AFTER the retail giant failed to implement a popular payment method for years, a Walmart shopper was left demanding answers.
The customer begged for an update on when Walmart would utilize Apple Pay following CEO Doug McMillon’s statement on the matter.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has spoken out on why the company has yet to use Apple Pay (Getty) A Walmart customer demanded an update on the chain’s integration of Apple Pay (Getty)Launched in 2014, Apple Pay is a highly popular touchless payment method that erases the need for shoppers to carry around physical credit cards and wallets.
The service is accepted by over 85% of retailers, according to Apple.
Despite being the largest retailer in the world, Walmart has held off on integrating the payment method into its card machines.
The move has garnered much backlash from shoppers, who perceive the lack of Apple Pay as an inconvenience and a nod to the retailer’s outdated ways.
On the other hand, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon views the company’s move in a more positive light.
He spoke out on the podcast Stratechery in April last year, defending Walmart’s choice to hold back on Apple Pay.
The CEO cited it as a way to encourage shoppers to use its own payment system, Walmart Pay.
“I think in our case, we would like to have the customers open our app in the store all the time,” said McMillon.
The retailer’s mobile wallet allows customers to use the credit, debit, or gift cards saved to their Walmart account for touch-free checkout.
McMillon noted that the company may integrate Apple Pay at some point and that the conversations were ongoing.
Walmart customers, however, were not satisfied with McMillon’s response.
“When’s that Apple Pay update coming up?” fumed one shopper on X. “CEO’s best response was this All he could basically say was ‘please use our app’ and couldn’t provide any other information on why?”
Why doesn't Walmart offer Apple Pay?
CEO of Walmart Doug McMillon has revealed why stores don't offer Apple Pay on Stratechery with Ben Thompson.
Though using Apple Pay at the retailer has been an ongoing conversation, McMillon emphasized that “We would like to have the customers open our app in the store all the time.”
The app can be used to help find items in the store, but it can also be used to pay for your purchases.
“That’s one of the things that we would like people to use our app for,” he said.
BRAND REFRESH
Although Walmart has held steady in its resistance to adopting Apple Pay, the retail giant has modernized in another way.
The company has refreshed its logo after keeping the same design for 17 years.
The new design includes a darker shade of blue in the background, a change in font for the word “Walmart,” and rounder stems in its yellow spark graphic.
“Walmart’s business has grown to meet the changing needs and wants of its customers from affordable prices to digital offerings to health services and more,” the company said in a press release.
“This updated brand identity will better represent who Walmart is today.”
Walmart last redesigned its logo in 2008, dropping the star used to hyphenate “Wal-Mart” and making it one word.
At the time, the retailer also added its iconic yellow spark.
Walmart’s US chief marketing officer, William White, shared how a change to the logo reflected the company’s growth since 2008.
“I wouldn’t call this a rebrand, but really a refresh to reflect who we are today,” White told Fortune.
“The Walmart of today is very different than the Walmart of 2008, the last time we made a change in the brand identity. We are more modern, we are more digital.”
Walmart plans to roll out the new logo across its website, app, and in-store this month and throughout 2025.
As Walmart switches up its logo, shoppers can rely on consistency in another area – its deals.
The chain is selling a designer purse for under $65 in a huge weekend deal – it comes in 24 colors and is discounted by $225.
Plus, Walmart has a top-rated 14-piece cookware set on sale and fans say it’s “the best I have ever bought.”
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