Tap to Pay on iPhone Launching at More Stores in U.S. Later This Year

[MacRumors]

Luxury company LVMH today announced that Tap to Pay on iPhone will be available at select Sephora, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Celine, and Dior stores in the U.S. later this year. The feature will allow customers to tap their iPhone or Apple Watch, credit card, or other contactless payment option on the store employee's iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using the same NFC technology behind Apple Pay.

Launched in 2022, Tap to Pay on iPhone allows for iPhone-to-iPhone contactless payments, with no additional point-of-sale hardware from companies like Square or Clover required. The feature is also available in Australia and Taiwan.

LVMH said offering Tap to Pay on iPhone is part of its efforts to ensure that the "customer experience is absolutely impeccable, from the moment people walk in the door to payment for a purchase," and reflects growing demand for contactless payments. LVMH said the feature will be available for purchases of any amount.

Any business can offer Tap to Pay on iPhone via supported iOS apps like Shopify Point of Sale on an iPhone XS or newer running iOS 15.4 or newer.

Article Link: Tap to Pay on iPhone Launching at More Stores in U.S. Later This Year

 

[antiprotest]

Make sure the person you're paying is actually a store employee.

But I don't know how you can make sure the employee is taking payment using the store's device instead of his own.

Get a receipt I guess? And I suppose the Apple Wallet will show the name of the payment recipient.

 

[coolbreeze2]

Make sure the person you're paying is actually a store employee.

But I don't know how you can make sure the employee is taking payment using the store's device instead of his own.

Get a receipt I guess? And I suppose the Apple Wallet will show the name of the payment recipient.

Scary!

 

[anselpela]

Definitely seems awkward, except for maybe mobile businesses like a mobile groomer, detailer, etc.

For any brick and mortar, at least having an iPad-based POS system seems far more professional than a handheld device.

 

[hsoj1006]

Definitely seems awkward, except for maybe mobile businesses like a mobile groomer, detailer, etc.

For any brick and mortar, at least having an iPad-based POS system seems far more professional than a handheld device.

Not really. Apple uses the handhelds all the time. It will be weird at first, but eventually it will become the norm.

So many "what if" people scared of stuff. Just enjoy the technology!

 

[Coffee50]

Not really. Apple uses the handhelds all the time. It will be weird at first, but eventually it will become the norm.

So many "what if" people scared of stuff. Just enjoy the technology!

Yeah, Apple was the first company I thought of when reading this. Pay at whatever location in the store you're at vs going to a designated register.

I can understand the hesitation some may have. (No doubt, scammers are out there), but as it becomes more widespread the fears will subside.

There was a point when people were super wary about the Square devices that were attached to a person's phone.

Obviously, the retailers listed (apart from Sephora) are luxury brands, so I'm sure they've assessed risks...but it seems like its just a way to improv the customer shopping experience.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

This is a good feature because this means a business doesn't need need to get Square.

 

[Orange Bat]

Luxury company LVMH today announced

Yep, this article isn‘t for me.

 

[russell_314]

Yep, this article isn‘t for me.

I don’t think I’ll be buying anything there but for those who can afford it, I guess it’s good

 

[laszlo182]

What is the advantage of this? Cannot they just use regular POS? Is this an American thing?

 

[CK1Czar]

Definitely seems awkward, except for maybe mobile businesses like a mobile groomer, detailer, etc.

For any brick and mortar, at least having an iPad-based POS system seems far more professional than a handheld device.

Store have been using held held devices forever. Heck when I worked for Coach in 2012 we had them to ring customers up on the floor. Even Apple uses handheld devises.

 

[bigjnyc]

*Employee slips out their own personal phone... accepts payment and switches phones back with the store phone*

 

[anselpela]

Store have been using held held devices forever. Heck when I worked for Coach in 2012 we had them to ring customers up on the floor. Even Apple uses handheld devises.

When you're mobile, yes. But those are usually dedicated devices, and they look like them.

I'm saying if you walk to a register and the clerk pulls out their iPhone and holds it out to you, there is something wrong with this picture.

 

[CK1Czar]

What is the advantage of this? Cannot they just use regular POS? Is this an American thing?

Here's a scenario, I bought my partner a pair of glasses from LV for Christmas. The SA goes to the back and wraps them up and comes over to me with my package to pay, while I continue to browse and never have to walk to the register. I love it. Don't have wait in line for the POS system to be free to use while another SA is ringing someone else up.

If an employee slips their own phone for payment, that is employee theft, and not my problem as a customer.

 

[dontwalkhand]

*Employee slips out their own personal phone... accepts payment and switches phones back with the store phone*

Not my problem, that's for the store to deal with the employee.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Definitely seems awkward, except for maybe mobile businesses like a mobile groomer, detailer, etc.

For any brick and mortar, at least having an iPad-based POS system seems far more professional than a handheld device.

A lot of small businesses are already using essentially an iPad on a stand. Not sure if it is actually an iPad, and I've seen no mention at all of iPad support for this. Seems like it would be a perfect use of an iPad Mini, but I guess they intend for you to buy an iPhone with no cellular service?

 

[CausticSoda]

Not my problem, that's for the store to deal with the employee.

It is unlikely to be your problem, but in the eyes of the law (UK law, anyway) that item is stolen. It has not been stolen by you, but it has been stolen by the employee. Therefore it still belongs to the store and can be recovered as stolen goods and you are not entitled to a penny/cent if it is. You would then be left trying to get money back from the employee because, effectively, you would have been scammed and would not actually own what you have been "sold". In the case of a device like an iPhone it could be traced and blocked easily. That all said, for most goods the police/store/whoever would probably not bother and may not be able to trace you anyway, but I'm just making a legal point out of interest.

 

[Tagbert]

This is the one I've been waiting for! Time to do some shopping. 😂

 

[Coffee50]

It is unlikely to be your problem, but in the eyes of the law (UK law, anyway) that item is stolen. It has not been stolen by you, but it has been stolen by the employee. Therefore it still belongs to the store and can be recovered as stolen goods and you are not entitled to a penny/cent if it is. You would then be left trying to get money back from the employee because, effectively, you would have been scammed and would not actually own what you have been "sold". In the case of a device like an iPhone it could be traced and blocked easily. That all said, for most goods the police/store/whoever would probably not bother and may not be able to trace you anyway, but I'm just making a legal point out of interest.

Those are some good points, but if a retail store (or chain) is implementing "Tap To Pay on iPhone", its almost guaranteed they'll have AP / security practices & protocols in place. Merchants will need to enable their devices to be configured, terms & conditions, etc.

Plus, just as retailers currently can track point of sale & transactions daily / in real time, they'll be able to do the same thing with Tap To Pay on iPhone.

While in theory, yes...it may be possible for an employee to scam the system, it will also be likely to track all transactions by device. The Tap To Pay will also be used for loyalty programs, so an employee will most likely be signed in.

So while there is the chance of "theft / scams"...this also exist with credit cards (we all know the stories of the card readers) & cash (there are stories of customers receiving counterfeit money as change)

 

[Coffee50]

When you're mobile, yes. But those are usually dedicated devices, and they look like them.

I'm saying if you walk to a register and the clerk pulls out their iPhone and holds it out to you, there is something wrong with this picture.

It could seem that way because it is something brand new.

There was a time before, in reference to the dedicated devices, where that same theory applies. If someone pulled out a bulky phone looking device, people could still be more apprehensive paying that way vs a tradition register. Same thing with the Square card readers. The more commonplace it became, the less "scary" it seemed. There are many places now that are completely cashless. That happened because more people starting using contactless payments... but like anything, there was an adjustment period.

There's a period where people have to get acclimated with a new way to pay.

I'm not saying there isn't a chance for something to go wrong (this exist with every payment option), but if a device is accepting payments on behalf of a merchant, those transactions will be tracked (along with the stock). Most likely they'll be able to be tracked by individual device.

And if a person is paying with "Tap To Pay By iPhone", you're using Apple Pay...which comes with its own protection & encryption...(and temporary digital "card numbers") so you'll be able to track the transaction as well. If something feels or seems fishy, you'll easily have recourse.

Any company that decides to use this is going to be aware of potential "employee misuse", but I'd also wager some shoppers may feel more comfortable using this in a brick & mortar store (as opposed to a mobile independent proprietor).

This is is the age of "I want to talk to the manager", so with a brick & mortar store, there's a physical location, so that's not going to "disappear" overnight. Still, folks will reach out to corporate offices, social media & everywhere else if there was something shady about a transaction.

 

[TehFalcon]

This is a good feature because this means a business doesn't need need to get Square.

Nope. This just eliminates the need for 3rd party hardware on the iPhone to take payments. Aka the square magstrip reader or contactless reader. Now you’ll be able to take NFC payments in the square app with just tapping phones.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

It is unlikely to be your problem, but in the eyes of the law (UK law, anyway) that item is stolen. It has not been stolen by you, but it has been stolen by the employee. Therefore it still belongs to the store and can be recovered as stolen goods and you are not entitled to a penny/cent if it is. You would then be left trying to get money back from the employee because, effectively, you would have been scammed and would not actually own what you have been "sold". In the case of a device like an iPhone it could be traced and blocked easily. That all said, for most goods the police/store/whoever would probably not bother and may not be able to trace you anyway, but I'm just making a legal point out of interest.

Oh, please. These are CREDIT CARD transactions. You'd just dispute it & be done.

 

[dbwie]

I wouldn't trust this. What if it is the employees PERSONAL phone you are tapping with and they just take off with your money, when you think you are paying the merchant/store? This will be great for farmer's markets, etc, but not for high end retailers. Geez.

 

[JulianL]

Here's a scenario, I bought my partner a pair of glasses from LV for Christmas. The SA goes to the back and wraps them up and comes over to me with my package to pay, while I continue to browse and never have to walk to the register. I love it. Don't have wait in line for the POS system to be free to use while another SA is ringing someone else up.

If an employee slips their own phone for payment, that is employee theft, and not my problem as a customer.

So basically the scenario that most restaurants and bars in many European countries have had for well over a decade? Surely from the customer’s point of view it’s just a different way to implement a mobile contactless terminal except not quite as good for the customer since the most commonly used mobile terminals, at least in the UK, have the ability to also print a customer receipt on the spot rather than a customer having to take it on trust that a receipt will be emailed to them.

 

[Coffee50]

I wouldn't trust this. What if it is the employees PERSONAL phone you are tapping with and they just take off with your money, when you think you are paying the merchant/store? This will be great for farmer's markets, etc, but not for high end retailers. Geez.

I don't think they'll be able to do that because they'll have to be connected to the merchants account.

The stores listed (with the exception of Sephora) are high end retailers. If a customer is buying something, you'll receive the merchandise & a receipt. It's Apply Pay, so you'll be able to dispute any issues.

Technically, it's not any different from using it at a farmers market (in fact, with the high end retailers, you'll know the company / branding & location) A farmers market stand may be there this week, and gone the next. At least with a high end store, the employee's info is on file.

I understand there may be some apprehension, but if you're buying merchandise in a store & you pay...the customer is literally right there, so they will get their merchandise & receipt & then leave. If either of those two things don't happen, the customer isn't just going to leave the store.