Major Retailers that Support NFC Payments

[dontwalkhand]

This is how I felt a couple years ago when using Google Wallet. The people at the places I frequented got used to it. I essentially trained these places in preparation for Apple Pay. I guess we can call Google Wallet an Apple Pay Beta testing app?

If they don't known what to do, tell them to press Credit/Debit or just Credit. Not mobile payments or anything like that because last time someone did that, it came up with a CurrentC-esque QR code.

 

[youradhere4222]

The H-E-B (a chain of grocery stores in Texas and Mexico) near me supports NFC payments.

 

[Bill Av]

CurrentC

I hope this isn't too off topic, but would it be possible for CurrentC to be compatible with Apple Pay and Google Wallet? It seems like it would be simpler for them to work with Apple and Google just like the credit card companies do. You sign up for a CurrentC card, then add it to your Passbook. The merchants still get to monitor your spending habits and they cut out the credit card companies fees. On the down side, they have to pay Apple & Google something, but then they don't have to maintain the apps.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I hope this isn't too off topic, but would it be possible for CurrentC to be compatible with Apple Pay and Google Wallet? It seems like it would be simpler for them to work with Apple and Google just like the credit card companies do. You sign up for a CurrentC card, then add it to your Passbook. The merchants still get to monitor your spending habits and they cut out the credit card companies fees. On the down side, they have to pay Apple & Google something, but then they don't have to maintain the apps.

They said that they would like to use NFC and Bluetooth in the future, but that all depends if Apple would open up the NFC chip to other uses (they may very well, like they opened Touch ID in iOS 8). CurrentC also said they will be supporting credit cards too in a redacted note from saying they won't, so the way I see it is, more places I get to pay with my phone, and more times I can leave my wallet at home.

 

[cub850G2]

Well I don't have 25 posts, so can someone put Kum & Go as not accepting NFC payments as they disabled the backend to process them, but I did test Big Lots and they had Verifone MX915's and it had no indication that it even supported Contactless as it only said something "Please swipe card now" but my friend tapped the screen first and ran it as debit and it went through and I choose credit and it worked too, this was both with Google Wallet (Paypass). I was so surprised and so was the cashier! Also on the receipt it shows up as a MasterCard (S) so obviously its Contactless MSD. I also used it at Phillips 66 which owns BP's but they only had the reader on one and it worked well. I see a Conoco and another Phillips 66 that is on the Paypass locator, so I'm pretty sure some of those two brands still take Contactless as they are owned independently and not a corp like Kum & Go is. EDIT: Also forgot to say GNC has MX915's and Contactless is totally disabled on them, so you can add them to not accepting it as well.

 

[mrcobra92]

Well this is strange, me and a friend went to Micheals today, and just for kicks, tried Apple Pay. She used Amex, it went right through, even showed approved on the screen. I then decided to try it myself with my B of A Visa which was always declined at this location before (screen would say "select a different tender") and much to my surprise, it worked. Went right through, the clerk behind the counter had to enter some password on her screen, though a receipt printed which showed the correct last four numbers for the apple pay "fake" card. I tried it multiple times after that (3 more transactions) and it worked fine, though what worries me is the terminal never showed "approved" for me, and the charges have not yet appeared on my account, though I do have a receipt for each transaction, and the person behind the counter said it went through. Maybe they're turning NFC back on?

 

[TexasChemE]

The H-E-B (a chain of grocery stores in Texas and Mexico) near me supports NFC payments.

As a fellow Texan getting an iPhone 6 Plus for Christmas, this excites me

 

[dontwalkhand]

Well this is strange, me and a friend went to Micheals today, and just for kicks, tried Apple Pay. She used Amex, it went right through, even showed approved on the screen. I then decided to try it myself with my B of A Visa which was always declined at this location before (screen would say "select a different tender") and much to my surprise, it worked. Went right through, the clerk behind the counter had to enter some password on her screen, though a receipt printed which showed the correct last four numbers for the apple pay "fake" card. I tried it multiple times after that (3 more transactions) and it worked fine, though what worries me is the terminal never showed "approved" for me, and the charges have not yet appeared on my account, though I do have a receipt for each transaction, and the person behind the counter said it went through. Maybe they're turning NFC back on?

Don't forget the exclusivity lasted "months" not years according to CurrentC. Just waiting on CVS, now. With Chip & PIN readers popping up left and right, let's hope by the deadline they wise up and also enable NFC

 

[mrcobra92]

Don't forget the exclusivity lasted "months" not years according to CurrentC. Just waiting on CVS, now. With Chip & PIN readers popping up left and right, let's hope by the deadline they wise up and also enable NFC

So Rite Aid turned theirs back on as well?

 

[MWB1124]

I've used Apple Pay at some Kangaroo Express convenience stores in South Carolina. However, their POS systems vary from store to store. And they make it as complicated as possible.

 

[deejaykorn]

I had Apple Pay fail to process twice yesterday at Michaels and JCPenny. I'm not surprised by JCPenny as they don't officially support it though they have the hardware. But Michaels is listed here and it did not. Have they turned off support for it since they are a CurrentC backer?

 

[mrcobra92]

I had Apple Pay fail to process twice yesterday at Michaels and JCPenny. I'm not surprised by JCPenny as they don't officially support it though they have the hardware. But Michaels is listed here and it did not. Have they turned off support for it since they are a CurrentC backer?

At Michaels, they have to run it as an offline transaction with MasterCard/Visa, though AMEX works normally.

 

[oddnendz]

For my fellow North Easterners, I was shopping at Wegmans today and used ApplePay. My wife was amazed, but I still had to sign for the transaction though.

Signing does defeat the ease of use I thought. But I suppose one day when companies catch up we won't have to.

The guy at the register said that he figured signing was an extra security step in case someone gets your phone. But I told him if they have my phone they better have my finger also, cause it won't work without my fingerprint.

What was the amount? I don't have sign when using my credit card when the purchase is a certain amount. It is a CC policy, not an ApplePay issue.

 

[deejaykorn]

At Michaels, they have to run it as an offline transaction with MasterCard/Visa, though AMEX works normally.

Interesting. How do you present that to the cashier?

 

[gr2020]

Not a retailer, but I just noticed yesterday that the parking lots at Denver International Airport work with Apple Pay.

 

[ecschwarz]

I know it was mentioned a little bit ago, but I used it a relatively new (maybe 2 years, if I remember correctly?) Firehouse Subs today and the guy mentioned that they just got new machines in for that, so it looks to be a chainwide upgrade. For what it's worth, they've got the Verifone MX925 units that seem to be pretty popular.

 

[cub850G2]

I know it was mentioned a little bit ago, but I used it a relatively new (maybe 2 years, if I remember correctly?) Firehouse Subs today and the guy mentioned that they just got new machines in for that, so it looks to be a chainwide upgrade. For what it's worth, they've got the Verifone MX915 units that seem to be pretty popular.

My local Firehouse Subs has the MX925's (Same ones as Panera Bread): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38348368/1213141516a.jpg I asked how long they had them, and I was told a month and that they are all getting them, yeah.

 

[ecschwarz]

My local Firehouse Subs has the MX925's (Same ones as Panera Bread): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38348368/1213141516a.jpg I asked how long they had them, and I was told a month and that they are all getting them, yeah.

I sort of hate that this is making me become a payment terminal nerd, but it's also fascinating to see how each chain sets up their displays on there - nice to see that Firehouse puts "or tap phone" on the display - I noticed that on ours, too (although the rest of the design is a bit bland otherwise).

 

[cub850G2]

I sort of hate that this is making me become a payment terminal nerd, but it's also fascinating to see how each chain sets up their displays on there - nice to see that Firehouse puts "or tap phone" on the display - I noticed that on ours, too (although the rest of the design is a bit bland otherwise).

The Contactless logo is there too, but very faint, so my phone did not pick up the logo, but my eyes did in person. I'm sure you saw the logo as well? Also its fun to be a terminal geek, trying out MX915's and MX925's that both say Please swipe card while they accept Contactless, ahhh.

 

[ecschwarz]

The Contactless logo is there too, but very faint, so my phone did not pick up the logo, but my eyes did in person. I'm sure you saw the logo as well? Also its fun to be a terminal geek, trying out MX915's and MX925's that both say Please swipe card while they accept Contactless, ahhh.

Yep - I saw it, too - the MX915/925 units that have it disabled are sort of the bummer (it also seems on Verifone's site that you can get an external antenna for the 925?), or places that have older contactless units with it disabled, yet the logo is still printed on the unit (Best Buy).

 

[MaskedCarrot]

What was the amount? I don't have sign when using my credit card when the purchase is a certain amount. It is a CC policy, not an ApplePay issue.

I think it was around $70 or so.

More than likely I think that the credit card companies are still figuring out the kinks. I'm sure in the future your finger print is all that will be needed.

 

[mrcobra92]

Interesting. How do you present that to the cashier?

Well Visa is not working again, though MasterCard, when you run as credit (even if it is a debit card), will always ask the cashier for an offline password, simply ask them to input the password. Also, AMEX Softcard will not work, though AMEX Apple Pay will. I will try a Contactless card tomorrow.

 

[dontwalkhand]

My local Firehouse Subs has the MX925's (Same ones as Panera Bread): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38348368/1213141516a.jpg I asked how long they had them, and I was told a month and that they are all getting them, yeah.

The real reason they're doing this more than likely is because of Chip & PIN and Chip & Signature requirement in October 2015. But because the terminals have NFC, Apple Pay wins here too!

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Yep - I saw it, too - the MX915/925 units that have it disabled are sort of the bummer (it also seems on Verifone's site that you can get an external antenna for the 925?), or places that have older contactless units with it disabled, yet the logo is still printed on the unit (Best Buy).

The 925 antenna is for increased performance for contactless cards since the reader under the screen isn't as powerful for traditional Contactless cards. For phones the one under the screen is fine.

 

[mrcobra92]

The real reason they're doing this more than likely is because of Chip & PIN and Chip & Signature requirement in October 2015. But because the terminals have NFC, Apple Pay wins here too!

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The 925 antenna is for increased performance for contactless cards since the reader under the screen isn't as powerful for traditional Contactless cards. For phones the one under the screen is fine.

I think it's funny all of CVS's new stores have the MX925's with BOTH the external and internal NFC antenna. The Internal does not work at all (technically neither does the external, though at least it trys to process), it will say "done" on the phone, though nothing will show on the screen. The lights on the external antenna will shut off completely for a brief second though.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I sort of hate that this is making me become a payment terminal nerd, but it's also fascinating to see how each chain sets up their displays on there - nice to see that Firehouse puts "or tap phone" on the display - I noticed that on ours, too (although the rest of the design is a bit bland otherwise).

I like how they're killing multiple birds with one stone here. This PIN pad setup satisfies many regulations and laws, and other things as well...

1. The law requiring you to have a customer display
2. The EMV card liability shift
3. apple pay wins too!

With this PIN pad alone they saved on not having to have a separate customer display, and the EMV liability shift while saying they accept Apple Pay!

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I think it's funny all of CVS's new stores have the MX925's with BOTH the external and internal NFC antenna. The Internal does not work at all (technically neither does the external, though at least it trys to process), it will say "done" on the phone, though nothing will show on the screen. The lights on the external antenna will shut off completely for a brief second though.

I believe they will switch on contactless as soon as CurrentC lifts their heavy hand. I also think the internal one gets disabled if the external one is attached.