Walmart continues to not accept Apple Pay or any other NFC-based payment methods, such as Google Pay or Samsung Pay, at its stores in the United States. This position makes it one of the last major U.S. retailers to not support these contactless payment options, a limitation that has been noted on social media. In contrast, most Walmart locations in Canada do accept Apple Pay.
Reasons for Non-Acceptance
Walmart Pay
Walmart launched its own QR code-based contactless payment platform, Walmart Pay, in 2016. Using Walmart Pay requires customers to add a debit or credit card to the Walmart app and then scan a QR code at checkout.
Scan and Go
The retailer also provides the Scan and Go platform for Walmart+ subscribers. This feature allows users to scan items as they shop using the Walmart or Sam’s Club app and then complete their purchase at self-checkout. Apple Pay is not supported when using Scan and Go.
Data Collection
Data collection is identified as a significant factor in Walmart's decision. Walmart aims to collect customer data to build profiles based on purchasing patterns, which supports targeted advertising and marketing efforts. When customers use Walmart Pay or Scan and Go, their transaction data is directly linked to their Walmart account, facilitating this data collection. Apple Pay's privacy and security features, which do not share actual card information with the retailer, make such tracking more challenging for the company.
Apple Pay Fees
The belief that Walmart avoids Apple Pay due to additional fees is inaccurate. Businesses do not incur extra charges for accepting Apple Pay; they only pay standard card processing fees, regardless of whether a transaction is contactless. Apple's fees are typically charged to issuing banks. While retailers are required to have payment terminals that support contactless transactions, Walmart has updated terminals in many stores but has manually disabled their NFC capabilities to encourage the use of Walmart Pay.
Walmart's Stated Position
In a previous statement, Walmart communicated that it views Walmart Pay as a more convenient solution for shoppers. The company noted its investment in solutions like Walmart Pay and Scan & Go to provide easy, touchless payment and overall shopping experiences for its customers.
Despite other major retailers, including Kroger, Home Depot, and H-E-B, adopting Apple Pay, Walmart has not indicated any plans to change its policy regarding NFC payment support in its U.S. stores.