A POPULAR grocery store and Kroger competitor has expanded its payment options after facing protests from shoppers.
Texas-based chain HEB has joined 85% of other retailers and now accepts Apple Pay.
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Alongside Walmart, HEB insisted on integrating Apple Pay into its checkout terminals.
The grocer’s choice caused a lot of frustration among Texas shoppers, with one Facebook user calling the lack of Apple Pay “old school.”
Kroger began accepting tap-to-pay options last April thanks to high demand among customers, and HEB followed suit.
HEB launched a pilot program this week that allows customers to pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
However, the program is only being tested at Central Market at 5750 East Lovers Lane in Dallas.
“At HEB, we are always exploring a wide range of technologies to improve the way our customers buy and pay for products,” HEB said in a statement.
HEB
HEB is a supermarket chain founded in San Antonio in 1905.
The chain’s name represents its founder, Howard E. Butt, and is also incorporated into the slogan “Here, everything is better”.
Located primarily in Texas, there are more than 300 HEB stores in the state. There are also locations in Mexico.
The grocer also shared its goal of accepting tap-to-pay in more locations in the future.
PAYMENT PROTEST
Along with HEB and Home Depot, Walmart is famous among shoppers for its hesitancy to accept tap to pay.
Many Walmart customers have criticized the online retail giant for its outdated payment systems.
One shopper explained on X how he filled his cart and scanned all his items at self-checkout when he realized Walmart wasn’t accepting tap to pay.
“So I just left, didn’t pick up any items, and I’m going to King Soopers or Target now,” he fumed.
“It’s 2024. Maximize the ways I get my money.”
Other customers also abandoned their carts or even boycotted the store for not adopting payment technology.
Despite a huge amount of protest among shoppers, Walmart has maintained its stance on tap-to-pay.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon even performed at a interview with the host of the Stratechery podcast and spoke about the subject.
McMillon shared that Walmart would consider integrating Apple Pay at some point, but hoped to encourage shoppers to use an alternative payment method for now.
“I think in our case we would like customers to open our app in the store all the time,” the CEO said, highlighting the retailer’s desire for customers to pay using Walmart Pay.
Walmart Pay is similar to tap to pay in that they both allow customers to make payments using their phones without the need for a physical card.
At checkout, customers open the Walmart app, select Walmart Pay and scan a QR code at the register.
Other shoppers voiced their complaints about tap-to-pay, including one who abandoned his cart because of Walmart’s policy.
Additionally, a Walmart shopper said the store’s stance on technology “embarrassed” her.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
