Apple Pay has finally arrived in Canada! The day that we thought would never arrive has landed. The launch did not require iOS 9.2 as expected, but rather as an over-the-air update to the Wallet app, today as promised.
Right now, those with American Express issued credit cards are testing out Apple Pay all over the place. Apple’s Canadian Apple Pay website has been updated to list the following stores that will support the mobile wallet right now:
Apple Pay will also work at your local Starbucks as they support tap-to-pay for Amex.
As for iOS apps where you can use Apple Pay, Apple lists the following:
For merchants ‘Coming Soon’, Apple lists the following:
You can also try this list of retailers that accept American Express, but not necessarily tap-to-pay, but worth trying to see if Apple Pay works. How’s your experience with Apple Pay so far?
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The Petro Canada near my house doesnt take the AMEX tap at the gas pump. would be awesome if the phone still worked.
Is there a purchase limit when using Apple Pay at a terminal or is the limit your credit limit?
no limit(well of course your credit limit)
but the $100 limit that is on tap to pay for cards does not exsit
Bought some coffee at McDonald’s this morning. Worked perfectly 🙂
Booya!
Coming soon to TTC? My local subway station always have a post-it over their their payment terminals saying “No tap”.
TTC spokesperson sent a tweet saying that tap is coming very shortly.
The Canadian banks can’t seriously let this happen… They must be planning to launch their cards with Apple Pay access very soon… They’d be crazy not to at this point…
Not surprised really. They invested too much money into their own wallet system (which currently only works on Android by the way). They are afraid that Apple Pay will kill their chances. This is their loss. Just don’t use your Visa/Mastercard and any chance you have to talk to them let them know why 🙂
Only consumer pressure may help change their minds.
Yeah. I applied for my AMEX only to spite them… I’m good with credit so I know I’m not making a mistake… We will eventually get it (Canadian banks)
Just used Apple Pay in store at Starbucks.
I didn’t know Starbucks had tap-to-pay terminals in Canada. Good to know! Though I’ll probably wait until their rewards system gets integrated with Apple Pay too, as it was announced by Jennifer Bailey in October.
I agree, the Starbucks Rewards program is too good to pass up, but I just wanted to try it. Hopefully the rewards program will run through Apple Pay in the near future. Way better experience. Also used Apple Pay at Shoppers Drug Mart today.
It didn’t work at my McDonalds. I told the teller credit and tapped but the terminal said something like “Payment Certifier Not Supported”. Then the teller said they don’t support Amex so I used VISA.
Worked at my nearby McDonalds (Yonge & Adelaide in Toronto). Of course, if your particular store doesn’t take AMEX then obviously it won’t work.
Just went to Timmies – the girl had no idea what Apple Pay was. I said the “tap to pay” thing with my watch. She said their tap to pay was down.
I get if the system is down, but they should at least be informed as to what Apple Pay is.
Its normal since its a soft-launch. Many people won’t know. Just say tap to pay for now.
I find with Apple Pay it’s just easier to say you’re paying with credit card, then at the last minute pull out your iPhone.
Tried it at a small cafeteria where I work that accepted contactless and worked like a charm with my Watch. The cashiers were fascinated seeing it work! LOL
Magical!
I was just at my local Metro supermarket here in Newmarket and tried Apple Pay. It didn’t work, it wouldn’t even take tap. I went to The Wine Shop (in-store) and Apple Pay worked like a charm.
I just tried yesterday at my local metro supermarket here in mississauga.. it didnt work for me either. ridiculous. they accept amex. and it accepts tap. i dont understand what their deal is .
I just made a purchase at Shoppers Drug Mart; worked flawlessly.
It struck me while scanning my Optimum card off my phone. A lot of naysayers of Apple Pay say it’s easier to just tap your credit card. But, for me at least, it isn’t.
I have a loyalty or points card for most stores at which I shop and I store them in my Apple Wallet. That means, I have my phone out for most transactions anyway. It’s so much quicker and easier (and obviously far more secure) to use Apple Pay than to scan my points card on my phone and then also pull my wallet out of my pocket to get my credit card.
My local McDonald’s location does not accept American Express. I’m never going there again.
I was 0-3 today attempting to use it. Registered my Simply Cash Amex this morning and was very excited to try it out. First, I tried to pay for a bagel at Tim’s. I told him “credit” as my pay,net method and he asked for my card. I said I wanted to try out Apple Pay and if he could activate his Moneris and I could try with that. I tapped my watch, it vibrated, gave me a check mark, but after some thinking, the machine simply said “Declined.” I tried with my phone and unsurprisingly got the same message. Tim’s definitely supports Amex and definitely tap because I’ve used both at that location before.
I then tried to pay for gas at 7-11 after work, and tried to use my phone on the tap to pay terminal. Nothing happened on my phone or the Moneris. Again, a location that definitely takes Amex and definitely tap to pay, as I’ve done it before.
Third, I tried it at McDonalds. The machine said “Application Not Supported.”
All in all, very disappointed. Is this an issue with me, Amex, Apple, the merchants I tried, or something else? I’ve been looking forward to this for so long and to have literally zero success is pretty shitty. Anyone have any tips or similar experiences? Anything is appreciated.
That sucks…it’s early into the rollout…try Starbucks, should work there no problem.
Gary. Just a suggestion. It would be great if you could put a Sticky somewhere on the home page where people could post about where Apple Pay with Amex works, and where it doesn’t. It’s getting complicated to follow the posts spread in 3-4 different threads.
Tried it twice last night using the Apple Watch. Didn’t work at my local McD. I suspect that the their tap and pay terminal wasn’t set up to accept Amex. Then went to Timmy’s, and it worked like a charm. Before leaving Timmy’s, looked at the back of my Amex card in wallet on iPhone to make sure that the charge was there. It was. In the next few days, I will be on the hunt to check places where it will work. I’ll keep you guys posted…:)
Used at Tim Hortons last night and McDonald’s a few minutes ago both drive thru both worked first try, it was wonderful ? 🙂
I asked at a restaurant I was at today if they took Amex, and they said they did, but not with their tap to pay terminal. My visa worked just fine though.
I’d be tempted to get an Amex to try this out, but it just feels like it will be frustratingly niche at this point, which somewhat defeats the convenience factor if you can’t use it at most places you frequent. main uses at this point seems like coffee shops that already have mobile payment apps. ????
Worked at StarBucks. Did not work at EB Games or Pizza Pizza.
Used it at my local Candian Tire. Worked great, I was so excited to try I forgot to use my Apple Watch.
I can confirm that Apple Pay works in-store at Domino’s.
Wicked! thanks
Confirmed Popeyes: Louisiana Kitchen
Nice. I wish there was a Popeye’s here
Apple Pay works at Second Cup and Shoppers, too. Tested it this past weekend. It even worked at the Canada Post desk that was within Shoppers.
can confirm: apple pay is working at pizza pizza for us visa
The system utilizes the “tap” technology. So in theory ANY merchant that has a “Tap” terminal can accept Apple Pay. I’ve used both my visa and debit card (both through RBC) almost everywhere. It works every time. The Amex acceptance really means nothing in terms of it working or not. Just look on the terminal screen and if you see “Swipe, insert, or Tap” or the tap logo then it should work just fine with all cards — visa or MasterCard from any bank (if they offer it yet. Currently only CIBC abd RBC as of mid-may 2016)
So pick your battles with the right people. Start with your banks.