USPS taking Apple Pay for online payments - but still not in post offices

AppleInsider · December 19, 2021 5:13PM

The U.S. Postal Service is now accepting Apple Pay, however Apple's payment platform is only currently accepted online, and probably won't be usable for in-person transactions for quite a while.

The USPS hasn't been a supporter of Apple Pay, but recently, it has adopted Apple's mobile payments system for some transactions. An update to its website allows users to use Apple Pay to purchase various services, including through its assorted apps.

This means Apple Pay can be used in transactions for The Postal Store, PO Box Online, Every Door Direct Mail, Click-N-Ship, and USPS Tracking Plus among others, as spotted by Appleosophy. To make the Apple Pay purchase, users must be using Safari version 10.0 or later on a supported iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

The new payment method is progress for the USPS, and a change that will help people with their holiday packages. It's still not a total acceptance of Apple Pay yet. It only applies to the website, and not any over-the-counter transactions at a physical Post Office.

Such a change to enable in-person Apple Pay transactions would require a major upgrade in infrastructure and terminals, affecting some 34,000 locations across the United States.

However, USPS' willingness to use Apple Pay on the website could be a sign that you may be able to buy postage using Apple Pay at Post Offices in the not too distant future.

Read on AppleInsider

mr lizard · December 19, 2021 8:31PM

Amazes me to hear that there’s countries out there where mobile wallet payments still aren’t accepted everywhere. Especially the US which is Apple’s home country.

dhawkins541 · December 19, 2021 9:32PM

My local usps office had an internet issue they aren't even taking debit card payments right now. Also, signed up for secret Santa couldn't mail it out because they couldn't scan the barcode to do the address label either. I had to drive about 40 mins to another little town to make the magic happen for some little girls.

slow n easy · December 19, 2021 10:02PM

mr lizard said:

Amazes me to hear that there’s countries out there where mobile wallet payments still aren’t accepted everywhere. Especially the US which is Apple’s home country.

I feel that It's especially frustrating that there is one particular U.S. company that allows mobile payments but only if you use their specific mobile payment app and they don't allow you to use any other mobile payment solution. Why doesn't congress investigate Walmart.

I don't understand why congress is concentrating on Apple so much when Apple is not even a monopoly at all. I don't think Apple is dominate in most categories, including phones. Samsung sells more phones than any other company. Apple is not dominate in maps, web browsers, streaming services, or personal computers and Apple is not trying to block other companies from selling tablets or smart watches. They shouldn't be punished for making products that people want to buy.

Samsung makes a hell of a lot more products than Apple does. For example; computers, tablets, smart watches, phones, TVs, displays, VR headsets, speakers, printers, SSDs, semiconductors, security systems, washers/dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, etc. Plus Samsung has subsidiaries that make things like ships, wind turbines, apartment complexes, clothing, solar panels, bio-healthcare products, medical equipment, etc. I'm sure that I'm missing a lot of stuff but you get my point.

macxpress · December 20, 2021 4:42PM

The USPS in general just needs a major overhaul. IMO, it has got to be the worst delivery courier service out there. 9/10 times I have to go get my packages because they're too big and bulky according to them so they can't delivery them. Like WTF! FedEx, UPS, Amazon, etc never has any issues. Things are hardly ever delivered on time either. I cringe every time I see something I ordered was shipped USPS.

macxpress · December 20, 2021 4:55PM

slow n easy said:

mr lizard said:

Amazes me to hear that there’s countries out there where mobile wallet payments still aren’t accepted everywhere. Especially the US which is Apple’s home country.

I feel that It's especially frustrating that there is one particular U.S. company that allows mobile payments but only if you use their specific mobile payment app and they don't allow you to use any other mobile payment solution. Why doesn't congress investigate Walmart.

I don't understand why congress is concentrating on Apple so much when Apple is not even a monopoly at all. I don't think Apple is dominate in most categories, including phones. Samsung sells more phones than any other company. Apple is not dominate in maps, web browsers, streaming services, or personal computers and Apple is not trying to block other companies from selling tablets or smart watches. They shouldn't be punished for making products that people want to buy.

Samsung makes a hell of a lot more products than Apple does. For example; computers, tablets, smart watches, phones, TVs, displays, VR headsets, speakers, printers, SSDs, semiconductors, security systems, washers/dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, etc. Plus Samsung has subsidiaries that make things like ships, wind turbines, apartment complexes, clothing, solar panels, bio-healthcare products, medical equipment, etc. I'm sure that I'm missing a lot of stuff but you get my point.

I think its because Apple gets more publicity and Apple is the most valuable company in the world so in some people's eyes, it's a monopoly and needs to be broken up. I think you're absolutely right though. Apple really isn't on top of anything except cash in the bank and the companies value. To me, that shows great leadership and a company with good direction if it can do that without selling the most phones, computers, etc. A company shouldn't be punished for its success. People at Apple are working their asses off to keep Apple ahead of the market and they're doing just that. I think they just did it again with the release of Apple Silicon. I think this is at least 5yrs ahead of anyone. They did the same thing with other Apple releases such as iPod, and iPhone. But they should be considered a monopoly because they work their ass off creating products and services people want to buy and are successful? I don't think some people really understand what a monopoly is and even if they were, it's not illegal to be a monopoly. It's illegal to use its monopolistic powers to maintain its monopoly, but being a monopoly itself isn't illegal. There's a difference there some just can't comprehend.

edited December 2021

payeco · December 20, 2021 11:49PM

macxpress said:

The USPS in general just needs a major overhaul. IMO, it has got to be the worst delivery courier service out there. 9/10 times I have to go get my packages because they're too big and bulky according to them so they can't delivery them. Like WTF! FedEx, UPS, Amazon, etc never has any issues. Things are hardly ever delivered on time either. I cringe every time I see something I ordered was shipped USPS.

You need to complain to your local postmaster. I have large packages delivered by USPS all the time with no issue. It sounds like you just have a lazy delivery person. Rarely do I have an issue with something from them being delivered in time. I have way more problems with FedEx and timely or correct deliveries.

dewme · December 21, 2021 12:19PM

The USPS made major upgrades to their POS infrastructure in the late 90s. I’d imagine that they have struggled to invest much more in their infrastructure since then, especially with the onerous pension funding policies that have been imposed upon them by the US Congress. I think the USPS could be very competitive if they were allowed to operate as a business, which they aren’t. Imagine what would happen to UPS or FedEx as businesses if the leadership was appointed through political favors and oversight was imposed by Congress and the White House. No business could thrive under those constraints.

lkrupp · December 21, 2021 4:41PM

mr lizard said:

Amazes me to hear that there’s countries out there where mobile wallet payments still aren’t accepted everywhere. Especially the US which is Apple’s home country.

The biggest offenders are Walmart and Home Depot. And it’s all about customer data, not convenience or security for their customers.

USPS taking Apple Pay for online payments - but still not in post offices

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