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compwiz1202

macrumors 604
May 20, 2010
7,389
5,746
Yes, self checkouts are very common, even at dollar stores.
Weis is annoying now. Not a single cash SCO anymore. We had cash once in forever because we got money out thinking places on vacation would require it, but everyone took cards.
 

lartola

macrumors 68020
Feb 10, 2017
2,161
1,082
No it was a terminal at the register in the lobby. Wasn't there the time we went before that.

Oh ok. Yeah some are doing pay at the front too, but hardly any have the waiter/waitress bringing a terminal to the table like they have everywhere outside the US. They seem to avoid that at all costs in the US.
 
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compwiz1202

macrumors 604
May 20, 2010
7,389
5,746
Oh ok. Yeah some are doing pay at the front too, but hardly any have the waiter/waitress bringing a terminal to the table like they have everywhere outside the US. They seem to avoid that at all costs in the US.
I'm trying to think who does it anymore. Applebees went to the QR now. We don't go out close to as much anymore.
 

ecschwarz

macrumors 65816
Jun 28, 2010
1,435
356
So they did lack the hardware for contactless payment at some of their stores…
I don't go to Kroger often, but every location I've seen has had Verifone mx915s which can do contactless...I'm guessing the configuration changes weren't pushed to allow it or something else like that.
 
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lartola

macrumors 68020
Feb 10, 2017
2,161
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I don't go to Kroger often, but every location I've seen has had Verifone mx915s which can do contactless...I'm guessing the configuration changes weren't pushed to allow it or something else like that.

At most stores that’s true, but if you read the post I replied to you’ll see that Kroger itself admits in twitter that the stores in memphis do need to replace their hardware, which means they still have devices lacking the nfc reader (either they are too old, the nfc was removed intentionally or the devices were ordered without it).
 
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tmiw

macrumors 68030
Jun 26, 2007
2,546
612
San Diego, CA
At most stores that’s true, but if you read the post I replied to you’ll see that Kroger itself admits in twitter that the stores in memphis do need to replace their hardware, which means they still have devices lacking the nfc reader (either they are too old, the nfc was removed intentionally or the devices were ordered without it).

"Yet to update their payment systems" doesn't necessarily mean a hardware replacement. It's more likely that there's something firmware related that had to get pushed out separately.
 
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lartola

macrumors 68020
Feb 10, 2017
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"Yet to update their payment systems" doesn't necessarily mean a hardware replacement. It's more likely that there's something firmware related that had to get pushed out separately.

No I think it’s more likely to be a hardware issue, since Kroger was a staunch contactless hold out for years.
 

tmiw

macrumors 68030
Jun 26, 2007
2,546
612
San Diego, CA
No I think it’s more likely to be a hardware issue, since Kroger was a staunch contactless hold out for years.

If it was really a hardware issue, we'd see something other than the MX915s getting installed given that Verifone has much newer terminals available now. So far, that hasn't been the case that we know of.
 

lartola

macrumors 68020
Feb 10, 2017
2,161
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If it was really a hardware issue, we'd see something other than the MX915s getting installed given that Verifone has much newer terminals available now. So far, that hasn't been the case that we know of.

We don’t know what they have in memphis, though, where kroger has admitted that they need to upgrade systems.
 

tmiw

macrumors 68030
Jun 26, 2007
2,546
612
San Diego, CA
We don’t know what they have in memphis, though, where kroger has admitted that they need to upgrade systems.

They likely had the MX915s like the rest of Kroger but someone from the Memphis area would have to confirm. After all, it was seemingly the most common terminal type in the US (along with the MX925) for quite some time.
 

garyjones027

macrumors regular
May 4, 2023
128
127
No I think it’s more likely to be a hardware issue, since Kroger was a staunch contactless hold out for years.

Why did Kroger wait this long to accept contactless payments in 2023?

Is it because of high demand from customers in that the customers asked lots of questions to Kroger employees on when they will accept tap to pay by card or Apple Pay?
 

lartola

macrumors 68020
Feb 10, 2017
2,161
1,082
Why did Kroger wait this long to accept contactless payments in 2023?

Is it because of high demand from customers in that the customers asked lots of questions to Kroger employees on when they will accept tap to pay by card or Apple Pay?

Only they know why.
 

tmiw

macrumors 68030
Jun 26, 2007
2,546
612
San Diego, CA
Why did Kroger wait this long to accept contactless payments in 2023?

Is it because of high demand from customers in that the customers asked lots of questions to Kroger employees on when they will accept tap to pay by card or Apple Pay?

I'd actually say a significant part of it was the pending merger with Albertsons and Safeway. Disabling it at those brands (or at least not enabling it at legacy Kroger) would be pretty bad PR-wise, especially since more people are in fact tapping now. At least when it got disabled at Harris Teeter, contactless usage was in the single digits (thus other than a bit of complaining on MacRumors and other Apple forums, it didn't really impact Kroger much).
 

amajum0073

macrumors newbie
May 18, 2023
20
13
I'd actually say a significant part of it was the pending merger with Albertsons and Safeway. Disabling it at those brands (or at least not enabling it at legacy Kroger) would be pretty bad PR-wise, especially since more people are in fact tapping now. At least when it got disabled at Harris Teeter, contactless usage was in the single digits (thus other than a bit of complaining on MacRumors and other Apple forums, it didn't really impact Kroger much).

So, it does not really matter now in stores in the USA like Home Depot USA or HEB when customer demand is if customers ask the employees of these stores if they accept tap to pay by card or Apple Pay. These payment methods are high in use especially tap to pay by card.

Do these stores in the USA really have customers ask most of the time to the employees when they will have have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay?

I think that when Lowes stores in the USA have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay in late 2023. It will definitely be a very good advantage against Home Depot stores in the USA which will never have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay.
 
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lartola

macrumors 68020
Feb 10, 2017
2,161
1,082
So, it does not really matter now in stores in the USA like Home Depot USA or HEB when customer demand is if customers ask the employees of these stores if they accept tap to pay by card or Apple Pay. These payment methods are high in use especially tap to pay by card. Do these stores in the USA really have customers ask most of the time to the employees when they will have have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay? I think that when Lowes stores in the USA have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay in late 2023 that will definitely be a very good advantage against Home Depot stores in the USA which will never have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay.

It depends on the type of store and the size of the company. For example, Walmart is so huge that that they are the only choice for people to shop in some places such as small towns. Furthermore, they have so many customers that no matter how many people complain about the lack of contactless or even stop going to their stores they’ll never be enough to make the company budge.
 

tmiw

macrumors 68030
Jun 26, 2007
2,546
612
San Diego, CA
So, it does not really matter now in stores in the USA like Home Depot USA or HEB when customer demand is if customers ask the employees of these stores if they accept tap to pay by card or Apple Pay. These payment methods are high in use especially tap to pay by card.

Do these stores in the USA really have customers ask most of the time to the employees when they will have have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay?

I think that when Lowes stores in the USA have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay in late 2023 that will definitely be a very good advantage against Home Depot stores in the USA which will never have tap to pay by card or Apple Pay.

A lot of people underestimate how many stores in the US dislike cards. Based on that, it makes sense that they're going to avoid upgrades that could encourage more use of cards as long as possible. If it weren't for there being no real non-cash alternative (Venmo doesn't really count IMO), I think many places wouldn't accept them at all--or at least would charge significantly more for doing so.

Of course, regardless of that, some do listen to customers more readily than others (hence why some got contactless sooner).
 

echopulse

macrumors regular
Aug 7, 2021
238
142
Abilene, TX
When tap to pay is more common, like 60 or 70% of the population is using it, then walmart will take notice and enable it. I say this will happen sometime in 2026.

By the way, Waffle Houes enabled contactless in April, as reported by many users on twitter. I didn't know waffle house was that popular.
 

garyjones027

macrumors regular
May 4, 2023
128
127
When tap to pay is more common, like 60 or 70% of the population is using it, then walmart will take notice and enable it. I say this will happen sometime in 2026.

By the way, Waffle Houes enabled contactless in April, as reported by many users on twitter. I didn't know waffle house was that popular.

The covid pandemic helped bring contactless payments and tap to pay to increase in the USA.

Now, the pandemic is ending which means the rate of contactless payments and tap to pay will also decrease in the USA.
 
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tmiw

macrumors 68030
Jun 26, 2007
2,546
612
San Diego, CA
The covid pandemic helped bring contactless payments and tap to pay to increase in the USA.

Now, the pandemic is ending which means the rate of contactless payments and tap to pay will also decrease in the USA.

I mean, the rate of growth might decrease or even stall entirely, but I don't think people are going to go back to inserting. At least not in any large number, anyway.
 
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amajum0073

macrumors newbie
May 18, 2023
20
13
I mean, the rate of growth might decrease or even stall entirely, but I don't think people are going to go back to inserting. At least not in any large number, anyway.

The rate of contactless payments in USA are now in levels in 2019 when USA businesses ended their pandemic warnings.

So, this means some big businesses in USA can still continue to resist as long as they want with contactless payments in tap to pay by card and Apple Pay.
 
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