 Card is not as Pain Free to use as promised- thinking of just dumping it.

[tigres]

Let me just say that the ease of use of this card has been far from easy this past month since receiving. I am going to highlight some pain points below and in doing so hopefully will perhaps uncover some other's use case "fails" that may be pushing others away from using this card as well.

Brief history:

• Received card early Sept.
• Activated easy
• Good Rate (pay off monthly anyway)
• decent limit
• Got it for security and ease of use
• Wallet cash back is ok

First and foremost, I use the card online and at pay terminals when possible. Changed all of my Apple services to charge this card vs. my AMEX Platinum (which I have had since 1996). 99% of my experience has been good, easy etc.

Here comes the Rub:
In mid Sept, I made a very large transaction at a jeweler that I was planning for a long time. When I went to the store to pick up my item, they did have a contactless terminal however apple pay had not been activated yet. Thus, I had brought my  physical card with me just in case- so we used that (chip method).

As soon as the card was entered in the chip machine, I got an alert on my iPhone that action was required followed by an email from apple to authorize said transaction. Naturally, I went into the wallet app and Authorized the suspicious activity- yet the transaction was immediately declined. The card then needed to be put into the chip reader again, thus allowing the transaction to go through. I found this odd, and chatted online later in the day with iMessage (which this experience while easy to do is only met with short, curt, and less than stellar reps on the other end). They told me going forward, this would not happen- ok great.

I paid off 80% of my balance, which is not due until 31st Oct, and moved on to the second strike.

Last night, I purchased 1200 in lumber from Lowes online. I am replacing a deck top at my house, and my contractor advised what was needed for the job for him to pick up. Order was placed, I used the card # for my Apple Card stored on my Mac, and received a confirmation. This morning, apparently Lowes pulled the order (lumber) for pickup, and then charged the card. 7:15am, I again receive a notification of suspicious activity to Authorize through the wallet app (again I go in and do it immediately). - Face ID, Secure Enclave, yada yada. Immediately, the transaction shows declined. Wonderful....

Lowes of course tells my contractor who is sitting there my card did not go through and I have to re-order again, online. I am not going to fault Lowes crappy system here, it's not the point. So I replace the order, use my trusty AMEX card and Done...

Moral of this story, this card IMO is a Pain in the ass to use for large purchases if you have to run a transaction twice for a charge. What the hell is the point of all this security in the first place?

End Rant..
I wont be using this card for any further large transactions. YMMV

Last thought. iMessage service with this card sucks, they are rude, short, and do not answer detailed questions. Ask them a direct question, you are greeted with a reply that is out in left field. They have a long way to go with this overall service.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Let me just say that the ease of use of this card has been far from easy this past month since receiving. I am going to highlight some pain points below and in doing so hopefully will perhaps uncover some other's use case "fails" that may be pushing others away from using this card as well.

Brief history:

• Received card early Sept.
• Activated easy
• Good Rate (pay off monthly anyway)
• decent limit
• Got it for security and ease of use
• Wallet cash back is ok

First and foremost, I use the card online and at pay terminals when possible. Changed all of my Apple services to charge this card vs. my AMEX Platinum (which I have had since 1996). 99% of my experience has been good, easy etc.

Here comes the Rub:
In mid Sept, I made a very large transaction at a jeweler that I was planning for a long time. When I went to the store to pick up my item, they did have a contactless terminal however apple pay had not been activated yet. Thus, I had brought my  physical card with me just in case- so we used that (chip method).

As soon as the card was entered in the chip machine, I got an alert on my iPhone that action was required followed by an email from apple to authorize said transaction. Naturally, I went into the wallet app and Authorized the suspicious activity- yet the transaction was immediately declined. The card then needed to be put into the chip reader again, thus allowing the transaction to go through. I found this odd, and chatted online later in the day with iMessage (which this experience while easy to do is only met with short, curt, and less than stellar reps on the other end). They told me going forward, this would not happen- ok great.

I paid off 80% of my balance, which is not due until 31st Oct, and moved on to the second strike.

Last night, I purchased 1200 in lumber from Lowes online. I am replacing a deck top at my house, and my contractor advised what was needed for the job for him to pick up. Order was placed, I used the card # for my Apple Card stored on my Mac, and received a confirmation. This morning, apparently Lowes pulled the order (lumber) for pickup, and then charged the card. 7:15am, I again receive a notification of suspicious activity to Authorize through the wallet app (again I go in and do it immediately). - Face ID, Secure Enclave, yada yada. Immediately, the transaction shows declined. Wonderful....

Lowes of course tells my contractor who is sitting there my card did not go through and I have to re-order again, online. I am not going to fault Lowes crappy system here, it's not the point. So I replace the order, use my trusty AMEX card and Done...

Moral of this story, this card IMO is a Pain in the ass to use for large purchases if you have to run a transaction twice for a charge. What the hell is the point of all this security in the first place?

End Rant..
I wont be using this card for any further large transactions. YMMV

Last thought. iMessage service with this card sucks, they are rude, short, and do not answer detailed questions. Ask them a direct question, you are greeted with a reply that is out in left field. They have a long way to go with this overall service.

Most of the issues you report here are on Goldman Sachs primarily, but also on Apple by association. Apple has a huge role in this — ater all, the card is branded as Apple, and Apple chose GS as the servicing partner. The fact that GS has no credit card product apart from this Apple Card raises other questions about Apple's selection of GS.

I am reminded of Apple's launch of the iPhone, and the selection of AT&T as the carrier partner for the original iPhone. Presumably, AT&T was more willing to cow-tow to Apple's demands than was VZW (or any other carrier), and so AT&T was the partner. I can't help but wonder if Apple chose GS for the exact same reason - the ability to strong-arm GS into a more lucrative deal for Apple.

Personally, I find your concerns both valid and troubling from a consumer's POV. Apple needs to step up its game here, and hold the feet of Goldman Sachs to the fire. Thank you for the warning — I will not be using my Apple Card for large purchases.

 

[Velin]

Thanks for reporting. Hopefully it will be addressed. Any user/owner of an Apple Card will want large purchases to go through seamlessly, period.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

.

 

[tigres]

Apple has had experience with other credit card issuers, most recently with Barclaycard. In fact, Apple has approved Apple-branded credit cards for decades.

This is not Apple's first walk in the park with credit cards.

I've had my own issues with Goldman Sachs in the brief time I've had my Apple Card and have subsequently shelved this card for the foreseeable future.

Apple must shoulder some of the blame in Goldman Sachs' failings as their service provider. Apple selected a rookie in the consumer credit card space and it is showing.

In the end, some people will blame Apple, some people will blame GS, but neither can escape the loss of goodwill.

Trust is earned, not a free entitlement.

May I ask if your experiences have been similar? Additionally can you advise why you too may be shelving this card as well.

Thanks

 

[chscag]

Everyone: Thanks for posting your experiences with the Apple Card. I have been on the fence post about applying for one, however, after reading all this I think I will stick with my trusty Amex and Visa cards.

 

[cardfan]

I’m not sure why you’d want to use this card with large purchases. No purchase protection. No extended warranty. And the rewards suck for the two you mentioned.

Stick with your Amex for those.

 

[TXO]

This card has been a pain for me too. In the month and a half I’ve had it, I’ve had to call GS three times due to declined transactions. Every time I called them, they would say I had to verify my identity and that it should be fixed and not happen again and then it does it again!. Never had that much trouble with a credit card!

 

[tigres]

I’m not sure why you’d want to use this card with large purchases. No purchase protection. No extended warranty. And the rewards suck for the two you mentioned.

Stick with your Amex for those.

This is a good question:
For me, I did not need the warranty from AMEX for Trex decking, and the purchase I made at the store came with a very long warranty in and of itself. But your point is certainly valid

 

[JPH675]

After 4 weeks or so, I'd say I am pretty happy with Apple Card. I've had about 30 transactions, the largest being my purchase of the latest iPhone 11 from Apple, and I've had no issues attributable to GS or Apple. My issues have been poor NFC contactless payment devices owned by the merchants, and that is not an Apple Pay issue. Most transactions have been less than $100.

I used to use a lot of cash and a debit card previously, and I basically use the Apple Card like a debit card, and a month later, I have an extra $100 or so I didn't have before. My bank does not charge me to pay off my Apple Card with GS a couple times a week, and I think Apple Pay is safer than a swipe or chip card. I really, really like that GS does not sell my purchase history to 3rd party advertisers like BoA does as well as other credit card companies. Using the physical white Apple Card only nets you 1% cash back so I really try to use contactless Apple Pay which is usually 2% back, sometimes 3% (Walgreens).

Hope that helps...

 

[swandy]

I had one bad experience though minor and was partially my own fault by making a mistake entering the card info in the Subway app to reload my Subway card. The initial attempt was declined but he second right afterwards went through.
But I have made several large payments with the card (hotel reservation through the web version of AirBnB usingthe card number) and purchasing a ring for my wife using the physical card and had no issues either time.

 

[tigres]

After 4 weeks or so, I'd say I am pretty happy with Apple Card. I've had about 30 transactions, the largest being my purchase of the latest iPhone 11 from Apple, and I've had no issues attributable to GS or Apple. My issues have been poor NFC contactless payment devices owned by the merchants, and that is not an Apple Pay issue. Most transactions have been less than $100.

I used to use a lot of cash and a debit card previously, and I basically use the Apple Card like a debit card, and a month later, I have an extra $100 or so I didn't have before. My bank does not charge me to pay off my Apple Card with GS a couple times a week, and I think Apple Pay is safer than a swipe or chip card. I really, really like that GS does not sell my purchase history to 3rd party advertisers like BoA does as well as other credit card companies. Using the physical white Apple Card only nets you 1% cash back so I really try to use contactless Apple Pay which is usually 2% back, sometimes 3% (Walgreens).

Hope that helps...

Of course using the contactless method at  will warrant a perfect score. Try going the manual route with the card (chip or online - non Apple Pay) and let us know how that goes. Seamless, it is not.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This is about what I was expecting for this product and it being so new for Apple.

I honestly would just wait a whole year before even considering one of these to let them iron everything out and let others be the beta testers

 

[JPH675]

Of course using the contactless method at  will warrant a perfect score. Try going the manual route with the card (chip or online - non Apple Pay) and let us know how that goes. Seamless, it is not.

I respectfully disagree, and believe it is seamless. Within my contactless Apple Pay, my only card choice is the Apple Card; No other debit card, nor credit card, nor Apple Cash Card. Once at Chick-Fil-A, which accepts Apple Pay, my transaction was denied due to the software not being updated for Apple Card within Apple Pay. CFA comped me that lunch and the next time I went back, there was no issue. I have also used the white credit card, MasterCard, as well without any issue.

I am sorry you have had issues...

 

[tigres]

I respectfully disagree, and believe it is seamless. Within my contactless Apple Pay, my only card choice is the Apple Card; No other debit card, nor credit card, nor Apple Cash Card. Once at Chick-Fil-A, which accepts Apple Pay, my transaction was denied due to the software not being updated for Apple Card within Apple Pay. CFA comped me that lunch and the next time I went back, there was no issue. I have also used the white credit card, MasterCard, as well without any issue.

I am sorry you have had issues...

Have you tried a >1k transaction without apple pay using this card?

 

[JPH675]

Have you tried a >1k transaction without apple pay using this card?

The physical white Apple Card is nothing more than a MasterCard with a chip, and it works the same as any other MasterCard out there. Not sure how Apple has culpability if you've had problems using yours, perhaps GS can tell you?

Yes, $2300 in flights to Europe paid-for by giving the travel agent the credit card numbers, no issues.

Cool card and system, hope you can resolve the issues and enjoy the ease and perks. Good luck!

 

[teeshot44]

Using mine basically as a debit card and immediately paying it off. One large transaction at Best Buy $1200 and got 2 declines on their terminal using Apple Pay. Third time went through. The declines showed as pending charges on my phone for 10 days. Declines should not ever show as a pending transaction. GS contacted in iMessages could not explain it, said they showed the declines but showed nothing pending only the one charge. As others have said, curt, short and bordering on rude.

 

[Velin]

I've used the white physical Apple Card, also entered the Apple Card number for online orders/purchases. Zero problems thus far, Card + Wallet has been working perfectly. Give it a bit more time, these issues will be resolved.

Still a good Apple / GS product. No late fees, no foreign transaction fees, solid Apple privacy protection. A lot to like about Apple Card.

 

[swandy]

Have you tried a >1k transaction without apple pay using this card?

I have made a $550 payment at an animal hospital using the physical card and a $2500 purchase of a ring from a jeweler also with the physical card and had no issues either time. Only time I had an issue was when a waiter tried to use the chip on an older terminal and it wouldn’t go through. But the magnetic strip worked fine on the same terminal.

 

[mmomega]

Have you tried a >1k transaction without apple pay using this card?

Quite a few times already with the physical card and online non-apple pay.

I had a single incident the first week I had the card where it was declined, it popped up on my phone, I said to allow the purchase, they ran the charge again within about 2 minutes and it went through.

My experience is completely opposite on this.

 

[brentsg]

I’m having problems with false positive fraud triggers too. I think I’m 2 for 2 since Sunday.

The first one went back on the Apple Card after I cleared the nonsense but the second one went to my Citi. I’ve removed Apple Card from my PayPal account and I will remove it anyplace else it’s being automatically used.

I said my bit to GS and this card will be nothing but an Apple Pay card going forward. It’s not worth the hassle. For the record my last 2 transactions were like $30 and ~$170 so small transactions.