It seems like the new phenomenon Apple Pay isn’t being welcomed by everyone. Pharmacy chains Rite Aid and CVS are taking measures to resist that system.
Over the past week, Rite Aid and CVS shut down support for Apple Pay. It’s important to know that Rite Aid wasn’t an official Apple Pay partner to begin with. But both store chains are shutting down their NFC. That’s the acronym for near field communication, a blatant attempt to thwart Apple Pay. Google Wallet will also take a hit. Even CVS management emailed their stores, telling them NFC support has been cut off, and Apple Pay will not be accepted. Why are Rite Aid and CVS resisting Apple Pay? Thank their participation in Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX), a lesser known mobile payment system better known as Current C. But not all pharmacy chains are joining this resistance. Walgreens stores embrace Apple Pay.
Should we be surprised at this prescription drug chain resist movement? I’m not. Did Apple Pay really think the whole world will just accept this system? Don’t get me wrong. I hope Apple Pay succeeds, as I think this is a great step in the technological world. And many like this system. They do have an ally in Walgreens. But to think every major chain is going to go along with it is grossly naive. And these stores aren’t the only one. As prescription drug chains resist, what will Apple Pay do?