jbranc

Q: Whole Foods required a signature after using Apple Pay

I just setup Apple Pay with my Chase Debit and used it at Whole Foods.  The process worked well, up until the point where the CC terminal asked me to sign. I had to use their little digital pen to sign on their terminal screen.  I thought the whole point of this was to not have to do that?

iPhone 6

Posted on Oct 20, 2014 12:12 PM

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Q: Whole Foods required a signature after using Apple Pay

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  • by Carefreelynn,

    Carefreelynn Carefreelynn Oct 23, 2014 11:31 AM in response to jbranc
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPad
    Oct 23, 2014 11:31 AM in response to jbranc

    I had the same problem In Arizona. Makes you wonder what's the point of using Apple Pay.

  • by Weedo,

    Weedo Weedo Oct 26, 2014 6:48 AM in response to jbranc
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 26, 2014 6:48 AM in response to jbranc

    Same issue at Home Depot.  Perhaps HD follows the same rules as with a credit card, anything over $50 you need a signature.

  • by William Kucharski,

    William Kucharski William Kucharski Oct 28, 2014 3:19 PM in response to jbranc
    Level 6 (15,118 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 28, 2014 3:19 PM in response to jbranc

    For most merchants, Apple Pay is simply an alternative to having to present a physical credit card plate.

     

    All rules, including the need for signatures, still apply at those merchants.

  • by Bayushi,

    Bayushi Bayushi Oct 29, 2014 2:37 PM in response to William Kucharski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 29, 2014 2:37 PM in response to William Kucharski

    It doesn't make any sense as a customer experience. We are not here to provide convenient information to machines. We should only have to authenticate once: ID fingerprint or signature and not both.

  • by William Kucharski,

    William Kucharski William Kucharski Oct 29, 2014 4:50 PM in response to jbranc
    Level 6 (15,118 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 29, 2014 4:50 PM in response to jbranc

    Sense and company policy are two different things.

     

    The credit card companies may well still require a signature to "prove" the transaction was legitimate, it depends if both the store and card issuers' policies have kept pace with the rollout of Apple Pay.

  • by KevinC,

    KevinC KevinC Oct 30, 2014 10:08 AM in response to jbranc
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Oct 30, 2014 10:08 AM in response to jbranc

    Same experience at BassPro, used Apple Pay for the first time, was awesome.... UNTIL, I had to hit "Yes" or "No" on the keypad for the amount (mind you, this is AFTER I already paid with Apple Pay), I thought that was strange, then.... Sign?  I said to the girl, "Really... I have to sign?  So much for ONE TOUCH purchases".  So, all told, all Apple Pay saved me was pulling out & swiping my credit card.  Bummer! 

  • by travellerva,

    travellerva travellerva Oct 30, 2014 2:53 PM in response to KevinC
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2014 2:53 PM in response to KevinC

    How very irritating.  The same thing happened to me at Whole Foods just now.  I asked the checkout person: "What's the point of Apple Pay if I also have to sign?"  He said: "At least you'd be able to check out without having your credit card on you".  Yes, but...

     

    My main concern is that Apple has sold us on ease and security.  Tim Cook was gushing at how all you had to do was use your iPhone and your fingerprint.  We've been baited and switched!

  • by Bayushi,

    Bayushi Bayushi Oct 30, 2014 3:04 PM in response to travellerva
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 30, 2014 3:04 PM in response to travellerva

    My guts tell me this is not an Apple thing and not a Whole Foods thing. It's a bank thing.

     

    What can we do to help give Apple the leverage needed to negotiate with the banks and improve the experience?

  • by jbranc,

    jbranc jbranc Oct 30, 2014 3:07 PM in response to Bayushi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 30, 2014 3:07 PM in response to Bayushi

    I'm starting to think it has to do with the configuration of the pay terminals.  Each company can set limits like the amount required before signature. I think its following those guidelines.  Perhaps they can configure it after they realize how its being used.  I would imagine such changes will take a long time to trickle down through the stores

  • by travellerva,

    travellerva travellerva Oct 30, 2014 3:12 PM in response to jbranc
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2014 3:12 PM in response to jbranc

    It may be right that the problem has to do with either the banks or the merchants policies but my primary displeasure is toward Apple who did not place any caveats on the process when it was announced.  Shame on them.

  • by Thatchcote,

    Thatchcote Thatchcote Oct 30, 2014 5:38 PM in response to travellerva
    Level 3 (615 points)
    Oct 30, 2014 5:38 PM in response to travellerva

    Oh please!  Each merchant has the right to set their own rules for credit card usage and that is still what this is.  I don't know about you, but I just take my finger and swipe across with a fingernail when I "sign" the reader - have done this for years.

     

    It's still a LOT easier to not have to fumble around for ones credit card, and someday (hopefully SOON!), I will only have to carry ones for specific stores when I know I'm going there. 

     

    BTW, I was at Whole Foods yesterday and did not have to sign anything.  Cashier was properly trained for my use of ApplePay and said she has multiple customers each day already using it.  I think that's a lot considering that it requires the newest iPhone and the software for it only came out a little over a week ago!

  • by wgcollier,

    wgcollier wgcollier Oct 31, 2014 7:06 AM in response to William Kucharski
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Oct 31, 2014 7:06 AM in response to William Kucharski

    The credit card companies definitely do not need a signature with Apple Pay.  Touch ID serves the same purpose (much better, actually), and their rules were changed to permit that.  For individual merchants, though, this is a very new thing, and they don't all understand it or haven't had time to revise their policies to implement it correctly.  I suggest politely giving the in-store folks what they need but then e-mailing the store/company (e.g., Whole Foods) to provide feedback on what happened and how it is supposed to work.  Apple can provide the technology, but it's going to require something of a grass-roots effort to help retailers get it right.

  • by G3gator,

    G3gator G3gator Nov 2, 2014 12:58 PM in response to Thatchcote
    Level 3 (571 points)
    Nov 2, 2014 12:58 PM in response to Thatchcote

    "I don't know about you, but I just take my finger and swipe across with a fingernail when I "sign" the reader - have done this for years."


    Yes, this signature thing is absurd and has been forever. Unless someone verifies the signature, which has never happened to me, it is worthless. Then, imagine trying to verify signatures on those devices sitting at odd angles for signing and with plastic utensils that often don't register more than a smear of some kind. This would drive a handwriting expert nuts.


    George

  • by jjkraw,

    jjkraw jjkraw Nov 5, 2014 6:28 AM in response to jbranc
    Level 2 (336 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 5, 2014 6:28 AM in response to jbranc

    As far as the "What's the point of Apple Pay if I also have to sign?" question, the big selling point for me is that my real credit card number is never exposed during the transaction. The number that is given to the merchant is unique to the individual phone/card combination.

     

    I've only used it so far at Walgreens and I still get the questions on the pinpad about some sort of contribution and an OK for the amount - I actually LIKE that it still requires that OK - all of which I don't find a big deal. I just wish I could get the cashiers to stop trying to sell me the candy they have "on special" at the register...

     

    Will try at Whole Foods sometime soon.

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