Is Apple Wallet not a priority anymore?

[condor]

When Passbook was first announced I feel like there were tons of new apps supporting it on a regular basis. Airlines, sporting events, store reward cards and other apps were all adding "passbook support". When Apple rebranded it as Apple Wallet, I was very optimistic that other apps would come on board with support. While Apple has been pushing Apple Pay every chance it has, I feel like the other cards in my Apple Wallet have been forgotten.

There used to be a dedicated section on the app store where you could find apps that supported Passbook/Wallet. Now when you search for "Apple Wallet" all you get back are third party apps for loyalty cards, which seem to directly compete with the built-in Wallet app.

There are certain key apps that I have been waiting for years to add Wallet support. Panera is one, and they even were one of the app developers that were demoed on stage at an Apple event showing Wallet support a few years ago. Best Buy, CVS and many others that all have their loyalty cards built in their apps don't support letting me add it to my Apple Wallet for some reason.

My goal is to eliminate all physical store reward cards from my actual wallet. I wish these app developers would get on board and include it. It seems like Apple isn't behind it as much as they used to be, and that worries me. Anyone have thoughts on this? Why do developers hesitate to add this feature?

 

[mildocjr]

I'm pretty sure that since the inclusion of Apple Pay, most retailers aren't willing to go through the effort of creating and designing a digital gift card specifically for Passbook. Instead they will write a little less code and just use Apple Pay which is easier both on the consumer and the merchant. There's no guessing whether or not this Walgreens can scan your Passbook card.

 

[DaveTheRave]

Just make your own Wallet card: https://www.passsource.com/

 

[condor]

I'm pretty sure that since the inclusion of Apple Pay, most retailers aren't willing to go through the effort of creating and designing a digital gift card specifically for Passbook. Instead they will write a little less code and just use Apple Pay which is easier both on the consumer and the merchant. There's no guessing whether or not this Walgreens can scan your Passbook card.

Apple Pay is an entirely different thing. I love it and use it all the time, but what I am talking about are all those little "rewards" cards that I have on my keychain. And things like gym membership cards, insurance cards, etc, etc. It seems the app developers are so intent on getting people to open their apps to access their cards that they aren't taking into account ease of use and customer preferences. For example, if I go into my grocery store, I can pay via Apple Pay but first I have to open the grocery store app, dig down a couple of menus and find a link to my rewards card and then click it. This also assumes that I haven't been automatically logged out of the app, which happens frequently. I want to be able to open Apple Wallet, scan my rewards card and then pay with Apple Pay. Walgreens is the one store that got this right from day one. I hope others follow their example.

As for making my own Wallet card...sure it's possible but I want first-party support for this, not a hack that 99.9% of iPhone users will never know about.

 

[Paco II]

Sadly it seems like that aspect of Wallet never took off. Often my airlines tickets are not available in Wallet. Other places I go to that have rewards cards do not have Wallet support. It'll sputter on for a while until finally dies, replaced by something new.

 

[BeefCake 15]

I was wondering the same thing the other day...I use StoCards app and finally got a phone/wallet case combo just for my CC and some cash. Most of my old wallet was used to hold store cards.

 

[thatanonymoususer]

I know that I can add specifically the CVS card to my Wallet since I did do that earlier (EDIT: nope. used PassSource and forgot). A lot of companies still use it from what I can tell, but I don't see as many adding it. I do check the app store every once in a while, and I see some additions each time.

There is a lack of knowledge surrounding it, so not as many people use it. I've had many times where a store clerk tells me that I'm the first person that they've seen use it.

I use Stocard to put all of my loyalty cards in my phone, and then I can put some of those cards in my Apple Wallet. Unfortunately, it bundles all the cards from one app together, so it's a bit messy.

I think the problem with implementing Apple Wallet in stores seems to mostly be compatibility with barcode scanners across a whole store chain. Native Wallet cards seem to be using QR/Aztec/PDF417 codes (like what you see on UPS packages) rather than straight barcodes (like a normal local gym membership card). If the store doesn't want to invest in getting those barcodes to work, then they might not bother.

 

[condor]

I know that I can add specifically the CVS card to my Wallet since I did do that earlier. A lot of companies still use it from what I can tell, but I don't see as many adding it. I do check the app store every once in a while, and I see some additions each time.

There is a lack of knowledge surrounding it, so not as many people use it. I've had many times where a store clerk tells me that I'm the first person that they've seen use it.

I use Stocard to put all of my loyalty cards in my phone, and then I can put some of those cards in my Apple Wallet. Unfortunately, it bundles all the cards from one app together, so it's a bit messy.

I think the problem with implementing Apple Wallet in stores seems to mostly be compatibility with barcode scanners across a whole store chain. Native Wallet cards seem to be using QR/Aztec/PDF417 codes (like what you see on UPS packages) rather than straight barcodes (like a normal local gym membership card). If the store doesn't want to invest in getting those barcodes to work, then they might not bother.

If you could walk me through how you added your CVS card I would be eternally grateful! I can't find a way to do it. I might also take a look at Stocard. I prefer to use Apple built-in apps whenever possible, but I may have to give up waiting.

Also, a good point about the types of bar-codes and in store support for scanning. I know the official Stop and Shop card in my Apple Wallet uses a traditional straight barcode, so it must be possible - though that is the only instance of that type of code I have seen.

 

[thatanonymoususer]

If you could walk me through how you added your CVS card I would be eternally grateful! I can't find a way to do it. I might also take a look at Stocard. I prefer to use Apple built-in apps whenever possible, but I may have to give up waiting.

Also, a good point about the types of bar-codes and in store support for scanning. I know the official Stop and Shop card in my Apple Wallet uses a traditional straight barcode, so it must be possible - though that is the only instance of that type of code I have seen.

I have it in my Wallet, but I can't find it in the app, so I must have added it through PassSource. Sorry about that. https://www.passsource.com/pass/register.php?templateId=6& is a template for CVS if you want to add it that way. Passes added through there have a nice look to them. (enough to make me think it's legit apparently) The only difference is that it won't have the app icon in the bottom left corner when you look, and it gives a little PassSource blurb on the back.

If you want to browse around for other cards, you can through the get tab.