Unlike Costco, Walmart Has 'No Plans' to Accept Apple Pay

[fairuz]

From an end user/consumer's point of view: So what. Apple Pay is so not important (to the end user). I used to use Apple Pay exclusively at my nearby grocery store for the last year and yes it was a few seconds faster than using a credit card - if my finger wasn't wet from lifting cold items on to the conveyor but it definitely wasn't any faster or more convenient using it at another store.

I've since moved to a small town where nobody utilizes ApplePay enabled terminals... And I don't miss it one bit. Using a credit card is just as fast.
To all of those moaning & complaining that ApplePay isn't available in your area... I'll let you in on a little secret: so what. It's a gimmick. Totally absolutely unnecessary. I don't miss using it at all.

The only point of it is that it's more secure. I'd actually like to use it for online payments, and some places are doing that, but not enough. I never bothered setting it up.

Other than that, it would be good for everyone if a secure payment method were fully adopted to replace the insecure credit cards, but Apple Pay is not going to be a universal standard, and it still costs the merchant to support it, so I say forget it.

 

[mrow]

Maybe because the lowest common denominator likes paying less than what you'd pay for the exact same items somewhere else, with a wide selection. Of course it depends what you're buying – Costco is better for the different set of things they focus on.
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I try to eat at places that are cash only, of which there are many around here. Many small shops hate the credit card fees. Haven't bothered setting up Apple Pay cause only Walgreens uses it.

If the place really wants cash over CC they can offer a discounted price. Offering discounted prices for cash/debit versus CC was made explicitly legal years ago by Dodd Frank. Speaking of Dodd Frank, it also capped fees banks could charge for debit card transactions. Apply Pay allows debit cards to be added as well. If you want to help small businesses avoid fees you could pay via debit with Apple Pay.

Where do you live that Walgreens is the only place that accepts Apple Pay? I think you’ll find a ton of places actually work with Apple Pay even if they don’t explicitly advertise it. If they have a modern card terminal it’s going to have NFC and Apple Pay will just work.

 

[m0sher]

I’ll just use them less if at all, there are many alternative stores for me.

It’s so convenient when I can use Apple Pay because it’s so much faster than the credit card chip reader.

There have been times I forgot my wallet but had my iPhone.

 

[fairuz]

If the place really wants cash over CC they can offer a discounted price. Offering discounted prices for cash/debit versus CC was made explicitly legal years ago by Dodd Frank. Speaking of Dodd Frank, it also capped fees banks could charge for debit card transactions. Apply Pay allows debit cards to be added as well. If you want to help small businesses avoid fees you could pay via debit with Apple Pay.

Where do you live that Walgreens is the only place that accepts Apple Pay? I think you’ll find a ton of places actually work with Apple Pay even if they don’t explicitly advertise it. If they have a modern card terminal it’s going to have NFC and Apple Pay will just work.

Berkeley, CA. I think the majority of stores accept card but charge more, often times more than any credit card fee. Some also have minimum purchase limits. For small shops the issue seems to not just be fees but also the hardware itself, plus maybe the shopkeepers consider it too bothersome.

Actually it's the same in a popular Asian neighborhood in Los Angeles, called Sawtelle. There's even a big-name and multi-location ramen restaurant that's cash only, Tsujita.

 

[redneckitengineer]

Gosh I can’t even think of the last time I walked into a Walmart. I hate their stores, their philosophies, their treatment of people, and their utter disrespect for small businesses. Hopefully this will help them fail, they deserve it.

 

[mrow]

Berkeley, CA. I think the majority of stores accept card but charge more, often times more than any credit card fee. Some also have minimum purchase limits. For small shops the issue seems to not just be fees but also the hardware itself, plus maybe the shopkeepers consider it too bothersome.

Actually it's the same in a popular Asian neighborhood in Los Angeles, called Sawtelle. There's even a big-name and multi-location ramen restaurant that's cash only, Tsujita.

The hardware itself costs so little there is no excuse these days. You can get a NFC/chip enabled reader from Square these days for $50 and you can use an old used iPad for the terminal/register.

Strange that that’s happening in LA. I’m in NYC and you see more and more places going credit card/mobile wallet only. They don’t accept cash at all.

My dream is the way they do it in Iceland and some other places in Europe: once you place an order they bring the first things you’ve ordered (food/drinks/whatever) to the table along with a wireless payment terminal. If you’re done after that first serving you insert your card/use your mobile wallet and then just get up and leave. If you want another round of drinks or desserts then flag the waitress, give them your order and then they send the charge to the terminal and you pay again, and then again for another round, etc. No ordering a sandwich and then waiting for the server to bring the check, then wait again for them to come back and get the check with the card/cash, then wait again for them to go ring it up and bring you your change or receipt to tip. That’s such ********. In a busy restaurant it can add 20 or 30 minutes to your stay there. Let me pay at the table and get up and leave.

 

[MDF314159265]

Berkeley, CA. I think the majority of stores accept card but charge more, often times more than any credit card fee. Some also have minimum purchase limits. For small shops the issue seems to not just be fees but also the hardware itself, plus maybe the shopkeepers consider it too bothersome.

Actually it's the same in a popular Asian neighborhood in Los Angeles, called Sawtelle. There's even a big-name and multi-location ramen restaurant that's cash only, Tsujita.

Sounds more like tax evasion issue than debit/credit terminal fee issues.

 

[tmiw]

Wrong. Some (all?) Barclays issued credit cards in the US support chip and pin.

When people say chip and PIN, they typically mean that PIN's asked for with all/most purchases. Barclays is definitely not that as the card still needs signature most of the time.
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Sounds more like tax evasion issue than debit/credit terminal fee issues.

Eh, I wouldn't underestimate how much the card networks are disliked among the merchant community. The fact that they still accept cards (but with a higher fee) is more of an indication of business reality; if customers weren't demanding to use cards, many of them would likely be cash only.

 

[eyeseeyou]

How Walmart pay works is you launch the Walmart app that you’d use to shop online with and then select Walmart pay as a payment method when checking out at the store. The big and main difference is that Walmart pay is only accepted at physical Walmart’s and is only a payment method linked to one of your credit or debit cards.

Funny thing is for me is that the payment source for my Walmart pay is a amazon cash rewards card lol.

 

[tdar]

If you'd like to not shop at Walmart and would move your business to Target if they took Apple Pay, Just buy your purchases in the app or on the website and pickup in store. They take Apple Pay everywhere BUT in store.

 

[ersan191]

They’ll be forced to support it someday... Just like CVS was. CVS Pay was garbage and so is Walmart Pay
[doublepost=1534932906][/doublepost]

As much as I'd love Walmart to support Apple Pay (I shop there as there simply isn't an alternative close to my home), I'm not delusional enough like some on here to think that them not supporting Apple Pay will have any material impact on them. Of those that already shop at Walmart, I'm willing to bet less then .01% of people will stop shopping because of the lack of Apple Pay support.

They’ve never supported Apple Pay, why would anyone stop shopping there... nothing has changed.
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VISA appears to making a big push for contactless payments from the TV ads etc. Maybe this will push the envelope some. I use Wal-Mart Pay, but it is a pain with so many steps.
Now if Publix would just accept Apple Pay!

With CVS giving in I can’t imagine Publix holding out too much longer - they were both part of the CurrentC disaster. I’ve been shopping at fresh market for awhile now specifically because Publix doesn’t take Apple Pay. I usually leave the house with just a watch these days.

 

[python0704]

Actually a lot of places do, 7-11 being one of them as an example. Now the reality is the U.S. should follow the majority of the world and require chip and pin for ALL transactions. They should also make it like many parts of the world where your card never leaves your hands, you put it in a card reader (a portable one at restaurants, drive-thrus etc.) and enter your pin, remove the card and put it in your wallet.
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The only ways I end up in a Walmart are:

• They offer me something of decent value for free or I get paid to take it.
• There is nowhere else (including online) that sells what I am looking for.
• They are the only place to get anything where I am at.

Otherwise, it is Amazon first and Target second.

For a name brand item, I find Walmart generally has better deal than target and Amazon often matches Walmart/target price but need to ship to you. So I wouldn’t rule out Walmart from my shopping destination despite my first choice is Costco next to it. ( both one mile from me)

 

[Kabeyun]

And I have "no plans" to ever walk into a Wal Mart on principle of them holding back the advancement of a consumer-friendly tech.

Plenty of other, better stores just like it.

Agree. And I also have “no plans” buy from WalMart period, as I value my local shops over helping the Chinese economy.

 

[ersan191]

What if Apple said they would share that data with them or pay for system upgrades to support it. It is in Apple's best interest for everyone to support ApplePay.

It is even more important for Apple to maintain its stance on privacy

 

[LovingTeddy]

And I have "no plans" to ever walk into a Wal Mart on principle of them holding back the advancement of a consumer-friendly tech.

Plenty of other, better stores just like it.

Unlike CostCo, I don't plan to buy anything at Walmart.

Good, cause I have exactly ZERO plans to shop at a dumpster store, which tends to attract the lowest common denominator of humanity thru its doors!

Conveniently, I have no plans to shop at Walmart, lol. My favorite thing about being in my 30s is that I finally make enough money to avoid Walmart and not feel bad about it. Hy-Vee doesn't take Apple Pay either but we order our groceries online and they show up at our house for free. To me that is worth paying a little more for the cost of groceries!

I don’t think WalMart cares about your business anyway. They are so large, they can afford to loss some die hard Apple fans.

I will continue go WalMart, Costco whatever. I don’t give a damn about if they accept Apple Pay or whatever.

 

[Pearple]

I did shop frequently at Walmart until they decided not to go with Apple Pay but their super bad useless annoying own payment system. I switched to another very fine Supermarket with fantastic products and pricing.
Walmart instead is a failure, a total desaster of management.Losers!

 

[Yvan256]

Then again, what can we expect from competing standards, happens all the time

https://xkcd.com/927/

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

If you paid with a PIN it was almost certainly because you used a debit card that took the money directly from your checking account and not because you used a credit card. The transaction processing is different between the two and the point that many are trying to make is that retailers in the US aren't set up for credit card PIN transactions which use the PIN number from the chip itself. (A debit card transaction is basically an ATM style transaction where your number and PIN go to a back-end computer at your bank for validation. It looks nearly the same to you, but it's not an EMV chip and PIN transaction.)

Ah, good point. Generally speaking I don't use credit cards for in-person purchases, so this indeed was my debit card.

 

[signupwithtwitter]

the Costco thing almost makes no sense because you still have to show your physical member card to shop there. they should try and find a way to do this digitally so you dont need your wallet at all

 

[Menel]

^This. Sadly, it's still chip and sign here in the Status, although the signature requirement was removed by VISA, MC, and AMEX. I absolutely prefer contactless but I wish a 'pin' requirement was also added to credit transactions.

I'd even settle for chip and zipcode like the gas pumps... but noooo omg. I don't know what is wrong with American business.

 

[mrow]

the Costco thing almost makes no sense because you still have to show your physical member card to shop there. they should try and find a way to do this digitally so you dont need your wallet at all

You still need to have your ID on you though, especially if you’re driving. I’ve been thinking about switching to this case (presuming they make one for the iPhone Xs Plus or whatever they call it). One slot for your ID and the other for a back up credit card for places that don’t accept Apple Pay. In the case of Costco, swap the credit card for the member ID card before I walk out the door since we know they take Apple Pay and I’m coming home right afterwards. Then I really could leave my wallet at home.

Costco should be able to make it electronic though if they wanted. Apple Pay supports loyalty programs. If you have Balance Rewards from Walgreens it registers it automatically when you pay without you having to input your number. Costco could do this for their membership cards.

 

[gnasher729]

Apple doesn't have the data? Of course they have the data! They know where you are, when you used the service and how much you paid. Apple might not know what you bought but Walmart still does.

Apple has no idea how much you paid. You know, and your bank knows, and nobody else.
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I don't understand how this is different than accepting credit cards in general. so stupid. if one works so should the other. Is anyone actually using their dumb QR code system?

The difference is that when you use a debit or credit card, the store will get information about that. With Apple Pay, they get the money from the bank, and there is information for a refund, but they have no idea who the customer is etc.

That protects your privacy in general, even if you shop with honest people, but it also makes card skimming impossible. Obviously Apple wants to protect your privacy and wants you to know, so your next phone is an iPhone again. The store wants all the information they can get about you.
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Can you explain this skimming to me? It sounds like something to be afraid of.

You pay with your card. Either someone takes hold of your physical card and makes a copy of it, or someone has a hacked card reader that reads all the information off your card while accepting a payment. This could be a rogue employee, it could be a fraudulent company itself, or it could be hackers who replaced the terminals in the night.

Anyway, with that information someone can copy your card and use the copy to pay for things.

 

[dwsolberg]

As much as I'd love Walmart to support Apple Pay (I shop there as there simply isn't an alternative close to my home), I'm not delusional enough like some on here to think that them not supporting Apple Pay will have any material impact on them. Of those that already shop at Walmart, I'm willing to bet less then .01% of people will stop shopping because of the lack of Apple Pay support.

True, many people shop at Walmart because they don’t have a real choice — they don’t have the luxury of paying for a better experience.

 

[Glyn H]

I have no plans to shop at WalMart.

Because it doesn't exist here

Either does Apple Pay, heh. Well it does, but there's a monthy fee to have it. Screw that.

I also live in Scotland and use Pay every day with cards from 2 banks neither charge a monthly fee. As far as I know none of the UK banks charge a monthly fee for using Pay.

 

[mrow]

Apple has no idea how much you paid. You know, and your bank knows, and nobody else.
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The difference is that when you use a debit or credit card, the store will get information about that. With Apple Pay, they get the money from the bank, and there is information for a refund, but they have no idea who the customer is etc.

That protects your privacy in general, even if you shop with honest people, but it also makes card skimming impossible. Obviously Apple wants to protect your privacy and wants you to know, so your next phone is an iPhone again. The store wants all the information they can get about you.

They could get more information about who you are if they wanted to though. Apple added the ability to add loyalty cards to Apple Pay a while ago, and for those loyalty cards to register automatically when you pay. As I mentioned above, Walgreens already does this. If you have your Balance Rewards card loaded to your Wallet, when you pay with Apple Pay at Walgreens it automatically applies it. After you pay you’ll notice your Balance Rewards card flash on the screen briefly.