Ever since Apple debuted Apple Pay in 2014, many businesses have come around to implementing it in their stores. According to Apple, “Apple Pay is accepted at over 85 percent of retailers in the U.S.,” and the service is supposed to work “anywhere that takes contactless payments.”
However, there’s one notable exception: Walmart. Walmart still does not take Apple Pay, a fact that has led to frustration for many customers.
Reddit is full of Walmart/Apple Pay-related stories, from employees complaining about customers who insist on trying to use Apple Pay even though the store doesn’t offer the service, to discussions about why the store does not use Apple Pay, to simple gripes about not being able to check out using Apple Pay.
This discussion has also bled over into TikTok. One user joked about leaving items in the store upon discovering that the store does not accept Apple Pay, while another roasted the company for not taking the popular payment method.
Now, another TikTok user has reignited the discussion after her video on the topic went viral. In a clip with over 5.6 million views as of Saturday, TikTok user Lilian (@mrspuffs) shows herself crying.
“Why don’t you take Apple Pay, Walmart?” she asks in the video. “Why don’t you take Apple Pay?”
Commenters shared Lilian’s resentment about the store’s lack of Apple Pay.
“This is so real,” said a user. “I get all the way through that godd*** line and leave empty handed.”
“My dentist started taking apple pay , why is it so hard walmart,” questioned another.
“fr EVEN THE DOLLAR STORE HAS APPLE PAY,” exclaimed a third.
@mrspuffs embarassing @Walmart #fyp #foryou ♬ why – lilian
However, others countered with potential explanations as to why the company does not take Apple Pay.
“BECAUSE WE HAVE WALMART PAY JUST DOWNLOAD THE APP,” declared a commenter.
“Because it has Walmart pay basically the same thing but it’s just through the app,” echoed a second.
Lilian remains unconvinced, as she explains in a follow-up video.
@mrspuffs Replying to @Eroding microwave dinner (Mel) ♬ original sound – lilian
“If I’m too lazy to take my card out of my purse, what makes you think I want to download the Walmart app?” she asks.
The previous conversation continued under this video.
“As a Walmart employee, I’m pretty sure it’s so that we can get more downloads,” detailed a commenter. “I’ve had this question so many times.”
The Daily Dot reached out to Walmart via media relations form and Lilian via TikTok direct message.
Update 9:52am CT, Dec. 17, 2023:
In a TikTok direct message exchange with the Daily Dot, Lilian offered her theory as to why Walmart still doesn’t accept Apple Pay.
“Probably because they don’t want to pay the fees, which is stupid because Walmart is one of the biggest retailers,” she detailed.
This decision, she says, may be costing the store sales.
“A lot of people these days expect all stores to accept Apple Pay because it is at so many businesses, so they walk around without another form of payment for the convenience,” she explained. “So when they find out that Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay at checkout they have to cancel the transaction and put all their things back.”
In conclusion, she added, “Target for life.”