ApplePay (or your favorite other flavor of NFC payment) will be the only relief.

 

[tmiw]

I actually think chip cards may speed the change to mobile. They are forcing the merchants to upgrade to hardware that usually is also capable of supporting NFC. Also the waiting time between inserting a chip card and being able to remove it seems like forever. It's probably no longer than the authorization that takes place after a swipe or an ApplePay transaction, but it seems longer since you must stare at the terminal and wait for approval to remove the card. People are going to be annoyed by this and ApplePay (or your favorite other flavor of NFC payment) will be the only relief.

Usually, true. As we've seen though, it's up to the merchant to turn that on--and the retailers who have turned on chip so far haven't done that for various reasons. Also keep in mind that generally the only things that'll change for people is that they'll need to insert their cards instead of swiping them; since we're not getting PIN with chip people still won't have to sign for small purchases, unlike elsewhere where PIN is required regardless of the amount unless you tap your card.

Chip transactions do take longer but I don't think that in of itself will be enough motivation for people to switch as long as the delay isn't unreasonably long. In theory it should only take like 2-3 seconds extra compared to swiping but there appear to be a lot of unoptimized implementations out there right now.

I'm also not sure whether Apple Pay's security is all that big of a draw for most people right now either. Chip may very well be enough to satisfy people in that regard, but we'll see.

 

[Nicky G]

At least Rite Aid is saying that Google/Samsung's solutions will work too. A lot of other retailers made it seem like only Apple Pay would work when they made their announcements. But really, mobile payments shouldn't be so...company specific, for lack of a better term.

Any company that takes Apple Pay is going to support other NFC payments that adhere to the spec that Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and plastic credit/debit cards use. So what if they emphasize Apple Pay? Apple more than any other company has marketed NFC to their users as a major feature, and companies that start to accept it want to advertise the fact to Apple's large user base who more likely than not know what Apple Pay is. How many Android users really knew what Google Wallet was all about, before Apple Pay came along? Apple goes out of their way to educate their customers about new technologies. Everything at Google feels like a beta project.

 

[tmiw]

Any company that takes Apple Pay is going to support other NFC payments that adhere to the spec that Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and plastic credit/debit cards use. So what if they emphasize Apple Pay? Apple more than any other company has marketed NFC to their users as a major feature, and companies that start to accept it want to advertise the fact to Apple's large user base who more likely than not know what Apple Pay is. How many Android users really knew what Google Wallet was all about, before Apple Pay came along? Apple goes out of their way to educate their customers about new technologies. Everything at Google feels like a beta project.

I know that and so do most of the people on this forum, but I can totally see someone with a new Android Pay capable phone not bothering to attempt to use it if there's only an Apple Pay logo in the window. That's all. Ultimately any use of mobile wallets helps everyone regardless of the brand.

 

[kdarling]

Apple goes out of their way to educate their customers about new technologies.

If they are doing so, it's not working: the percentage of iPhone and Watch users with Apple Pay capability, who also actually use it, has continued to drop over the past few months.

It doesn't help that it's still hit and miss as to whether it works. In fact, by the voluntary November EMV deadline, only about half of retailer terminals are expected to have NFC payments enabled. It's taking longer than hoped.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

All I keep reading is "I"m a spoiled brat" blah blah blah blah..... I don't think people today know WTF a REAL PROBLEM in life is. Maybe military service in the Middle East should be mandatory right out of high school. Then you'll learn how utterly fracking stupid this whiny BS crap is. OMG, they won't take Apple Pay at Rite Aid! Those bastards! I'll be on CNN with nationwide protests until they stop this craziness!

 

[ray737]

Don't visit this forum if you don't want to hear the apple pay bitching. It's pretty simple.

I'm sure there's a military forum where more serious topics out there that you can visit

 

[unplugme71]

That's a bit like someone 20 years ago saying "My only issue with Credit Cards is there will always be someone who doesn't take them. So the need to carry my checkbook will still happen. I don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and the cab driver only accepts cash or checks."

I haven't carried a checkbook in 15 years. And I now keep one $20 bill tucked in my wallet, just in case. Otherwise I use my credit card for every transaction I make. Over time I think it's entirely plausible that phone based payments could become the norm, especially with the enhanced security of being fingerprint authenticated. There are even states that are experimenting with digital driver's licenses that can be loaded on a mobile device. I think it is entirely possible that the wallet will become a relic of the past. Likely some places will still take "old-fashioned" credit cards (just like you can still write a check at some stores), and certainly cash will be around for a while, but I think mobile payments will be the norm sooner than you think!

I get what you are trying to say, BUT cash and checks don't require POWER to operate. Credit cards can at least be authorized over the phone (landline phones typically have enough power to operate vs VoIP phones that don't). NFC payments would be down for sure.

Unfortunately we don't live in a world that has no disasters or power outages. How would you buy food or gas or anything during an outage? During Sandy on the east coast, credit card transactions were very difficult. We had to pay cash 8 out of 10 times. You don't understand the challenges when you can't get money from your bank. We had to wait for banks to get generator power so we could take cash out to buy food, gas, clean up material, stuff to fix the house, etc.

So your logic unfortunately does not work in this situation. Cash has to legally be accepted. Apple Pay doesn't. There are still cash only businesses that I support because of service or prices.

$20 cash in your wallet, good luck. I carry at minimum $100 and a lot more in my safe nowadays.

 

[unplugme71]

Maybe, but a) that's traditionally been the sign of a lower-class establishment in the US (think Denny's and IHOP level) and b) it may require remodeling to do so, which could cost just as much as buying portable terminals if not more. If they don't absolutely need to, why do either?

Actually, higher end establishments have an area to do it as well. They could easily use that area for Apple Pay. It'll get people out of seats faster too so that more can come in.

 

[tmiw]

All I keep reading is "I"m a spoiled brat" blah blah blah blah..... I don't think people today know WTF a REAL PROBLEM in life is. Maybe military service in the Middle East should be mandatory right out of high school. Then you'll learn how utterly fracking stupid this whiny BS crap is. OMG, they won't take Apple Pay at Rite Aid! Those bastards! I'll be on CNN with nationwide protests until they stop this craziness!

Why shouldn't people be unhappy that they can't use a feature that they paid for?

Cash has to legally be accepted.

That's not exactly true. Airlines are card-only for on board purchases these days and they haven't gotten in trouble for that.

Actually, higher end establishments have an area to do it as well. They could easily use that area for Apple Pay. It'll get people out of seats faster too so that more can come in.

The host station where you tell them how many people in your party? That's normally not big enough to put in a POS/cash register, so making that bigger's still an additional cost.

 

[unplugme71]

Why shouldn't people be unhappy that they can't use a feature that they paid for?



That's not exactly true. Airlines are card-only for on board purchases these days and they haven't gotten in trouble for that.



The host station where you tell them how many people in your party? That's normally not big enough to put in a POS/cash register, so making that bigger's still an additional cost.

That's because they are in flight when they accept credit cards. Even though it may be a domestic flight, they are not on US soil. Any place of business in the US has to legally accept cash & coins in USD. Failure to do so may subject the business to fines and/or closure.

 

[tmiw]

That's because they are in flight when they accept credit cards. Even though it may be a domestic flight, they are not on US soil. Any place of business in the US has to legally accept cash & coins in USD. Failure to do so may subject the business to fines and/or closure.

The ticket counters at my local airport also supposedly no longer accept cash; you have to buy prepaid cards using vending machines in the ticket area if you want to pay cash. I don't think it's just a matter of the terminal being in the air.

 

[unplugme71]

The ticket counters at my local airport also supposedly no longer accept cash; you have to buy prepaid cards using vending machines in the ticket area if you want to pay cash. I don't think it's just a matter of the terminal being in the air.

Sorry, I thought cash was a federal requirement, however, its only a state requirement. So yes, the business does have to federally accept the US Dollar, however, it does not have to be cash.

 

[tazinlwfl]

Interesting that you didn't wait for next month's announcement.

Don't have to. T-Mobile's plan lets me upgrade to the 6S without any hassle.

 

[HenryDJP]

Don't have to. T-Mobile's plan lets me upgrade to the 6S without any hassle.

Oh, that's cool. Seems as though T-mo is pretty aggressive at customer retention.

 

[rasputinj01]

Went to CVS today and it was not turned on. I will go back to Walgreens who at least have it activated.

 

[tmiw]

Went to CVS today and it was not turned on. I will go back to Walgreens who at least have it activated.

As far as I know CVS hasn't announced that they were going to enable NFC/Apple Pay. This thread is just about Rite-Aid doing so.

 

[mdhwoods]

You never thought about going inside where it'd be easier, and so they don't have to place the entire terminal out the window? I guess you should think a little more before you decide to do stuff.

Wow, So Mcdonald's is listed as a accepting Apple pay. And its my job to say hey, I want to use this but need to go inside because they don't have a streamlined convenient way to use it though the Drive though. The point of the drive through is convenience and its not my problem that they have not thought this through. You sir need to think more before you type out a reply.

 

[mdhwoods]

If you're in my neck of the woods, the winter times would ruin the card readers or the snow and ice would cover them. I'm not sure how well those readers would work under those conditions. You are right though, and I agree, outside of the weather, those readers SHOULD be easily accessible from your car.

All they need is a small hand held device tethered by a cord like a phone cord. Just for contactless payment. Not the entire machine.

 

[BruiserB]

Just used ApplePay at a RiteAid in small town Georgia. The clerk exclaimed "That's so cool!" I told her I'm glad RiteAid takes it now. She said I was the first person she saw use it!

 

[Q3p123]

Umm, the wealth of articles showing that people are now reversing course and accepting Apple Pay would indicate the opposite.

[doublepost=1476430552][/doublepost]Yeah, the 3.6 million apple watches sold seems to contradict him too