Walmart Pay 'Close to Surpassing' Apple Pay in U.S. Mobile Payments Usage

[MacRumors]

Walmart announced "Walmart Pay" in December of 2015, bundling its mobile payment solution directly into the Walmart app for iOS and Android devices and entering the market one year after Apple's own Apple Pay launched in 2014. Now available nationwide in 4,774 Walmart stores, Walmart Pay is "close to surpassing" Apple Pay in terms of mobile payments usage in the United States (via Bloomberg).

According to Daniel Eckert, senior vice president of Walmart services and digital acceleration, Walmart Pay is enrolling "tens of thousands of new users a day," and has seen a steady growth over the past few months. Two-thirds of those who try it use it again within twenty-one days. These statistics give Eckert confidence that Walmart Pay will soon beat Apple Pay in the U.S., "in terms of use by shoppers in stores where they're accepted."

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s app is close to surpassing Apple Pay in usage for mobile payments in the U.S., giving the world's largest retailer even more clout as a growing number of people shop with their smartphones.

"If daily enrollments don't slow down, I think that's pretty well in the cards shortly," said Eckert, senior vice president for services and digital acceleration. "I would have to imagine we are getting pretty close."

Market researcher Richard Crone predicted that Walmart Pay will grow bigger than Apple Pay in active U.S. users (who use the mobile wallets for at least two transactions per month) by the end of 2018. Walmart and Apple reportedly held discussions in early 2016 that centered upon incorporating Apple Pay into the Walmart iOS app, but fell through because of the "difficulty of blending the technology underpinning each company's approach."

Walmart is said to have begun gaining ground on Apple earlier in 2017, when 5.1 percent of Walmart shoppers said they used Walmart Pay this past June, just below the 5.5 percent of iPhone users who said the same at locations that accept Apple Pay. In terms of other competitors, Walmart Pay's adoption rate is "higher than Samsung Pay and Android Pay combined." One analyst pointed out this is likely because Walmart owns and controls the mobile wallet software and "can make quick changes."

Chart via Bloomberg​

"Apple Pay's road is much more difficult than Wal-Mart's is," Brendan Miller, an analyst at Forrester Research, said in a phone interview. "It means that Wal-Mart can make quicker changes, they can move faster in many respects than Apple Pay." Forrester's survey of 58,000 online consumers in the first half of 2017 found that 7 percent of them used Apple Pay in the past three months, while 6 percent used Walmart Pay.

Although the services are similar in their payment goals, there are a few differences between Walmart Pay and Apple Pay. Walmart's mobile wallet presents users with a barcode that has to be scanned to complete a transaction, unlike Apple Pay's NFC tap-based system. Walmart Pay also incorporates all of a user's in-store offers, promotions, rewards, and gift card balances in one place, which Apple Pay is still inconsistent in supporting for many stores.

Despite their close rivalry in the mobile wallet space, Walmart is reportedly "more interested" in directly competing with Amazon than Apple. Over the past year, Amazon has been expanding quickly in the grocery space with its various test projects like Amazon Go and its acquisition of Whole Foods. Walmart said it will continue focusing on expanding the features of Walmart Pay as more competition emerges, and according to Crone the debut of the software has provided a solid launchpad for the company's future: "They flawlessly deployed the system, and it works."

Article Link: Walmart Pay 'Close to Surpassing' Apple Pay in U.S. Mobile Payments Usage

 

[geoff5093]

If only Apple would incentivize companies to switch to NFC faster. They're just hoping that companies adopt NFC because users want it, but clearly this isn't happening fast enough.

It would also be great if Apple used just a small portion of their profits to create an incentive for consumers, like getting iTunes credit for ever X amount of money spent or transactions made. Samsung Pay and Android Pay both have similar promotions. The problem is corporations aren't willingly switching to NFC just because a very small user base want it.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Unsurprising. Apple pay is basically Walgreens pay.

Most merchants aren't even sure if and what NFC they support and it seems to rarely be Apple based on waving my phone around.

And small businesses are almost exclusively square these days.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Insanity but here we witness the power of market share.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Well we know this "study" wasn't peer reviewed. Walmart Pay is accepted in Walmart and Walmart and Walmart... Apple Pay is accepted in many stores. This is a comparison of two very different things. If Walmart Pay branches out and is accepted at other stores then we can start to make the comparison.

 

[TimeSquareDesi]

You day will come, Walmart. No one will stop the Amazon steamroller.

 

[Hessian]

Meh, Walmart pay is not a payment in other stores. That is like comparing Apple Pay to Target gift cards.

I am glad they see value in Mobile payments, however misguided.

 

[BornAgainMac]

When I woke up today, I felt like I woke up in a new dimension and then I read this story.

 

[jayducharme]

"in terms of use by shoppers in stores where they're accepted."

That's the key, isn't it? In other words, Walmart.

 

[RightMACatU]

XYZ Pay apps are duplicating the principal of having multiple credit cards in your wallet... Same **** different pay

 

[cardfan]

Not a surprise since I never use apple pay unless it's online staring at me. I haven't used this crap at a store since discover ran their promotion. It's way too inconvenient. It's up to Apple to make it worthwhile to use. Open up that wallet and start offering rewards Apple..

 

[Gueeds]

Walmart Pay is ok. I once got logged out when I tried to buy something. So I had to scramble to enter my account info: no issues with Apple Pay there.

Also, if you get hounded by the checkers at the exits, good luck explaining to them why you don’t have a receipt because you used Walmart Pay

 

[MysteryMii215]

If daily enrollments don't slow down, I think that's pretty well in the cards shortly," said Eckert

Welp, they just jinxed any chance of that happening by saying it to the public.

PS. Walmart is just one server breach away from people never using Walmart Pay ever again.​

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Is Walmart pay directly comparable to Apple Pay though? I mean, yes, both are mobile payment systems, but is Walmart Pay accepted anywhere other than WM? It seems like it's a one-store system whereas Apple Pay is more "universal."

I'm not a regular WM shopper but they are the only place in town that sells Chili Chocolate Granola bars and they are my "crack." So I have to venture in a couple times a year to buy my horde. One thing I noticed that is different than Apple Pay (because it saves WM $ no doubt) is that when you self check out the WM Pay option is the biggest icon. (I don't use it myself -- no reason to).

OTOH when I'm shopping at other stores I almost have to know ahead of time if they accept it. There is typically zero promotion of its availability. And that is a problem because no one wants to look like a dolt trying to tap a console that isn't NFC capable (I've seen a lot of consoles that have the NFC logo but the NFC is actually turned off).

So I think Apple could do a lot better promotion here -- either lowering the rate it gets per charge or offering merchants promotional $. But in exchange require merchants to display an Apple Pay logo on the console or nearby.

 

[a.gomez]

Sure, you use whatever the store you shop at takes. Also sounds like it is better tailored to the Walmart store. Would be insane not to use it.

 

[NachoGrande]

That's hilarious.

 

[MysteryMii215]

And small businesses are almost exclusively square these days.

You do realize that Square makes this, right?: https://squareup.com/contactless-chip-reader

 

[cardfan]

OTOH when I'm shopping at other stores I almost have to know ahead of time if they accept it. There is typically zero promotion of its availability. And that is a problem because no one wants to look like a dolt trying to tap a console that isn't NFC capable (I've seen a lot of consoles that have the NFC logo but the NFC is actually turned off).

So I think Apple could do a lot better promotion here -- either lowering the rate it gets per charge or offering merchants promotional $. But in exchange require merchants to display and Apple Pay logo on the console or nearby.

Yep, this basically. This is why it's not that convenient. But I would go through this trouble if Apple makes it worth my while..just as discover did with its 25% off promo way back when.

 

[TreyCox]

I've been using Walmart pay a lot since getting the iPhone X. Face ID makes it really easy. I just go to the self-checkout, the iPhone scans my face, I scan the code on the screen, and it's ready to go.

 

[NachoGrande]

Is Walmart pay directly comparable to Apple Pay though? I mean, yes, both are mobile payment systems, but is Walmart Pay accepted anywhere other than WM? It seems like it's a one-store system whereas Apple Pay is more "universal."

I'm not a regular WM shopper but they are the only place in town that sells Chili Chocolate Granola bars and they are my "crack." So I have to venture in a couple times a year to buy my horde. One thing I noticed that is different than Apple Pay (because it saves WM $ no doubt) is that when you self check out the WM Pay option is the biggest icon. (I don't use it myself -- no reason to).

OTOH when I'm shopping at other stores I almost have to know ahead of time if they accept it. There is typically zero promotion of its availability. And that is a problem because no one wants to look like a dolt trying to tap a console that isn't NFC capable (I've seen a lot of consoles that have the NFC logo but the NFC is actually turned off).

So I think Apple could do a lot better promotion here -- either lowering the rate it gets per charge or offering merchants promotional $. But in exchange require merchants to display and Apple Pay logo on the console or nearby.

That's my problem with apple pay. Unless I see a sticker saying that it works I don't even try. I can't tell you how many times I looked like an idiot trying to pay with my phone only to find out it doesn't work.

 

[Pman17]

Not surprising, one of the issues is most merchants don't advertise Apple Pay. You also don't see the NFC or Apple Pay options till you're unsure and pull out the card by the time it displays on the payment screen. Kinda feels awkward too when you don't have a card ready. Many don't even know what NFC or the symbol is or that it's related to Apple Pay.

Walmart advertises Walmart Pay big time, you're exposed to it immediately when you look at the pay pad screen for the first time. Another thing is people shop for groceries every week so Walmart has the edge because they're exposed to Walmart Pay advertising every week. Not really any other grocery store has NFC. I can't pay with Apple Pay at HEB or Kroger in Texas where I do most of my shopping.

If Apple wants to gain ground, they have to push it and a good start is the grocery stores. Whole Foods doesn't count.

 

[MrGuder]

I avoid Walmart at all costs.

 

[5105973]

@Chupa Chupa there is actually such a thing as chili chocolate granola bars? My mind is blown. I do like chili. I love chocolate. I’m good with granola. I can’t imagine them together. I only go to Walmart when I’m down south. Next time I go, I’ll go seek out this strange treat you mention.

 

[AJ5790]

Unsurprising. Apple pay is basically Walgreens pay.

Most merchants aren't even sure if and what NFC they support and it seems to rarely be Apple based on waving my phone around.

And small businesses are almost exclusively square these days.

Completely inaccurate. True when Apple Pay came out but no longer. My gas station started taking it 6 months ago. Last major one for us is grocery store, and Safeway announces they’re adding support. Speaking of small businesses, I’m a high school teacher and run our senior class fundraising efforts, and even we take Apple Pay because of Square.

 

[MarioTUSA]

Who cares about Walmart ? Is accepted only on Walmart, as ApplePay "everywhere"