CVS, Rite Aid Shut Out Apple Pay
Oct 27, 2014, 7:19 AM by Eric M. Zeman
CVS and Rite Aid have disabled the NFC-based payment systems within their stores, effectively preventing consumers from using Apple Pay to make tap-and-go payments. Spokesperson Ashley Flower said Rite Air "does not currently accept Apple Pay" and that Rite Aid is "still in the process of evaluating out mobile payment options." CVS did not provide a comment, but Apple Pay worked in CVS stores when the service launched on October 20 and and ceased to work over the weekend. Neither CVS nor Rite Aid was ever officially named by Apple as an Apple Pay supporter, but both have NFC-equipped payment terminals in their retail locations. Though neither company said why they don't support Apple Pay, some believe it is because they are backing a rival mobile payment system being developed by the Merchant Customer Exchange. The MCX launched in 2012 with the goal of creating a mobile payment service for smartphones. The MCX app is not expected to reach consumers until next year. The original list of supporters included 7-Eleven, Alon Brands, CVS/Pharmacy, Darden Restaurants, HMSHost, Hy-Vee, Lowe's, Publix Super Markets, Sears, Shell Oil, and Sunoco, though an unknown number of organizations have joined since 2012. According to the New York Times, MCX's app will be called CurrentC and involves scanning a QR code on the phone's display. Apple Pay is simpler to use, as consumers don't even have to wake their phones to make payments.
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Comments
Two Different Systems
MCX is for store credit cards only. To date no banks have signed on, no major credit card labels have signed on, and it is unable to initiate any transactions with a Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover, etc. If you go into Target and use the MCX system you will ONLY be able to pay with your Target Card. This is a major limitation that will seriously restrict customer adoption of the app.
I have used Google Wallet (and understand the under pinnings of how Apple Pay works and it should be the same for Apple Pay) and they process everything through partner financial institutions. In the case of Apple Pay the processi...
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What MCX has effectively done is stalled the adoption of a widely accepted mobile payment solution, possibly damaging the market moving ...
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How's that a good thing? Someone can run a payment without you even knowing. Are people really that lazy that it's too much work to take an active ...
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Factual Reporting: All NFC, Not Just Apple Pay
Factual reporting is always a good choice 🙄
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This, basically, sucks...
There are multiple ecosystems supporting NFC-- Google Wallet, Softcard (the system formerly known as ISIS) and now Apple Pay. All supporting a common terminal structure that was multi-vendor.
Now MCX is creating a system that requires customers to load yet another proprietary app on their phones, as opposed to using a standards based system and a common terminal structure.
If there was a technical reason for abandoning NFC, I could understand. But to build out yet another proprietary system seems to only serve MCX, and not their client or consumers.
Rewards?
