Years later, I'm still disappointed with Apple Pay, and I'm not convinced it's worth it yet

[watchmainspring]

It has to be around 50% of the time that Apple Pay does not work. Either the NFC system is down or the terminal isn't happy with my payment (gas pump informs me to go to the register inside when the physical card clears flawlessly). So as a whole, I'm still swiping my card after a failed NFC attempt around half the time, which always frustrates people in line behind me and doubles the check-out time. Also, Wal-Mart does not accept Apple Pay which is unfortunate in the rural south. Don't get me wrong, when I go back to NYC or similar areas, I can hop out of my uber and pay for a Lacroix at Duane Reade using Apple Pay before I use Apple pay to provide a gratuity at the local coffee shop. I'm sure time will improve this, but it has been years and it's still it's hit more miss at best.

 

[AZhappyjack]

It has to be around 50% of the time that Apple Pay does not work. Either the NFC system is down or the terminal isn't happy with my payment (gas pump informs me to go to the register inside when the physical card clears flawlessly). So as a whole, I'm still swiping my card after a failed NFC attempt around half the time, which always frustrates people in line behind me and doubles the check-out time. Also, Wal-Mart does not accept Apple Pay which is unfortunate in the rural south. Don't get me wrong, when I go back to NYC or similar areas, I can hop out of my uber and pay for a Lacroix at Duane Reade using Apple Pay before I use Apple pay to provide a gratuity at the local coffee shop. I'm sure time will improve this, but it has been years and it's still it's hit more miss at best.

I rarely shop at WalMart... and I am finding it possible to use Pay at more and more places... I rarely have issues... and the security makes it absolutely worth it. Sorry your experience is different...

 

[MisterSavage]

Completely different experience with me. I use Apple Pay almost every day and I can count on one hand the times I've had trouble using it. Groceries, food, small businesses are all places I use it frequently.

 

[watchmainspring]

I rarely shop at WalMart... and I am finding it possible to use Pay at more and more places... I rarely have issues... and the security makes it absolutely worth it. Sorry your experience is different...

I wish I didn't shop there but it's the most convenient place for groceries and random stuff where I live. I use amazon as much as I can and drive to the city when possible for Target etc. I still use my Apple card at Wal-Mart.

Completely different experience with me. I use Apple Pay almost every day and I can count on one hand the times I've had trouble using it. Groceries, food, small businesses are all places I use it frequently.

I definitely have noticed the places that are poised to accept it are increasing. There are many NFC detectors that are down in some of the rural places I go. Gas Stations is a big one; they have the reader but the light isn't on. Or the light is on and it still doesn't work. Today apple pay didn't work at the gas station or at the dollar store. It did work for lunch. So that's a 33% success rate today.

 

[MisterSavage]

I definitely have noticed the places that are poised to accept it are increasing. There are many NFC detectors that are down in some of the rural places I go. Gas Stations is a big one; they have the reader but the light isn't on.

The gas situation is awful. Even Costco who takes Apple Pay at the register has dead NFC readers at the pump. I still can't believe how many gas pumps still use magnetic swipe.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I use Apple Pay all the time. For Shell I use their App and that allows me to pay at the pump wirelessly with Apple Pay (you put in a code at the pump when the app tells you to). Vons takes Apple Pay. Jimmy Johns takes Apple Pay. UCLA has Apple Pay. Our automatic car wash near our house uses Apple Pay. Target uses Apple Pay. And a cookie house in Santa Clarita takes Apple Pay.

I could go on and on. All I use is Apple Pay these days. Absolutely love it. It works every time.

A few years ago when it was newer, El Pollo Loco's Apple Pay readers never worked - but it was in the high desert and I think few people used Apple Pay there. They said the same thing about their Google Pay (it not working).

I see a lot of people trying to initiate Face ID ON the reader - seems to me that few realize they can initiate Apple Pay by moving their phone near the reader, then move it to their face to authorize, then back to the reader. This is how the car wash works - because you're not doing Face ID sitting in your car with your phone out the window, lol.

 

[watchmainspring]

I use Apple Pay all the time. For Shell I use their App and that allows me to pay at the pump wirelessly with Apple Pay (you put in a code at the pump when the app tells you to). Vons takes Apple Pay. Jimmy Johns takes Apple Pay. UCLA has Apple Pay. Our automatic car wash near our house uses Apple Pay. Target uses Apple Pay. And a cookie house in Santa Clarita takes Apple Pay.

I could go on and on. All I use is Apple Pay these days. Absolutely love it. It works every time.

A few years ago when it was newer, El Pollo Loco's Apple Pay readers never worked - but it was in the high desert and I think few people used Apple Pay there. They said the same thing about their Google Pay (it not working).

I see a lot of people trying to initiate Face ID ON the reader - seems to me that few realize they can initiate Apple Pay by moving their phone near the reader, then move it to their face to authorize, then back to the reader. This is how the car wash works - because you're not doing Face ID sitting in your car with your phone out the window, lol.

I don't doubt that UCLA and Santa Clarita are integrated with Apple pay. In the rural(ish) south, NFC in my experience does not seem to be adopted much. We are much like the high desert a few years ago techwise. I do try to get the NFC to transmit at the same time that faceID is detecting my face though I rarely catch others paying with their phones.

 

[scmill]

In the rural(ish) south, NFC in my experience does not seem to be adopted much.

I live in Upstate SC, and I try to use it everywhere I go (with my watch). More and more places are coming online with it. Today, I used it at my Dr's office. They had no idea what I was doing, but after I told the clerk to do her part, I just waved my wrist at the terminal and then out the door! She was gobsmacked! Tractor Supply and Wild Birds Unlimited are hit or miss. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

Apart from contactless payments being a bit hit and miss in NZ (very high interchange rates vs free debit card trans for retailers), Apple Pay works as flawlessly as a contactless card - in some cases better, as if the terminal is set up right, the Apple Pay transaction is already authenticated so no PIN required over $80.

 

[jaytv111]

It's worked well for me in New England. It's accepted in most grocery stores, even a local chain accepts Apple Pay/contactless. I've not used a gas station pump with contactless yet so I don't know what that is like, presumably when the EMV fraud liability switchover happens for gas stations in October this year I'll start seeing pumps with contactless (hopefully, although they may just be chip only and not chip and contactless).

Walmart is pushing their stupid Walmart Pay and that's why they don't support contactless/Apple Pay. It sucks if you shop there but it's not a big deal to carry around one card as backup and use it in any store that doesn't have contactless/Apple Pay. I have a Mous case with a small wallet that magnetically attaches and it carries 2 cards, one drivers license and one credit card and it's really sleek and most every day I can get away with just the phone and 2 cards. On the other hand there are times when I need cash or a specific credit card so I have a main wallet for those. So overall Apple Pay is great for me, it seems pretty fast to checkout with a Watch and it is accepted in a lot of places near me and it doesn't fail.

 

[Allyance]

I use Apple pay all the times and rarely have a problem, but I don't use it at gas pumps. The reason Walmart doesn't use Apple Pay is because AP only provides the retailer a transaction number and NO personal data so they can track you.

 

[konqerror]

In the rural(ish) south, NFC in my experience does not seem to be adopted much.

I also say it's the opposite. Small stores around here all have Apple Pay because they use stand-alone terminals which were all upgraded due to new PCI PTS/DSS security requirements a year or two ago. They got upgraded to Apple Pay when their provider mailed them a terminal and told them to plug it in.

It's the mass chains who use fully-integrated terminals and are too lazy to switch, or are trying to use contactless as a bargaining chip against networks (Wal-Mart).

 

[maxjohnson2]

I like Samsung Pay, it works with any sliding car reader as long as it's not recessed like the one at the gas station. I stopped using it due to privacy. It sometimes send data to Facebook, they recently introduced an option to opt-out of selling for data to third parties.

Newest LG phones have LG Pay which work the same way as Samsung Pay, but it's a moot point as not many people uses LG.

 

[1144557]

Ive never had a problem using it, I just wish more major stores took it. My grocery store does now and I use it all the time. It is WAY faster than get out my wallet, find the card, insert the chip, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, ok remove. Phone is in my front pocket double click the power button scan face and tap, done.

I wish more places like gas stations around here took it and Id use it even more. Those outside card readers are usually the shadier ones to use too in terms of skimmers. Even my major banks use NFC for the ATMs now. Just way safer to avoid skimming.

Ive had a card skimmed before (my guess how they got it since I still had the card and it was used locally only too)

I stopped using it due to privacy. It sometimes send data to Facebook, they recently introduced an option to opt-out of selling for data to third parties.

Did not know that, sounds pretty slimy, geez. Its too bad Apple didnt buy this tech though; the tech is sound.

 

[prss14]

I wish I didn't shop there but it's the most convenient place for groceries and random stuff where I live. I use amazon as much as I can and drive to the city when possible for Target etc. I still use my Apple card at Wal-Mart.

When I go to Walmart this is how I use Apple Pay at Walmart. It "reads" as overly complicated/cumbersome, but it is really very simple. The App is legit. My wife and I have been using it for quite a while, and using Apple Pay with the Apple Card gets us 2% back from Card and 1% back through the app. Neither Ibotta or Walmart have our card info.

The Ibotta app supports Apple Pay and has a new "Pay with Ibotta" feature. Get your stuff at Walmart. Go to checkout. Open Ibotta App. Choose Walmart. Then input the $ you owe. This will then purchase a "digital gift card" with your Apple Pay. Then scan the code at the self check out or tell the person to run as gift card and scan.

Here is my referral link to the app
https://ibotta.com/r/idlpuoa
or
just search for the app in the app store.

 

[watchmainspring]

Tractor Supply and Wild Birds Unlimited are hit or miss. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.

I bet if they prioritized it it would work.

Apart from contactless payments being a bit hit and miss in NZ (very high interchange rates vs free debit card trans for retailers), Apple Pay works as flawlessly as a contactless card - in some cases better, as if the terminal is set up right, the Apple Pay transaction is already authenticated so no PIN required over $80.

Good to hear it may work better than contactless cards.

It's worked well for me in New England. It's accepted in most grocery stores, even a local chain accepts Apple Pay/contactless. I've not used a gas station pump with contactless yet so I don't know what that is like, presumably when the EMV fraud liability switchover happens for gas stations in October this year I'll start seeing pumps with contactless (hopefully, although they may just be chip only and not chip and contactless).

Walmart is pushing their stupid Walmart Pay and that's why they don't support contactless/Apple Pay. It sucks if you shop there but it's not a big deal to carry around one card as backup and use it in any store that doesn't have contactless/Apple Pay. I have a Mous case with a small wallet that magnetically attaches and it carries 2 cards, one drivers license and one credit card and it's really sleek and most every day I can get away with just the phone and 2 cards. On the other hand there are times when I need cash or a specific credit card so I have a main wallet for those. So overall Apple Pay is great for me, it seems pretty fast to checkout with a Watch and it is accepted in a lot of places near me and it doesn't fail.

Yeah Walmart pay is a scary idea. Everyone has a "pay" app these days and of course Wal-Mart needs to get in on the action. I think Wal-Mart will cave eventually.

I use Apple pay all the times and rarely have a problem, but I don't use it at gas pumps. The reason Walmart doesn't use Apple Pay is because AP only provides the retailer a transaction number and NO personal data so they can track you.

You don't think the aforementioned Wal-Mart pay plays a part?

I also say it's the opposite. Small stores around here all have Apple Pay because they use stand-alone terminals which were all upgraded due to new PCI PTS/DSS security requirements a year or two ago. They got upgraded to Apple Pay when their provider mailed them a terminal and told them to plug it in.

It's the mass chains who use fully-integrated terminals and are too lazy to switch, or are trying to use contactless as a bargaining chip against networks (Wal-Mart).

If you're a small business, are you going to pay for upgraded equipment? I see a lot of square trade swipe readers and *some* NFC terminals though.

When I go to Walmart this is how I use Apple Pay at Walmart. It "reads" as overly complicated/cumbersome, but it is really very simple. The App is legit. My wife and I have been using it for quite a while, and using Apple Pay with the Apple Card gets us 2% back from Card and 1% back through the app. Neither Ibotta or Walmart have our card info.

The Ibotta app supports Apple Pay and has a new "Pay with Ibotta" feature. Get your stuff at Walmart. Go to checkout. Open Ibotta App. Choose Walmart. Then input the $ you owe. This will then purchase a "digital gift card" with your Apple Pay. Then scan the code at the self check out or tell the person to run as gift card and scan.

Here is my referral link to the app
https://ibotta.com/r/idlpuoa
or
just search for the app in the app store.

Is the App free? Does this payment process make checking out a drawn-out, cumbersome process?

 

[prss14]

Is the App free? Does this payment process make checking out a drawn-out, cumbersome process?

App is free. The link I put in the previous post is a referral link https://ibotta.com/r/idlpuoa , and yes would give me a couple of dollars if you signed up, or you could search in the app store for "Ibotta" or Ibotta.com in safari. (I get not wanting to click on a link in a forum).

Once I get my stuff on the counter I pull out my iPhone, open Ibotta app and choose Walmart. You then see a keypad where you put in the dollar amount of your purchase. I always put in the exact amount of my current purchase or you could buy a gift card for $100 or whatever number if you want. Pay with Apple Pay in the app like you would any other app. Tell cashier you have a digital gift card. Then have cashier scan the gift card bar code on your screen. With self check out you scan it yourself.

It takes me about 5 seconds longer than a normal Apple Pay transaction. It takes way longer to type it out than it does to actually complete the transaction.

 

[stephenschimpf]

It has to be around 50% of the time that Apple Pay does not work.

Wow, really? There are still placed here in the US that don't accept Apple Pay, but I use it every chance I get and I've never had it not work as long as the store accepts it.

 

[Velin]

I have iPhone, Wallet, Apple Pay, and Apple Card. I can say, honestly, it has been 100% flawless for me. Apple Card has been fantastic, whether it's using Apple Pay, the Apple Card, or using the Apple Card number for online purchases. Payment processing, flawless. Payment reporting, flawless. And paying the Apple Card balance via the Wallet app, flawless. I think Apple has the best, most robust, most secure phone payment processing system, period.

Advice: maybe try doing a complete wipe and clean install of the latest IOS on your iPhone. If you do the incremental updates, especially with major releases/upgrades, it can sometimes result in problems. Try a totally clean install and see if that doesn't improve your hardware/software reliability around Apple Pay.

 

[watchmainspring]

ran into this at qdoba. It's not my phone. The checkout people are usually aware of the problem. Also went to Piggly Wiggly and it was still problematic. They say it usually works if you try twice. It didn't.

 

[Corsig]

I use it all day everyday as much as possible. When there are terminals that don't accept it I get annoyed. For whatever negatives about it the positive for me are worth it

 

[Eric Idle]

I have iPhone, Wallet, Apple Pay, and Apple Card. I can say, honestly, it has been 100% flawless for me. Apple Card has been fantastic, whether it's using Apple Pay, the Apple Card, or using the Apple Card number for online purchases. Payment processing, flawless. Payment reporting, flawless. And paying the Apple Card balance via the Wallet app, flawless. I think Apple has the best, most robust, most secure phone payment processing system, period.

Advice: maybe try doing a complete wipe and clean install of the latest IOS on your iPhone. If you do the incremental updates, especially with major releases/upgrades, it can sometimes result in problems. Try a totally clean install and see if that doesn't improve your hardware/software reliability around Apple Pay.

My Apple Card was hacked. How, I have no idea. Thieves somehow were able to have the address on record for my Apple Card changed. I recieved an email update of this and immediately was going to call Goldman Sachs. Before I could get on the phone charges started showing up on my card to the tune of thouands of dollars. I notified Goldman and my card was locked down. I'm unable to use or pay my bill now.

Apple Card is not very secure. The charges were for thouands of miles away from my location.

 

[compwiz1202]

I use Apple Pay all the time. For Shell I use their App and that allows me to pay at the pump wirelessly with Apple Pay (you put in a code at the pump when the app tells you to). Vons takes Apple Pay. Jimmy Johns takes Apple Pay. UCLA has Apple Pay. Our automatic car wash near our house uses Apple Pay. Target uses Apple Pay. And a cookie house in Santa Clarita takes Apple Pay.

I could go on and on. All I use is Apple Pay these days. Absolutely love it. It works every time.

A few years ago when it was newer, El Pollo Loco's Apple Pay readers never worked - but it was in the high desert and I think few people used Apple Pay there. They said the same thing about their Google Pay (it not working).

I see a lot of people trying to initiate Face ID ON the reader - seems to me that few realize they can initiate Apple Pay by moving their phone near the reader, then move it to their face to authorize, then back to the reader. This is how the car wash works - because you're not doing Face ID sitting in your car with your phone out the window, lol.

LOL can just double tap power and FaceID and scan too. AP is one thing I like Touch better for though. I could double tap and keep my thumb on the home button and swipe to the terminal DING DONE without any clunkiness.

 

[zinacef]

I use Apple Pay all the time. For Shell I use their App and that allows me to pay at the pump wirelessly with Apple Pay (you put in a code at the pump when the app tells you to). Vons takes Apple Pay. Jimmy Johns takes Apple Pay. UCLA has Apple Pay. Our automatic car wash near our house uses Apple Pay. Target uses Apple Pay. And a cookie house in Santa Clarita takes Apple Pay.

I could go on and on. All I use is Apple Pay these days. Absolutely love it. It works every time.

A few years ago when it was newer, El Pollo Loco's Apple Pay readers never worked - but it was in the high desert and I think few people used Apple Pay there. They said the same thing about their Google Pay (it not working).

I see a lot of people trying to initiate Face ID ON the reader - seems to me that few realize they can initiate Apple Pay by moving their phone near the reader, then move it to their face to authorize, then back to the reader. This is how the car wash works - because you're not doing Face ID sitting in your car with your phone out the window, lol.

Hi @BigMcGuire, got a question for you re: using the Shell app and Apple Pay. The other day I went to a Shell gas station and tried to use the app but ran into issues. I entered the pump number, then it asked me how I'd like to pay so I chose Apple Pay. It then gave me a screen to confirm the gas station location, pump number, paying by Apple Pay, etc. However, on that screen I saw an option where it was asking me to select a prepaid amount so I left it blank.

After I authenticated with Face ID for Apple Pay, I got an error message (some 'E code followed by a number and asking me to call Shell's customer support). Now my question is this, was I supposed to go into that menu I mentioned and select a prepaid amount? I'm guessing I was supposed to have chosen an amount that I believed was going to be greater than what I was expecting to pump?

I know when I've used the Exon/Mobil app to pay for gas with Apple Pay, I didn't have to go through that rigamarole like I did with Shell.

 

[user_xyz]

It has to be around 50% of the time that Apple Pay does not work. Either the NFC system is down or the terminal isn't happy with my payment (gas pump informs me to go to the register inside when the physical card clears flawlessly). So as a whole, I'm still swiping my card after a failed NFC attempt around half the time, which always frustrates people in line behind me and doubles the check-out time. Also, Wal-Mart does not accept Apple Pay which is unfortunate in the rural south. Don't get me wrong, when I go back to NYC or similar areas, I can hop out of my uber and pay for a Lacroix at Duane Reade using Apple Pay before I use Apple pay to provide a gratuity at the local coffee shop. I'm sure time will improve this, but it has been years and it's still it's hit more miss at best.

My Amex/Visa/MC hasn't let me down yet!!

And I should mention I always keep a significant amount of Ca$h on me for emergencies/electrical outages and whatnot-Everyone should! 😇