Publix rolling out out contactless Apple Pay at Supermarkets amid COVID-19
Publix, a popular grocery store chain in the U.S. south, has begun rolling out contactless payments in several of their locations including support for Apple Pay.
A post on Reddit by user Gabriel2790 shows a picture of an internal document. "Contactless payments are coming to our store! What does that mean," asks the document. "The most commonly known forms of contactless payment are Apple Pay and Android Pay."
The document goes on to explain how customers will be able to use mobile phones, smartwatches, and contactless credit and debit cards, as well as what cashiers can expect from the transaction. At the bottom of the document, it shows that the store in question will receive the ability to accept contactless payments on March 31, 2020.
Image Credit: Reddit u/Gabriel2790
It's not currently known whether all stores are receiving the update, or if it will debut in a gradual rollout across the chain. AppleInsider has learned that most Publix point-of-sale terminals can support the feature and will only need the install of a software update for the feature to go live.
Apple Pay and other forms of touch-free payment methods are a convenient way to limit users' direct contact with frequently touched surfaces like payment terminals. On average, contactless payment is quicker than traditional methods, such as paying cash, writing a check, or swiping a card.
Image Credit: Reddit u/Gabriel2790
Both of these benefits are especially important during the current outbreak of COVID-19 and can help protect both customers and cashiers from unnecessary exposure to the virus.
A post on Reddit by user Gabriel2790 shows a picture of an internal document. "Contactless payments are coming to our store! What does that mean," asks the document. "The most commonly known forms of contactless payment are Apple Pay and Android Pay."
The document goes on to explain how customers will be able to use mobile phones, smartwatches, and contactless credit and debit cards, as well as what cashiers can expect from the transaction. At the bottom of the document, it shows that the store in question will receive the ability to accept contactless payments on March 31, 2020.
Image Credit: Reddit u/Gabriel2790
It's not currently known whether all stores are receiving the update, or if it will debut in a gradual rollout across the chain. AppleInsider has learned that most Publix point-of-sale terminals can support the feature and will only need the install of a software update for the feature to go live.
Apple Pay and other forms of touch-free payment methods are a convenient way to limit users' direct contact with frequently touched surfaces like payment terminals. On average, contactless payment is quicker than traditional methods, such as paying cash, writing a check, or swiping a card.
Image Credit: Reddit u/Gabriel2790
Both of these benefits are especially important during the current outbreak of COVID-19 and can help protect both customers and cashiers from unnecessary exposure to the virus.
Comments
Meanwhile, as a Florida resident and now retired I attach this as a wee bit of levity in these horrible times: (note it is semi-true, Publix are open early twice a week, I believe, for us oldies).
Where I live I use Apple Pay for almost every transaction. The only place I have to interact with anything other than holding my Watch or iPhone up to the terminal is at the Mobil station. Even though I’m using my credit card to pay I still have to touch the screen to tell the POS it is not a debit card, then again to decline a car wash.
When I was in Florida in January I stopped at a Publix and was surprised they didn’t support Apple Pay. It’s been years since I’ve been in a grocery store that didn’t accept it.
Home Depot and Lowe’s remain holdouts. Annoyingly so, considering Home Depot’s customer data breech.
It appears relative to the retailer/POS. I’ve used the same Visa checkcard at multiple retailers and some required the PIN, a signature, or nothing at all.
I always suspected this motive was the reason Publix refused to accept Apple Pay and was constantly trying to confirm that from a manager somehow. Well, COVID-19 seems to have de-pantsed their consumer unfriendly schemes. You would think outfits like Publix would simply be happy to have the increased sales Apple Pay will bring, especially in these glove-wearing, social distancing times. Let’s hope they don’t make us do something stupid and which offers absolutely no security, such as tapping a confirmation button or requiring a signature. Food Lion and ALDI don’t make me do that when I use Apple Pay.
BTW, Food Lion, Lowe’s Foods, and Wegman’s all have Shoppers’ Card rackets and they accept Apple Pay. Are you listening Kroger & Harris Teeter?
Home Depot and Lowe’s remain holdouts. Annoyingly so, considering Home Depot’s customer data breech. In Dallas, it is pretty much Target that consistency support it. WalMart, Kroger, Tom Thumb, Aldi do not. CVS and Walgreens claim to support ApplePay, but the stores around here do not. The Home Depot, Lowe's, and Elliots do not support it either. In many eating places the employees do not know they support Apple Pay. We have to keep saying, your company supports it, just run it through as a credit card and you will see. We get a lot of blank stares, calling the manager and telling them they do not know what to do. Many times, the manager does not know either until they finally run the charge through and are amazed they did not need to do anything. Some stores supported it, then an update to their POS took ApplePay away.
People are impressed with my Apple Card. And so am I — it offers favorable exchange rates and no exchange fees.
I live in both Costa Rica and South Florida, and Publix is a great store. I'm pretty sure Publix's problem is agreements they made when joining the ill-fated Current-C. I'm glad to hear that by the time I return to the Miami area,, Publix will have finally become as modern as Costa Rican's chains ... LOL.
There are 9 self checkout machines in my local market, 3 rows of 3 machines, and they have temporarily closed down the middle machine in each row, because of the virus, so that people can keep their distance.
A number of gas stations in my area now also have NFC available at the pump. There’s also a self-serve ice machine in town that accepts ApplePay. Select 10 or 20 pound bag, wave my Apple Watch in front of it and out pops my ice.