Kroger Begins Accepting Apple Pay at All Ralphs Grocery Stores in California

[tdar]

Credit Card typically 2% merchant fee - and Apple takes 0.15% of that. The rest goes to the bank and the payment network. Retailers specifically don't like ApplePay as they don't get to see the card number with ApplePay - so they cannot build a history of purchases and track you (as you move to another store) - and cannot collect a complete history over time: that C-19 test you keep buying ...

How Apple Pay works under the hood?

What happens behind the scenes when you add your credit card to Apple Pay, and when you pay using Apple Pay through your iPhone…

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This is what I tell retailers when I get the opportunity to ( and I make that opportunity happen!) if they don’t take Apple Pay. It costs 0.15 percent for you to take it. What is it going to cost you when you lose me for not taking it?
I believe that finally even the dense ones are starting to get the message.

 

[Stunning_Sense4712]

Why is this seen as a problem? Businesses can accept whatever payments they choose. I have tons of options for groceries. My preferred store doesn’t even accept credit cards. But I save a ton of money shopping there.

Some farmers market type places are cash only. No issue for me as I like fresh and cheap.

For those that do accept credit, the only ApplePay holdouts nearby are Kroger and Walmart.

Of course any small vendor can use ApplePay via Square or whatever but their prices tend to be higher.

Maybe folks aren’t aware that grocery stores operate on razor thin margins. I can understand their need to balance profits with customer convenience.

I doubt grocery store chains are that thin of a profit margin considering Dollar Tree sells items at a $1.25 and they support both Google and Apple Pay at their stores.

 

[echopulse]

Still waiting for Harris Teeter and HEB.

 

[Complex757]

Looks like there's hope for Kroger after all

 

[compwiz1202]

Finally!!! They can finally take down the “No Apple Pay” signs at the registers!

That's almost as bad as the cevemen like Yocco's only putting the Cash Only sign at the register. At least put it on the door. Or the fast food who wouldn't take cash but didn't tell people until they got to the speaker after the long wait. I don't use cash much but still that's BS for the ones that do.

 

[compwiz1202]

You literally don't shop somewhere because they don't accept Apple Pay?

Yes as long as stores of the same type nearby do.

 

[compwiz1202]

The holdouts of Apple Pay are dropping one by one.

But WM will die alone on their hill

 

[BorderingOn]

I doubt grocery store chains are that thin of a profit margin considering Dollar Tree sells items at a $1.25 and they support both Google and Apple Pay at their stores.

Grocery stores overall are 1 - 2%. This is a fact.

Dollar Tree sells things that simply cost far less at wholesale.

 

[compwiz1202]

Why is this seen as a problem? Businesses can accept whatever payments they choose. I have tons of options for groceries. My preferred store doesn’t even accept credit cards. But I save a ton of money shopping there.

Some farmers market type places are cash only. No issue for me as I like fresh and cheap.

For those that do accept credit, the only ApplePay holdouts nearby are Kroger and Walmart.

Of course any small vendor can use ApplePay via Square or whatever but their prices tend to be higher.

Maybe folks aren’t aware that grocery stores operate on razor thin margins. I can understand their need to balance profits with customer convenience.

But for things where it is setup and down again like those outdoor market and fairs carnivals, I'm ready with cash. And most of the fairs anymore take AP. But a brick and mortar place should take it. And they can do what they want, but we can also choose not to patronize them. Especially the cavemen BS of not even taking CC in 2022

 

[DotCom2]

Finally!!! They can finally take down the “No Apple Pay” signs at the registers!

GAH! I was just going to say that! I cringed every time I saw it and it made me mad so I eventually started going to the Albertsons across the street. Just the fact that they had to put up a sign shows you how many people kept asking.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Grocery stores overall are 1 - 2%. This is a fact.

Dollar Tree sells things that simply cost far less at wholesale.

Are you saying OVERALL, including operating costs, or just markup on items?

Curious where you get your facts?

 

[sw1tcher]

I doubt grocery store chains are that thin of a profit margin considering Dollar Tree sells items at a $1.25 and they support both Google and Apple Pay at their stores.

Dollar Tree's net profit margin is in the single digits. In it's most recent quarter, it was 5.32%.

A lot of those $1.xx items sold at places like Dollar Tree are not really deals. They may appear to be, but if you look at it on a cost per ounce/pound/etc basis, they're terrible values.

A lot of low income people shop there because $1.xx might be all they can afford to pay for the item. That's what the company is banking on.

 

[BorderingOn]

But for things where it is setup and down again like those outdoor market and fairs carnivals, I'm ready with cash. And most of the fairs anymore take AP. But a brick and mortar place should take it. And they can do what they want, but we can also choose not to patronize them. Especially the cavemen BS of not even taking CC in 2022

I can understand frustration if there are few options nearby and they don’t accept your preferred payment method. I have plenty of options but choose to prioritize saving money over a minor convenience. Here are the larger stores within about a 5 mile radius.

Kroger
Safeway
Sprouts
Walmart
Target
Aldi
Trader Joe’s (yes, both)
Winco
Bashas
Natural Grocers
Costco

 

[Yorkieray]

Another one of those puzzling USA things I will never understand.

Here in Europe if a place accepts contactless — and they pretty much all do — then by extension Apple Pay is accepted. iPhone, Watch, whatever… Contactless is the preferred way of paying…
Only time you need a card is if it goes above — I think — a £100 or so.

I used Apple Pay for a £220 purchase at Boots Opticians this week. The limit varies depending on the type of merchant.

I've heard Americans say in the past that they are amazed that they can use Apple Pay just about anywhere in the UK for payments.

 

[Alan Wynn]

You literally don't shop somewhere because they don't accept Apple Pay?

I do not if I have an alternative. I do not carry my wallet regularly, so I have to remember to take it with me if I need to use a physical card. While I do shop at Lowes and Home Depot, as I have no good alternative, I used CostCo, Sprouts, Target and Vons instead of Ralph’s for groceries.

 

[TheDauterive]

What’s family guy?

But really that’s great and impressive.

Do you shop at Walmart too?

Family Guy is an overrated show watched mainly by forum trolls who imagine they're clever.

...

Also, what's "Walmart"?

 

[BorderingOn]

Are you saying OVERALL, including operating costs, or just markup on items?

Curious where you get your facts?

Net. Don’t trust my sources. Do a quick search and you’ll see it.

It’s an extremely competitive market. Stores have to balance many things to keep customers shopping there.

 

[Alan Wynn]

That sounds absurd to me. Is the idea to live a completely wallet-less life?

I do mostly live a wallet-less life. I live my driver’s license in my car, as I rarely need it anywhere else. I have a photo of it on my phone that works for almost everything.

I am assuming at the very least most are carrying around their driver's license.

Nope. Being in my late 50’s I do not get asked for ID to purchase alcohol or lottery tickets, and for most places that want an ID, the picture on my phone suffices.

At that point what does an extra 1-2 debit/credit cards do?

I have 8 cards in ApplePay, carrying them around would be a hassle and a security issue.

 

[TheDauterive]

That sounds absurd to me. Is the idea to live a completely wallet-less life? I am assuming at the very least most are carrying around their driver's license. At that point what does an extra 1-2 debit/credit cards do? Generally, even most wallet cases can fit 3 cards comfortably.

Maybe swiping the card at the terminal is too much work at this point.

It may sound absurd to you, but different strokes for different folks, right? People evaluate things differently. To me, being able to check out in (literally) 2 seconds with my Apple Watch rather than getting out my wallet, taking out my card, swiping it, putting my card back, and pocketing my wallet makes a big difference. You may be someone who places zero value on convenience, but I think for most people it's not as absurd as you imagine.

 

[lartola]

Great news. Let’s hope they eventually enable it at Kroger stores. What I’ve always wondered is what Apple’s definition of ‘retailers’ is. I always had the funny feeling that that 90% number is inflated by not including businesses that aren’t stores but do accept credit and debit cards for payment such as sit down restaurants, hotels, doctors offices, gas stations, storage facilities, government offices or utility providers. And if those were included the percentage would drop significantly, as most of those still don’t take apple pay at all.

 

[compwiz1202]

I can understand frustration if there are few options nearby and they don’t accept your preferred payment method. I have plenty of options but choose to prioritize saving money over a minor convenience. Here are the larger stores within about a 5 mile radius.

Kroger
Safeway
Sprouts
Walmart
Target
Aldi
Trader Joe’s (yes, both)
Winco
Bashas
Natural Grocers
Costco

Yea fortunately we have that too. Don't like WM even beyond the AP thing so won't go there. And don't get stuff from a Lowe's HD much, and someone said ACE takes it, so could check there next time we need something. Wish they would ever build a closer TJ. Do not like WF

 

[msackey]

Yeah, here in the Carolinas the Kroger brand is Harris Teeter. No Apple Pay and no intent to provide it despite customer requests. Card insert or swipe only, no tap-to-pay or other contactless methods. Very adamant about NOT changing so I don’t expect them to do so. I’ve shifted my shopping elsewhere but still need to go to HT for some things, FoodLion for most, and Aldi’s occasionally.

Nutty, isn't it? I've seen Harris Teeter shops add brand new self checkout stations and still not upgrade their system to allow for contactless payment.

 

[Ivanzz]

I go to Kroger almost every weekend in the past four years. But I only used Kroger pay once. It is not very convenient, taking a few steps, compare to Apple Pay, just putting the iPhone close to the pos machine. I just cannot remember to use Kroger pay once a week because I use card or Apple Pay in all other places everyday.

 

[usmaak]

I go to Kroger almost every weekend in the past four years. But I only used Kroger pay once. It is not very convenient, taking a few steps, compare to Apple Pay, just putting the iPhone close to the pos machine. I just cannot remember to use Kroger pay once a week because I use card or Apple Pay in all other places everyday.

T-Mobile is pretty good most places where I live but the local Kroger is a dead zone. So to use their pay app, I need to connect to their wifi. I just try to remember to bring a credit card with me now. Apple's leather MagSafe wallet would be perfect for this. Just stick it to my phone and go into the store.

 

[compwiz1202]

Nutty, isn't it? I've seen Harris Teeter shops add brand new self checkout stations and still not upgrade their system to allow for contactless payment.

Nuttiest is Long John Silvers. Still have the chip slot disabled. Enjoy coughing up the dough for fraud