The way we pay for goods and services is moving toward digital methods such as Apple Pay.
However, we remain in a transitional phase.
Some stores accept digital payment methods, while others are still catching up.
How about Safeway?
Does Safeway Take Apple Pay?
Yes.
You can use Apple Pay when you pay in person at Safeway stores.
However, that may not be automatically clear when you visit the website.
According to Safeway’s website:
“We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit cards, and debit cards that have a Visa or MasterCard logo. We also accept SNAP EBT/EBT Cash payment cards for in store purchases. Cash, gift cards, Fast Forward, personal checks and other charge accounts are other forms of acceptable payment in store.”
The confusion comes from whether you can use the debit and credit cards they accept digitally.
Safeway did announce the Apple Pay capabilities via Twitter in both 2017 when they upgraded their capabilities and again in 2020.
as of yesterday, all our locations are accepting Apple Pay.
— Safeway (@Safeway) October 7, 2017
Yes! All locations accept Apple Pay.
— Safeway (@Safeway) April 3, 2020
While all Safeway stores accept Apple Pay, it’s important to clarify that you can’t use Apple Pay to purchase items for delivery or in-store pickup online.
It only applies to in-store purchases.
What Is Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is a digital wallet on your smartphone that stores your credit card information.
When you don’t have your card, you can use your digital wallet to pay for things in person by scanning it at a digital reader instead of swiping your card.
Apple Pay uses Near Field Communication or NFC technology that does not send your credit card information to the reader but verifies that you are authorizing the purchase.
You can also use your Apple Pay account to pay for many things online, too.
Apple Pay allows you to enter up to 12 cards in your digital wallet.
If you don’t have an iPhone, you may have a phone that has Samsung Pay or Google Pay, which are very similar digital wallets.
Outside of Safeway, Apple also partners with several other stores that support Apple Pay:
- Best Buy
- B&H Photo
- Bloomingdale’s
- Chevron
- Disney
- Dunkin Donuts
- GameStop
- Jamba Juice
- Kohl’s
- Lucky
- McDonald’s
- Office Depot
- PetCo
- Sprouts
- Staples
- KFC
- Trader Joe’s
- Walgreens
- Costco
- Whole Foods
- CVS
- Target
- Publix
- Taco Bell
- 7-11
Why Use Apple Pay?
There are numerous reasons someone would rather use Apple Pay as opposed to their usual payment methods.
1. Left Card At Home
How many times have you gone to the gas station only to discover that you left your card in your other jacket or on your coffee table at home?
With Apple Pay, if you forget your card, as we all do from time to time, you won’t have to go all the way back home.
You can use your Apple Pay to make your purchase, even though you don’t have your card.
This comes in very handy when you have other people with you, and you don’t want to embarrass yourself by admitting you forgot your card.
2. Secure Payments
Using a credit card can put you in a vulnerable position without even knowing it, even at a secure store such as Safeway.
People may be able to steal your card from you or copy the information to make online purchases.
When you use Apple Pay, you never need to take your debit card or credit card out of your wallet.
You don’t even need to bring the card at all if you feel more secure leaving it at home.
Furthermore, Apple Pay doesn’t send the card information to the digital reader as you might assume.
Instead, it sends an encrypted code.
This means that the store doesn’t even scan your card number, protecting it in the case of a security breach similar to the one that happened at Target in 2013.
3. Privacy
Since Apple Pay doesn’t use your actual card information, the store won’t have your name attached to the purchase.
While you will have the purchase saved in your wallet app for a limited amount of time, that’s the only record of the purchase.
Of course, your financial institution will still have detailed records of all of your purchases, but at least you don’t risk the store using your information for unsolicited marketing.
4. Convenience
Using Apple Pay is much easier than using your debit card and credit card.
You don’t need to search for the right card in your wallet or go through a long purchasing process.
To add to the convenience, you can make purchases without getting up to find your wallet and, instead, just use Apple Pay when online shopping.
How To Set Up Apple Pay
You can set up your Apple Pay account using either your smartphone or your Mac laptop using the following process:
1. Open The Wallet App
The Wallet app is automatically downloaded on all modern Apple products, so you won’t have to download it.
To find it, scroll through all of your apps or use the handy search feature.
2. Hit The “+” Or “Add Card” Button
You will find the “+” button on the upper right screen of the phone across from the word “Wallet” on your smartphone.
Your mac computer will have a button that reads “Add Card”
3. Sign Into Apple Account
If you haven’t already, you will be asked to sign in with your Apple ID.
Once you set up your wallet using your Apple ID, you will have access to the wallet from any device you are signed into.
4. Choose Card Type
You will get three options:
- Previous card: A list of previous cards used under your Apple ID will pop up. You will simply enter the security code to add them to your wallet.
- Debit or credit card: Scan your card or enter the card information
- Transit card: Enter your transit card for public transportation and never miss your train digging for your card again!
You can also add some cards to your digital wallet when you visit the financial institution’s app or website.
5. Select Your Default Card
Since you can enter up to 12 cards, you may have a couple of cards you want to put into your digital wallet.
Ensure that you have your primary card selected as the default payment method.
6. Verify That Your Card Works
You don’t want to run into a surprise when you need your Apple Pay to work.
You should make a purchase with your Apple Pay to ensure you set it up properly.
Of course, it’s best to bring the physical card with you in case it doesn’t work.
Fun Fact: You can also add your card to your Apple Watch in the Wallet app on the watch itself or with your smartphone!
How To Use Apple Pay
The whole idea of Apple Pay is to make things more convenient for the user.
It is rather quick and convenient when you know how to use it.
1. Unlock Phone
In order to make purchases using Apple Pay, you need to unlock your phone.
There are multiple security methods to choose from, including:
- Face recognition
- Touch ID
- Passcode
Keep in mind that if you unlock your phone too soon, the screen may lock again before you get the opportunity to pay.
2. Allow Reader To Scan Phone
All you need to do is hold the top of your phone to the contactless reader with the phone unlocked.
You do not even need to open up your Wallet app.
The digital reader will be attached to the card reader.
3. Verify Payment Went Through
Since the process may seem too easy to be true, you may wonder if it worked.
You should get a clear message when the payment goes through.
The contactless reader will beep.
Furthermore, you’ll get a “DONE” message on your phone as well as a checkmark.
Most Common Apple Pay Problems And Troubleshooting
As with all technology, you may run into a problem when using Apple Pay.
While not common, you may find a time when it isn’t working as expected.
We will cover some of the main reasons you might run into a problem.
1. Low Battery
Apple Pay requires adequate battery life to work since the technology requires a lot of power.
Generally speaking, you will need at least 30% battery life to use Apple Pay.
You may run out of the house thinking that you can charge your phone when you get home.
However, it’s best to charge it before you leave if you see yourself falling to dangerously low levels.
2. Not Scanning Properly
Stores put a lot of money into buying effective and reliable digital scanners.
If the scanners don’t work properly, they may lose a purchase, so they want them in working order.
With that being said, every now and then, a digital scanner may break and require repair.
More commonly, scanning problems are a result of human error.
However, don’t get discouraged.
Many people require some time to adjust to the process of scanning their phone to use Apple Pay.
Remember to scan at the top of the phone.
If you continue to struggle, call Apple’s customer support to determine other possible causes of the problem.
3. Card Error
Sometimes, a particular card has a problem for one reason or another.
If one card, in particular, doesn’t seem to be working, start by rebooting your phone and trying again.
If that doesn’t work, delete the card and re-enter it.
If you still have a problem, contact your bank or credit card company to ask for more specific help.
You may have a problem due to a hold on their end or a damaged card.
4. Store Doesn’t Accept Apple Pay
Your Apple Pay won’t work if the store isn’t set up to accept it.
Luckily, Safeway does take Apple Pay.
Some stores that shockingly didn’t accept Apple Pay as recently as 2019 include:
- Kroger (Safeway competitor)
- Bed, Bath, and Beyond
- Home Depot
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Kroger
- Guitar Center
- Hobby Lobby
- K-Mart
- Sam’s Club
- Walmart
Apple Pay Facts And Statistics
Although Apple Pay and digital wallets, in general, got a slow start, the concept is quickly picking up momentum.
Here are some facts and statistics that prove that Apple Pay is the way of the future.
- 25.3% of smartphone users utilized their digital wallets in 2018
- Experts estimate 33% of smartphone users will utilize their digital wallets by 2022
- 3% of people use Apple Pay at least once a week
- 48% of Apple smartphone owners use Apple Pay (507 million people)
- 63% of North American retailers accept Apple Pay
- 49% of users are satisfied with Apple Pay
Conclusion
Safeway proudly accepts Apple Pay and other forms of digital payment to make shopping as easy as possible for their customers.
Running a household can be stressful enough without worrying about how you will pay for your groceries safely and conveniently.
Plus, digital payment is the way of the future, and it’s best to embrace technology and change.
When you shop at Safeway using Apple Pay, you are shopping with the help of a powerful partnership that will help you focus on the things that matter most, such as who’s coming to dinner to help you eat the groceries you bought.
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