Walgreens Planning for October 18 Apple Pay Launch

[SusanK]

I ... Just ... can't. ... Seem ... To .... Keep ... Awake ...With .... Apple's plans of late .... ...zzzzzz

Yep, that's Cook's Apple.

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I've always wondered who shopped at Walgreens ... hmmm ... same teenagers as hang out on the MR forums.

Don't forget the folks with AARP's Medicare supplement insurance and drug plan. Walgreens is the preferred retailer for scripts.

 

[oddnendz]

But with ApplePay the only think skimmed would have been a single use token.

Actually, I am happy that they have contactless payments. The gas station is very close to where I live. I only went there that one time but because I didn't want to drive over to Sam's Club.

 

[SusanK]

...and several weeks later a pregnancy test.

I'm a nurse in ob-g. A few years ago a young man walked in all chest puffed out with his girl. Doc examined her and told her she was 16 weeks gestation.

BF got very indignant stating loudly "that doctor doesn't know what he's doing. i only met her two months ago"

 

[bozzykid]

It does matter to a merchant as any flaw by that merchant is irrelevant with single pay tokens.

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But with ApplePay the only think skimmed would have been a single use token.

I am confused about what you are saying. Tokens have nothing to do with POS NFC support.

 

[SusanK]

Too bad they couldn't do it with iOS 8.

 

[Sith Vol]

Now I'll just have to find reasons to shop at Walgreens more.

 

[DerekAndonian]

This is what sets Apple apart from other tech companies. They are coordinated and when they set their minds to it, they can get something implemented quickly and correctly.

It's hard to disagree with that after seeing the stellar job they did with 8.0.1...

 

[Ntombi]

The rewards cards issue interests me. It'll ruin the fluidity of an apple pay transaction if I have to dig out loyalty cards.

My loyalty cards are almost all in Passbook or triggered by my proximity to the store. The Walgreens "card" comes up on my lock screen when I'm in or near a Walgreens. With Apple Pay activated, I have to assume the "card" will come up like normal, and then Apple Pay will pop up when I get the phone close to the NFC terminal.

 

[Dilster3k]

Apple Pay uses standard NFC, the Apple part is between your bank and what is on the phone, all backend stuff. Anywhere that takes NFC payments should take Apple Pay without issue (hmmm, which should mean US peeps traveling outside of the US can use it right?)

There is way more to this, which also sets it far apart from Google Wallet, etc. There are more sophisticated newer / advanced encryptions involved in this process as well, and each payment gets it's own custom serial code.

 

[RedBanana]

Wait, I thought NFC was contactless technology. Why do you have to tap?

It actually means no metal to metal contacts.

 

[thelookingglass]

I absolutely cannot wait until Apple Pay. There seems to be some significant momentum behind this and I think it's an excellent solution, much more secure and handier than carrying around a bunch of credit cards.

 

[Jeremy1026]

can't wait to buy condoms with my iPhone 6+.

Not that you'll need them carrying around that birth control.

 

[dontwalkhand]

The rewards cards issue interests me. It'll ruin the fluidity of an apple pay transaction if I have to dig out loyalty cards.

Type in the number. I don't carry any rewards cards. I don't get why people don't just key in their phone number on the PIN pad

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I noticed a few months ago Costco started carrying the iPhones and iPads again. I know there was a falling out between the two years earlier, but I'm glad to see my favorite big box selling Apple products again.

Now, would they be able to pull Apple Pay off without ticking off their current banking-credit card carrier, American Express? Perhaps the two could co-exist. I would think this could work based upon how many people are so attached to their iPhones & don't have an AmEx card; this could be huge for Costco.

Any ideas, opinions or predictions?

Simple. The NFC system can be setup so only Amex and debit cards can use Apple pay. If you try another card it'd just decline.

 

[ghettochris]

The rewards cards issue interests me. It'll ruin the fluidity of an apple pay transaction if I have to dig out loyalty cards.

I hate stores with rewards cards, it's like "hey, have a little discount for us to know your spending habits and figure out how to make more money off of you"

I would rather pay more and be private, and take my business that have good regular prices without loyalty cards.

 

[Manderby]

I guess we will see. Or more precise: The US will see. Or some parts thereof. Speaking only a selected number of people at least... those having new iPhones. And grocing at a particular store... With a backend not field-tested yet... And software undates more fragile than ... Well... I guess, we will see.

 

[MacMulti]

Restriction of camera phone within high profile workplace such as apple could be in place soon.

 

[Southern Dad]

Too bad I still won't have my iPhone 6 Plus at that time to try out Apple Pay.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

There is way more to this, which also sets it far apart from Google Wallet, etc. There are more sophisticated newer / advanced encryptions involved in this process as well, and each payment gets it's own custom serial code.

I realize that, but a lot of people in the thread are insisting the merchant has to do something to be able to take Apple Pay beyond accepting NFC, and they don't. So I was being simple....

The merchant does the easy work, their backend they pay for with their fees does the hard/heavy work.

 

[collegitdept]

CVS has it already. All this article does is say Apple Pay will launch on Oct 18!

Hopefully iOS 8.1 will not only bring Apple Pay but fix these horrendous wifi issues I've been having!

Are you sure CVS supports Apple Pay? Can anyone please confirm? What about other stores like Vons/Safeway, Albertsons, Ralphs/Kroger, or Costco?

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Type in the number. I don't carry any rewards cards. I don't get why people don't just key in their phone number on the PIN pad

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Simple. The NFC system can be setup so only Amex and debit cards can use Apple pay. If you try another card it'd just decline.

I'm not sure this will work (but really really hope!). Apple Pay currently does not support loyalty/membership cards required by retailers like Costco or Sam's Club.

But we can only hope! Would love to be able to use Apple Pay at Costco Wholesale and Costco Gas. Apple Pay at Costco can't come soon enough.

 

[sinfonye]

I think it suggests tapping just to make sure the phone is close enough to the pinpad, even if tapping isn't strictly necessary.

We use NFC in the UK on the London Underground, at my office,
and various other places. The chips need to be very close to the reader to register,
often effectively/actually touching the pad: you will get very frustrated if you actually try to avoid contact - hovering/continuous movement seems to disrupt the connection…
I typically keep my cards in a wallet, close to the outside,
and press the wallet flat against the reader to make the transaction.

 

[peterh988]

My advice: Buy the magnums while you're in the store, and make sure they see you. Then you can order the correct size on Amazon.

There's a story about Winston Churchill after WWII, sending aid to Russia, being asked if condoms counted as 'essentials'

"Send them extra large, but mark them extra small" he said.

 

[Tech198]

This would have to be a drug store ...

Maybe Apple Pay will be the most popular in this area and good 'test bed' for obvious reasons.

 

[Boomish69]

I just hope Apple get their act together in UK, so far it's been bollocks,they are going to loose the education market to Samsung very soon. as for Apple Pay here I'll believe it when I see it..

 

[bigchrisfgb]

I just hope Apple get their act together in UK, so far it's been bollocks,they are going to loose the education market to Samsung very soon. as for Apple Pay here I'll believe it when I see it..

The college I went to last year signed up with Apple to get new Macs and iPads as well as making it possible for staff and students to buy Apple products through them cheaper and across a period of time. The university I'm now at is writing software for Macs because of the increase in students and staff using Macs. Apple is not losing the education market here in the UK, it's expanding.

As for Apple pay here in the UK, Visa have said that they are working on it and it should be here in 2015.

 

[paulsdenton]

I just hope Apple get their act together in UK, so far it's been bollocks,they are going to loose the education market to Samsung very soon. as for Apple Pay here I'll believe it when I see it..

I would think that Apple Pay would be relatively easy to implement on your side of the pond, since Europe in general has been much farther along in payment technology than the US. At least that has been my experience.