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Apple Pay Has a Siri Problem (theverge.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Katherine Boehret of The Verge reports multiple issues -- systematic, as well as general unawareness among vendors -- with Apple Pay. Citing instances from her own experience, she noted issues when using Apple Pay at McDonald's, Pret A Manger, and New York City cabs. From her report, "If I buy something at one of the wrong registers, the cashier must log out of it and log on at the right register before re-entering my purchase so I can use Apple Pay. This has happened at least a dozen times." She adds, "When a tool like Apple Pay works, it's like magic. You lift your phone, use fingerprint recognition to confirm the purchase, and walk away. The Wallet app in iOS shows you a list of your recent transactions, and adding credit cards is a simple process. But if Apple Pay fails enough times or isn't accepted at enough places, people forget it exists or think it's not worth trying to use. It's a lot like Siri in that way: too many failed attempts and you'll never open it again -- at least not on purpose."

35 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by whipslash · · Score: 2

    "It's a lot like Siri in that way: too many failed attempts and you'll never open it again -- at least not on purpose."

  2. Guess I've Been Lucky by WankerWeasel · · Score: 2

    I guess I've been lucky. I've never paid at the wrong register or had it not work right.

  3. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by TypoNAM · · Score: 4, Funny

    You must be new... Oh wait.

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    This space is not for rent.
  4. Penny Arcade by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
  5. Proof? by gabeman-o · · Score: 4, Informative

    I use Apple Pay on a daily basis. I've used it in NYC cabs and all of the same restaurants referenced in the article. Seems like clickbait to me.

  6. Puzzling Headline by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I was puzzled about the headline for a while. Because Siri has had the opposite effect from that claimed.

    At first when Siri came out, it didn't work very well - so I didn't use it much.

    But over time I've used it more and more. Part of it is because every time you get new hardware, you simply try new things and over time I've found what things work well for me in Siri, and so I do use it quite often now.

    The same is true of ApplePay. The ability to use it may be limited now, and there may be some failures. But with every new phone, or AppleWatch purchase the desire to try it out renews - and over time more and more places will have working ApplePay terminals. In the end use will grow, because using it is so compelling for so many reasons (not the least of which is security).

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  7. Stop going to the wrong register by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe she needs to stop going to the wrong register

  8. It ain't there yet by The-Ixian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I cannot count how many times I have been behind the person who whips out their phone to pay only to be stymied by some little glitch. Bewildered expressions are exchanged, the words "try it now" are uttered one or more times and the process finally progresses when a manager is called in to fiddle with the PoS...

    I will stick with the mag stripe until adoption is much higher. It just works and is very fast, even with the stupid signature.

    I don't think the issue is with the technology per se... it is still just too new and support is too patchy.

    Still... we need the hipsters to deal with these annoyances for us so that we can experience a smooth transition.

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    1. Re:It ain't there yet by pz · · Score: 2

      I will stick with the mag stripe until adoption is much higher. It just works and is very fast, even with the stupid signature.

      Cash is even faster, and doesn't leave a mile-wide trail of your life.

      --

      Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
    2. Re:It ain't there yet by CWCheese · · Score: 3, Insightful

      gosh, the headaches of millennials who can't read the numerals on green shaded slips of paper adorned with appropriate dead presidents... not to mention circles of metal with similar dead presidents in bas relief

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  9. If you think that's bad... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

    Whenever my friend users Apple Pay at the grocery store, his credit union automatically disables his debit card and he has to call in to confirm that it wasn't fraudulent activity to reactivate the debit card. Apple Pay has never worked for him.

    1. Re:If you think that's bad... by amRadioHed · · Score: 2

      Sounds like ineptitude at the credit union to me.

      --
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  10. Re:And then there's me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What about your other customers wanting to use Android Pay?

  11. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by BronsCon · · Score: 2

    I'm honestly not sure why we're using NFC and requiring special terminals for this anyway. Look at Samsung Pay, which tries NFC, then falls back to using an electromagnetic coil to communicate with a magstripe reader. That works with every terminal. So, my question is why use NFC for this at all?

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    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  12. really? by Lumpy · · Score: 2

    The merchant screws up so that is an apple problem..

    Dammit Samsung, my car is out of gas again!

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:really? by LWATCDR · · Score: 2

      No Apple has a problem, it is the same problem Google has with Android Pay and Microsoft has with Microsoft wallet.
      You have no idea how many times I have walked up to a terminal and try to use my phone and I am told that it doesn't work yet. So I take out my card and put it in the chip reader and have to hear them say that doesn't work yet...
      Back to the magstripe reader...
      If it nfc payments keep failing people will stop trying to use them.

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  13. Re:And then there's me by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Please tell us your stores name and location so we can spread the word to not shop at your place.

    I use google pay and your dimwitted decision blocks me, and I prefer to not shop at a place owned by a moron.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  14. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by spire3661 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When i walk into a store i know for sure they will take cash or plastic. I NEVER know if they will take 'phone'. There is no reason to use Apple Pay until it can have the same reach as cash or plastic.

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    Good-bye
  15. Re:And then there's me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You'll be out of business soon. Not because of a lack of Apple Pay, but because you're an idiot

  16. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by spire3661 · · Score: 2

    Define 'safer'. At the end of the day, banking is about TRUST not safety.

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    Good-bye
  17. Re:How do you do returns? by HockeyPuck · · Score: 3, Informative
  18. Re:I've not really seen it work yet... by vux984 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I use Android Pay at Trader Joe's regularly specifically because it's faster than using my chip card."

    I have a card with NFC. It also takes 2 seconds, and I don't even have to unlock my phone.

    Why on earth would I want to use my phone instead? I don't want to unlock my phone to make a payment. I don't want to have NFC enabled on it. I don't have to worry about whether my phone is charged. (Sometimes it doesn't make it to the end of the day, especially if I haven't charged it the night before, or made heavy use of it.)

    It seems like American card technology is so far behind what the rest of the world is doing that using your phones actually feels like a step forward. It just seems like a problem looking for a solution.

  19. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by TheRaven64 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It uses exactly the same EMV protocol as the chip on my credit card. The only difference is that my credit card is a lot more portable than my phone and doesn't need a battery.

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    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  20. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by jbmartin6 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't understand what you mean. My card is perfectly safe. I am 100% not liable for fraudulent charges.

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  21. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow, the summaries are terrible here anymore...I can't figure out if this is a siri issue, an apple pay issue OR a POS terminal issue....

    It's a vendor issue.

    Apple Pay (and, I assume, the Android equivalent) works really well when a vendor hasn't done something stupid like turned off NFC payments by default. MUD BAY PET SUPPLY, I'M TALKING TO YOU! Unfortunately in that case you have to tell the cashier you want to pay using your phone, then they have to log in and turn it on, then you finally get to tap your phone...

    On the other hand, with stores that implement it intelligently (such as my local McLendon's Hardware) - it's really a pleasure to use, and it definitely speeds up transactions.

    Happily it seems like, over the past 5-6 months, NFC payment options are finally becoming more widely available.

    --
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  22. Dumb, expensive fad by DogDude · · Score: 2

    It's really a dumb, expensive fad. Paying with a phone will never make it big for many reasons. One of the biggest is that the merchant doesn't want to give up an extra 1% or whatever Apple/Google end up charging so that some customers can play a little bit more with their phones. It doesn't solve any problems.

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    1. Re:Dumb, expensive fad by shmlco · · Score: 2

      Uhh... IIRC, I think Apple Pay reduces the rate merchants pay, as the user-present biometric scan minimizes the chance of fraud over a straight mag card swipe.

      It also introduces a one-time code into the mix such that I, as a user, don't have to cringe the next time I hear my local grocery store or drug store has had umpteen-million credit card numbers stolen.

      So, one big reason down and one additional problem solved. You're batting 0 for 2 so far...

      --
      Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
  23. Siri has a problem? by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I use Siri probably 5 times per day on average, and I have a problem with maybe once per week. I have teenagers so, shit, Siri is way ahead of the game in understanding simple directions.

    I can make a calendar entry with Siri in 1/10th the time it takes to do it on the phone or desktop. "schedule teeth cleaning on may 5 at 9am at franklin dental care". It just works. "ask my wife do you want anything from the store while I'm here?" "call my wife". "wake me up at 6am" I don't use it for thousands of different things but for what I use it for it really makes using the phone much easier.

    Even my wife can use it with her accent.

    My main gripe with Siri is that I cannot get her to call me "el conquistador" unless I use straight spanish for the language. I can change to spanish and say "me llamo el conquistador" and it works, but when I switch back to english she tries to pronounce "el conquistador" using english pronunciation rules and it falls apart. Sadly, "mein fuerher" suffers the same problem.

  24. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by jbmartin6 · · Score: 2

    I don't pay any fees, and I don't pay the first $50. That's the case with all three credit cards I own. I don't carry around the card I use for automated payments, but that's still a good point for those who might do so.

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    This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
  25. User Error? by friesofdoom · · Score: 2

    This sounds to me like "I went to a cash only till, and tried to pay with card, and then the lady at the till had to re-scan everything at the card enabled till"

  26. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Apple Pay is just Apple's name for NFC. Look for the NFC Logo

    Also called MasterCard PayPass, Android Pay, Visa Pay Wave or Discover Zip.

    Samsung Pay is a bit different, in addition to NFC they bought a company that fakes a magnetic swipe meaning it can be used with any old magnetic reader.

    Almost every place I've tried to use touch to pay works (And I don't even use my cell phone). Most places have had the readers since ~2010 and I remember McDonalds having them since ~2007ish.

    It's handy to take my wallet out of my pocket, tap the screen and continue on. If any store you go into has a newer screen the reader is behind the screen, older payment kiosks have a little ''dish' looking part on the top.

  27. Re:And then there's me by wjcofkc · · Score: 2

    Huh? So what if you don't like Apple as a company, that is totally irrelevant. When customers inquire as to whether or not they can use what in this case would be their favorite payment method, do you just tell them you don't except or do you give that whole spiel? If no, what if they press on the issue? Do you then explain you won't take their money because you don't like Apple, potentially disenfranchising them at the same time? There are a few banks out there that can be hated just as much as Apple. Do you refuse to do business with people who have an account at such a bank?

    Picking and choosing who you will let give you money for products and services is possibly the stupidest thing I will read this week. You may as well put a "No iOS devices allowed" sign in your front window. In the remote chance I ever stumble across your business I would like to know just what it i's called so I don't make the mistake of doing business with an idiot, and I don't even have an iPhone and all around dislike Apple as well.. That is me as a consumer excersising choice. It is your job as a business person to eliminate or at least reduce reasons for me to do business elsewhere.

    --
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  28. Re:I've not really seen it work yet... by vux984 · · Score: 2

    1. Because if you drop your NFC card

    If I drop my phone, odds aren't too bad that I've just ruined it. ;)

    it only takes me two seconds to pick it up and use to to buy stuff. If you lose your phone, it's no good for purchases without your fingerprint.

    But yes, that's a fair comment otherwise. On the other hand, my bank has given me zero grief refunding transactions that aren't mine in previous fraudulent use situations.

    2. If Trader Joe gets hacked, the credit card number behind your NFC card is in their database and gets sold en masse to carders.

    Wait, why is trader joe storing it? Even Home Depot's breach wasn't that stupid. The malware was siphoning cards as they were swiped. You are correct ... insofar as one time numbers would break that... but we are talking about holding up my card next to a terminal infected with malware ...

    I have to ask whether you really think its a smart idea to hold up your unlocked NFC enabled phone next to a terminal infected with malware? What could possibly go wrong with THAT?

    3. If privacy is a thing you care about,

    If privacy is the thing I care about, then I'll turn my phone off and pay cash.

    Your solution to privacy is to to give apple my fingerprint and all my transaction details in order to keep the purchases I make at traderjoes a secret from trader joes? Seriously?

    And how private even from trader joes is this really going to be? Are we sure they can't fingerprint the NFC connection itself to connect your different payments, even though the 'card number' presented is different? After all there's big business fingerprinting and tracking phones as they walk around your store these days.

    Besides at the end of the day I don't even really care if trader joes knows what I buy at trader joes. As long as that's all they get to know.

  29. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by DogDude · · Score: 2

    Previously (and currently with chips) the network ends up taking the hit and chalking it up to the fraud percentage.

    That's not correct. The network has never eaten fraud. It always goes back to the merchant, and has for at least several decades.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
  30. Re:wait, is this a siri issue or an apple pay issu by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 2

    "Apple Pay is just Apple's name for NFC. Look for the NFC Logo [google.com]"

    Bing! You're the lone person in this thread who gets it right. But although new POS registers almost always have the NFC chip, very few merchants have taken the trouble to use the NFC logo. That's why you just have to try it and see if it works.