By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-11 17:07:00 | Updated at 2024-12-22 06:51:09
1 week ago
A shopper has revealed he had the 'worst checkout experience' after shopping at a Walmart store in California.
A customer named Victor explained that he shopped at a Walmart in Panorama City, Los Angeles, California, for the first time in eight years in an X post on December 8.
The first thing brought up was how the California location did not accept mobile payments, which he believed was 'absurd.'
'The lines were as long as the entire store. Even for self checkout. I will never go back there again!' Victor added.
After Victor's post, several other social media users pointed out that Apple Pay is not a viable payment option in any of the country's Walmart locations.
'Walmart not accepting apple pay is the biggest unforced error in corporate American history,' an X user wrote.
'You would think in the year 2024 Walmart would take Apple Pay,' another X user whined.
'You would think in the year 2024 Walmart would take Apple Pay,' a third person tweeted.
A social media user named Victor was frustrated after his Walmart trip and insisted the store not accepting mobile payments was 'absurd'
Victor claimed it was the first time he visited a Walmart location in eight years
Another X user wrote: 'Walmart needs to hurry up and start accepting apple pay like wtf.'
Despite Victor's payment complaint, the retail store chain does allow shoppers to complete mobile payments through Walmart Pay, something that explains the company's ban on Apple Pay.
'Walmart do not offer mobile payments like Apple Pay because they have their own Walmart Pay system that they prefer customers to use,' retail expert Neil Saunders of Global Data explained to the DailyMail.com.
'Not offering popular payment systems is a pain for some customers and it makes Walmart a holdout as most other retailers allow mobile payments.'
Saunders added the decision to not feature other mobile payment methods didn't seem to harm Walmart as it continues to be 'the largest retailer in both the US and the world.'
'Customers shop at Walmart primarily for the low prices and convenience, so most are probably willing to overlook lack of mobile payment solutions,' Saunders said.
And despite the payment method backlash, the retail store chain has shown no signs of changing its mind.
'We would like to have the customers open our app in the store all the time,' Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said regarding Apple Pay in its stores last April.
Like Victor, several X users were frustrated over Walmart stores nationwide not having mobile payment options other than Walmart Pay
In addition to airing grievances about the lack of Apple Pay, shoppers also complained that Walmart stores in the US also don't accept Google Pay.
'Im a little bit upset with @Walmart and @SamsClub cause at this point people don’t have the option to pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Please update!' an X user wrote.
While American shoppers are out of luck, a few tweeters north of the border brought up how shoppers can use Apple Pay for purchases at Walmart locations in Canada.
One shopper posted a video of them paying for items using Apple Pay at one of the Canadian locations.
Despite being unavailable at Walmart locations across the country, more than 85 percent of US retailers accept Apple Pay, which can be used through iPhones, Apple Watches or iPads.
US retailers began accepting payments through Google Pay in 2018 after Google merged with Google Wallet and Android Pay.
Google Pay was popular for quite some time and is still a well-known payment method even though the standalone app was discontinued in the US in June 2024.
However, by the time Google Pay users transitioned to Google Wallet, only four percent of US adults revealed they still used the app in early 2024, according to YouGov.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon explained the company wants shoppers to be 'open on our app in the store all the time'
Apple device owners were first allowed to pay for items with Apple Pay in 2014
Google Pay is still available to use in Canada, but unlike Apple Pay, shoppers cannot use it to pay at Walmart locations.
While Walmart confirmed it brought in less revenue than usual this holiday season, the company reported a 5.5 percent increase in revenue in its latest quarter.
Its global ecommerce sales also rose by 27 percent and its financial forecast raised for the rest of 2024.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Walmart for comment regarding Victor's checkout experience.
