I see the places I go to support Apple Pay more and more. Even if it doesn't say Apple Pay supported here, when I see the symbol on a screen (The sideways wifi fan) I go ahead and give Apple Pay a try and it generally works. Other places started supported it and you see the Apple Pay Logo on the screen. Support is growing. Anyone who thought this was just going to happen overnight are foolish. Just look how many years it took to get credit card terminals into businesses in the first place. I still remember the last job where I worked 18 years at, and earily on they were sticking credit cards into a card rolling device using carbon paper. There was no terminal. I remember when we got the first one.
All these places now have to get new terminals. These Mom & Pop stores you don't have to worry so much about getting hacked as they don't have people's credit card data. It's the Big Stores like Target and Home Depot and other large chain stores that collect credit card data and then those databases get hacked.
My Debit Card still has no chip! The banks are really slow in moving forward. Home Depot where Apple Pay used to work at, then stopped it, and said they were going to support it, still hasn't. Wal-Mart at some point will have to cave. No one in their right mind is going to use their QR code app garbage. Who wants to use a app for each store to pay? Target has always supported Apple Pay since launch, ONLINE ONLY!!! They really need to allow you to use it in store. Still, Apple Pay support continues to grow. It's not stopping or shrinking, but it's also not going to grow overnight.
Good points in your comment, but your estimation about Apple Pay's success seems pretty generous, especially in light of the additional problems that you listed. I've been trying to use Apple Pay as much as possible ever since I got my iPhone 6 over two years ago, and the roll-out seems to be painfully slow and poorly done. I still have to go out of my way to use it. The majority of merchants I know of have had Apple Pay capable terminals for a while now, they just don't allow it (and I try, frequently). Not to mention the nearly complete lack of public awareness of its benefits. And where it should be easiest, implementing Apple Pay in apps, there is still a significant lack of uptake, with some apps even discontinuing its use (e.g. the Wanelo shopping app).
It seems so absurd and frustrating that such a terrific product, which significantly increases the value of the Apple ecosystem, seems so poorly managed and marketed.
You seem to be blaming Apple for the entire US merchant industry taking time to switchover to have NFC capable terminals (and in fact, this change is happening very quickly compared with past changes to banking/credit POS systems).
I see the places I go to support Apple Pay more and more. Even if it doesn't say Apple Pay supported here, when I see the symbol on a screen (The sideways wifi fan) I go ahead and give Apple Pay a try and it generally works. Other places started supported it and you see the Apple Pay Logo on the screen. Support is growing. Anyone who thought this was just going to happen overnight are foolish. Just look how many years it took to get credit card terminals into businesses in the first place. I still remember the last job where I worked 18 years at, and earily on they were sticking credit cards into a card rolling device using carbon paper. There was no terminal. I remember when we got the first one.
All these places now have to get new terminals. These Mom & Pop stores you don't have to worry so much about getting hacked as they don't have people's credit card data. It's the Big Stores like Target and Home Depot and other large chain stores that collect credit card data and then those databases get hacked.
My Debit Card still has no chip! The banks are really slow in moving forward. Home Depot where Apple Pay used to work at, then stopped it, and said they were going to support it, still hasn't. Wal-Mart at some point will have to cave. No one in their right mind is going to use their QR code app garbage. Who wants to use a app for each store to pay? Target has always supported Apple Pay since launch, ONLINE ONLY!!! They really need to allow you to use it in store. Still, Apple Pay support continues to grow. It's not stopping or shrinking, but it's also not going to grow overnight.
Good points in your comment, but your estimation about Apple Pay's success seems pretty generous, especially in light of the additional problems that you listed. I've been trying to use Apple Pay as much as possible ever since I got my iPhone 6 over two years ago, and the roll-out seems to be painfully slow and poorly done. I still have to go out of my way to use it. The majority of merchants I know of have had Apple Pay capable terminals for a while now, they just don't allow it (and I try, frequently). Not to mention the nearly complete lack of public awareness of its benefits. And where it should be easiest, implementing Apple Pay in apps, there is still a significant lack of uptake, with some apps even discontinuing its use (e.g. the Wanelo shopping app).
It seems so absurd and frustrating that such a terrific product, which significantly increases the value of the Apple ecosystem, seems so poorly managed and marketed.
You seem to be blaming Apple for the entire US merchant industry taking time to switchover to have NFC capable terminals (and in fact, this change is happening very quickly compared with past changes to banking/credit POS systems).
Not at all brucemc. Most of the NFC capable terminals I use have Apple Pay deactivated, and I go out of my way to find Apple Pay (off the top of my head.. most grocery stores, world market, home depot, the container store, target, walmart, cvs). Furthermore, that's only one of the issues holding back Apple Pay.
It's frustrating that such a slam dunk bonus to the Apple ecosystem seems to lack any significant attention from Apple from the consumer/merchant side of things. I've noticed they recently started ads on facebook. But of course all they do is show the Apple Pay logo and force you to click on the link to learn anything about it. Which of course no-one is going to do. At least the Beats ads show images and information without making the user click on something. Just seems that Apple Pay is really poorly managed overall.
On the business/Apple Pay adopter side, I would presume Apple must stil tread carefully and lightly in order to not disturb those entities that have a perception that this additional wrinkle in their credit/cash/data acclimation may cause a serious disruption or decrease in profits. Slow uptake is in the eye of the consumer. To many proprietors, it is an unwelcome revolution, and some will change only kicking and screaming. In my estimation, 35% uptake is a huge victory for Apple, considering the blowback they get from so many!
Not at all brucemc. Most of the NFC capable terminals I use have Apple Pay deactivated, and I go out of my way to find Apple Pay (off the top of my head.. most grocery stores, world market, home depot, the container store, target, walmart, cvs). Furthermore, that's only one of the issues holding back Apple Pay.
It's frustrating that such a slam dunk bonus to the Apple ecosystem seems to lack any significant attention from Apple from the consumer/merchant side of things.
In addition I think many US retailers made a decision prior to the chip and signature requirements took effect in October to opt for the chip terminal sans NFC, probably because it was cheaper. Now that they have purchased their new terminals, they are unlikely to repurchase NFC versions anytime soon.
i still see retail terminals that have a crude note saying "No chip reader" even though the terminal is equipped with a chip reader.
I have no idea what the process is to get Apple Pay running but I imagine it is rather complicated with at least 4-5 different entities being involved. The terminal vendor, the customer CC issuing bank, Apple, the merchant's bank and probably a third party IT firm to integrate it all.
Not at all brucemc. Most of the NFC capable terminals I use have Apple Pay deactivated, and I go out of my way to find Apple Pay (off the top of my head.. most grocery stores, world market, home depot, the container store, target, walmart, cvs). Furthermore, that's only one of the issues holding back Apple Pay.
It's frustrating that such a slam dunk bonus to the Apple ecosystem seems to lack any significant attention from Apple from the consumer/merchant side of things.
In addition I think many US retailers made a decision prior to the chip and signature requirements took effect in October to opt for the chip terminal sans NFC, probably because it was cheaper. Now that they have purchased their new terminals, they are unlikely to repurchase NFC versions anytime soon.
i still see retail terminals that have a crude note saying "No chip reader" even though the terminal is equipped with a chip reader.
I have no idea what the process is to get Apple Pay running but I imagine it is rather complicated with at least 4-5 different entities being involved. The terminal vendor, the customer CC issuing bank, Apple, the merchant's bank and probably a third party IT firm to integrate it all.
Good initial point, but it does seem like there are a lot of terminals that have the capability for NFC and chip, but choose to deactivate the NFC portion. Also, I was under the impression that NFC readers largely are able to utilize Apple Pay by default, even without the merchant being aware, so that it needs to be deliberately shut off (I think Apple Pay even worked at CVS before they deliberately shut it down, IIRC); it seems that a lot of the back end work has been done.
As an aside, I need to eat a small portion of crow. I took another look at Facebook, and the Apple Pay ads have improved, and are showing useful information linking Apple Pay with specific retailers, and even including promotions and specials. I hope this is just the beginning of Apple proving me wrong.
Also, I was under the impression that NFC readers largely are able to utilize Apple Pay by default, even without the merchant being aware, so that it needs to be deliberately shut off (I think Apple Pay even worked at CVS before they deliberately shut it down, IIRC); it seems that a lot of the back end work has been done.
Yeah, perhaps. The same thing was true at Home Depot. I'm thinking that once the bean counters got the first bill with Apple's additional surcharge they said screw this and shut it down.
Also, I was under the impression that NFC readers largely are able to utilize Apple Pay by default, even without the merchant being aware, so that it needs to be deliberately shut off (I think Apple Pay even worked at CVS before they deliberately shut it down, IIRC); it seems that a lot of the back end work has been done.
Yeah, perhaps. The same thing was true at Home Depot. I'm thinking that once the bean counters got the first bill with Apple's additional surcharge they said screw this and shut it down.
What additional surcharge do retailers have to pay?
Apple Pay works great! I use it all of the time now on my iPhone SE, whenever Apple Pay is available.
I wish that it was available at my local grocery store for example, but it's not, at least not yet. That's probably the store that I visit most often, and things would be much easier with Apple Pay there.
There I have to use a Credit Card and I have to sign my signature, using a stylus that barely works on a black & white screen that probably is 1995 tech.
There should be an easy way for third parties to use Apple Pay, so that I could pay my weed dealer with Apple Pay, for example.
I had that problem -- till I changed grocers to ones who accept ApplePay. I did the same for my drugstore. I now shop at Walgreens instead of CVS.
While Apple Pay is quicker and more convenient (particularly with the Apple Watch), that's not why I use it. When my credit card was hacked and I reported the fraud to my credit card company they suggested that I use Apple Pay as much as possible instead of their chip card saying that ApplePay is more secure than a chip card.
And, BTW, a great security measure I have started using is to set the alerts on my card to send me a text message whenever a charge is recorded on the card. That's actually how I caught the fraud: I was sitting in the parking lot of my grocery store when I got a text message that my card had just been used at a gas station. It turned out the gas station was 300 miles away from where I live.
So when is Target going to support Pay. So annoying it doesn't.
Target should have been the FIRST to accept ApplePay since they were the first to be hacked -- exposing millions of customers to fraudulent use of their personal data.
I hesitated to shop again at Target after the hack. But after they refused ApplePay I blacklisted them completely and haven't been in a Target since. ... I won't shop at a store that cares nothing about exposing my financial and personal data to hackers.
That's great but still many of the top national retailers refuse to get on board.
Home Depot Lowes Best Buy Target Costco Walmart and many other stores found in malls across America.
The real tipping point will be when those stores get Apple Pay. There are probably several reasons why they don't get on board, but limited ability to collect customer data is probably at the top of the list and perhaps the higher fees and more expensive terminals.
Mostly they just want to collect your personal and financial data. Which, when you consider that several of them have already been hacked, just doesn't make sense to me to give it to them. I avoid stores who will not take ApplePay.
So when is Target going to support Pay. So annoying it doesn't.
Probably would if they hadn't gotten hacked a couple of years ago. Now, they're afraid to do ANYTHING. Even if it is actually safer.
I think it's the other way around:: Target values collecting your personal and financial data above the security of their customer's private personal and financial data - even though their hack exposed that data for millions of their customers. If YOUR data is hacked from their system, it is your loss, not theirs. They don't care.
Also, I was under the impression that NFC readers largely are able to utilize Apple Pay by default, even without the merchant being aware, so that it needs to be deliberately shut off (I think Apple Pay even worked at CVS before they deliberately shut it down, IIRC); it seems that a lot of the back end work has been done.
Yeah, perhaps. The same thing was true at Home Depot. I'm thinking that once the bean counters got the first bill with Apple's additional surcharge they said screw this and shut it down.
I suspect it had more to do with the fact they want to collect your personal and financial information -- and they can't do that if you use ApplePay. Wasn't HomeDepot already hacked? You would think they would learn. Oh wait! While it's their databases that got hacked, but it's your information that was stolen -- so they don't care! I shop at places that do care about their customers and Home Depot is not one of them.
That's great but still many of the top national retailers refuse to get on board.
Home Depot Lowes Best Buy Target Costco Walmart and many other stores found in malls across America.
The real tipping point will be when those stores get Apple Pay. There are probably several reasons why they don't get on board, but limited ability to collect customer data is probably at the top of the list and perhaps the higher fees and more expensive terminals.
You're very wrong about Best Buy. They've taken it for awhile and tout it at my local Best Buy as an option.
Comments
It's frustrating that such a slam dunk bonus to the Apple ecosystem seems to lack any significant attention from Apple from the consumer/merchant side of things. I've noticed they recently started ads on facebook. But of course all they do is show the Apple Pay logo and force you to click on the link to learn anything about it. Which of course no-one is going to do. At least the Beats ads show images and information without making the user click on something. Just seems that Apple Pay is really poorly managed overall.
i still see retail terminals that have a crude note saying "No chip reader" even though the terminal is equipped with a chip reader.
I have no idea what the process is to get Apple Pay running but I imagine it is rather complicated with at least 4-5 different entities being involved. The terminal vendor, the customer CC issuing bank, Apple, the merchant's bank and probably a third party IT firm to integrate it all.
As an aside, I need to eat a small portion of crow. I took another look at Facebook, and the Apple Pay ads have improved, and are showing useful information linking Apple Pay with specific retailers, and even including promotions and specials. I hope this is just the beginning of Apple proving me wrong.
While Apple Pay is quicker and more convenient (particularly with the Apple Watch), that's not why I use it. When my credit card was hacked and I reported the fraud to my credit card company they suggested that I use Apple Pay as much as possible instead of their chip card saying that ApplePay is more secure than a chip card.
And, BTW, a great security measure I have started using is to set the alerts on my card to send me a text message whenever a charge is recorded on the card. That's actually how I caught the fraud: I was sitting in the parking lot of my grocery store when I got a text message that my card had just been used at a gas station. It turned out the gas station was 300 miles away from where I live.
I hesitated to shop again at Target after the hack. But after they refused ApplePay I blacklisted them completely and haven't been in a Target since.
... I won't shop at a store that cares nothing about exposing my financial and personal data to hackers.