Apple Pay has become one of the most popular contactless payment methods, allowing users to make secure transactions using their iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad.
Many grocery stores, retailers, and restaurants now accept Apple Pay, providing a convenient and touchless payment option for customers.
If you frequently shop at Smith’s, you might be wondering whether they accept Apple Pay. In this article, we’ll explore Smith’s payment options and answer the question: Does Smith’s accept Apple Pay.
Does Smith’s Accept Apple Pay?
Unfortunately, as of 2024, Smith’s does not accept Apple Pay as a payment method in their stores.
This is because Smith’s parent company, Kroger, has chosen not to implement Apple Pay in any of its subsidiaries, including Smith’s, Ralph’s, Fred Meyer, and others.
Instead, Kroger has opted to develop its own mobile payment system called Kroger Pay. This decision was made to maintain control over customer data and to avoid paying transaction fees to third-party payment processors like Apple.
What Payment Methods Does Smith’s Accept?
While Smith’s doesn’t accept Apple Pay, they do offer several other payment options for customers:
- Cash
- Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
- Debit cards
- Kroger Pay (available through the Kroger app)
- Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
- Smith’s gift cards
What is Kroger Pay?
Kroger Pay is a mobile payment system developed by Kroger for use in their family of stores, including Smith’s.
To use Kroger Pay, customers need to download the Kroger app on their smartphone and link their preferred payment method, such as a credit or debit card.
When shopping at Smith’s, customers can scan a QR code generated in the app at the checkout to complete their payment.
Kroger Pay also integrates with the store’s loyalty program, allowing customers to earn rewards and access digital coupons while making purchases.
Will Smith’s Accept Apple Pay in the Future?
As of now, there are no official plans for Smith’s or its parent company, Kroger, to start accepting Apple Pay.
Kroger seems committed to promoting its own mobile payment system, Kroger Pay, as an alternative to third-party options like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
However, as consumer preferences evolve and contactless payment methods become more widespread, it’s possible that Kroger may reevaluate its stance on Apple Pay in the future.
Many other large retailers and grocery chains, such as Walmart and Target, have eventually adopted Apple Pay after initially resisting the technology.
Conclusion
In summary, Smith’s does not currently accept Apple Pay as a payment method in their stores. This decision is due to their parent company, Kroger, opting to use its own mobile payment system, Kroger Pay.
While this may be disappointing for Apple Pay users, Smith’s still offers various other payment options, including cash, credit cards, debit cards, and Kroger Pay.
As contactless payment technologies continue to gain popularity, it will be interesting to see if Smith’s and Kroger reconsider their position on Apple Pay in the future.
For now, customers who prefer using Apple Pay may need to shop at alternative grocery stores that support this payment method.
