Walmart starts rolling out Walmart Pay through its iPhone app

I believe the more choice comment might be directed at Walmart in general. A lot of people tend to hate on Walmart, but it provides low prices on a lot of things people need. I guess people have a problem with efficient companies that can reduce cost and provide lower prices.

Fair enough but things like Walmart Black Friday stampedes are what makes me believe Walmart does not make the world a better place, more choice or not. And the result of the low prices is lower quality stuff, underpaid workers/bad customer service. If that works for some people, then great, but I'll pass. But back to the actual topic at hand, offering Walmart Pay and not Apple Pay as well is anti-competitive and is a worse service, straight up.

I completely agree that Walmart should offer Apple Pay. I think it is ridiculous when companies have the technology to allow Apple Pay (a much safer payment method for customers), yet they lock it down to promote their own payment systems.

1. Black Friday and the chaos it brings existed long before Walmart.
2. They sell mostly the same products as any other store, so how is quality, across the board, lower?
3. Amazingly, no one is forced to work at WalMart. And for the most part I've not experienced much in the way of bad customer service there. No worse than other store, at least.
4. Having the choice to shop there, or not, is nice isn't it?
5. Walmart having a choice to pay Apple, or not, is also nice for them and why should they. Why not Samsung Pay, or Android Pay, or the eventual ABC, MNO, and XYZ Pay that are surely to follow? Wouldn't it just be easier to let Walmart shoppers use the Walmart app instead of having to chase the rabbit of whatever phone pay system is used?

1. Black Friday and the chaos it brings existed long before Walmart.
Fair enough, but Walmart always seems to be the one where you hear about injuries.
2. They sell mostly the same products as any other store, so how is quality, across the board, lower?
They appear the same but if you look very often it's a Walmart specific sku made with cheaper parts.
3. Amazingly, no one is forced to work at WalMart. And for the most part I've not experienced much in the way of bad customer service there. No worse than other store, at least.
Technically no, but if that's the best job they can get they kinda are.
4. Having the choice to shop there, or not, is nice isn't it?
Yep, and I will continue not to.
5. Walmart having a choice to pay Apple, or not, is also nice for them and why should they. Why not Samsung Pay, or Android Pay, or the eventual ABC, MNO, and XYZ Pay that are surely to follow? Wouldn't it just be easier to let Walmart shoppers use the Walmart app instead of having to chase the rabbit of whatever phone pay system is used?
Not consumer friendly, just another reason to not shop there.

Name stealer! The only reason Walmart is calling it Walmart Pay us to trick people into thinking it's like Apple Pay. Walmart originally was calling their payment system Current-C.

Current C is name of the program being used but I assume each retailer will name it something unique when it's rolled out to their stores.

What a jerk move. There is no reason they can't do both. Want extra features from our crappy stores? You have the option to sell your soul and privacy to us in return for goodies. Want convenience? Well, we have you covered here at Walmart! We accept Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, AND Walmart Pay! We do it because we love our customers. Well, that and because you all have smart phones with NFC. Instead, it's we don't give a **** about you or your personal preferences. We have our preferences, thank you. Want convenience? C'mon, it's not that a big a deal to launch an app each time you shop here. Those extra seconds won't kill you. We don't see you complaining at Starbucks. Now give us your money and shut up.

Agreed and it's because they know it would be even more likely to fail if they had the competition from Apple Pay/Android Pay. Even Samsung Pay is pointless when there's Android Pay.

How is Samsung Pay pointless? I've been using Samsung Pay since last August at Walmart. I can use it at 90% of places where Android Pay and Apple Pay won't work.

I'd rather have one simplified solution but as it stands I'll give Walmart pay a try. My bank STILL hasn't adopted Apple Pay so I'll try this out as soon as I'm able. Sent from the iMore App

They really aren't competitors, though. One is an app-based model like Starbucks and the other is NFC-based. There is no reason the two cannot peacefully coexist on the phones and pay terminals. By the way, Starbucks was the trend setter in this space and they are now starting to accept Apple Pay. The Starbucks app is even integrated with Apple Pay. Like Starbucks Rewards, Walmart Pay looks to be a great product and offers many incentives for consumer buy-in. If the merchant enables choice they still get the customer' money. It's a win win. Blocking one in favor of another short-sighted hubris.

Oh sure, Like I said, I'd still prefer one simplified solution. Apple Pay has an extra hurdle of getting banks to sign on to the program. Something my smaller bank still hasn't done. So it's not exactly universal yet. At least with Walmart Pay I can download the app and use any card that I please. I'd easily choose an NFC based way to pay over this method. For the record, I think this is a bit of a convoluted method. BUT as someone who doesn't have access to Apple Pay yet I'll happily give it a try. The real purpose for this of course is Walmart trying to save money on credit card fees. Going with their own solution is cheaper for them even if it will probably end up losing long term. I assume at some point we'll be using bank account numbers instead of plastic cards with 3rd party companies.

I wonder how long until the press release is circulated announcing "Walmart Shutters Walmart-Pay"... ;-)

Unless i'm blind, I don't see a place for Walmart pay in the app? I just downloaded it from the app store but the option for Walmart Pay is missing. I assume the update for the app is coming soon?

Is this the same as Current C? One article I read seemed to suggest that Walmart was proceeding with two separate applications. Current C was a privacy and security nightmare that only worked with your checking account number. I'm curious to see a system analysis of Walmart Pay.

Not sure why Walmart should pay the extra transaction fees for Apple Pay?

An iPad app would be nice. I'm not ashamed to say I use them once in awhile. Show me where else you can get a brand new iPhone 5s for $199.00 and slap your T-Mobile sim in it... Sent from the iMore App