Midwest grocery store chain Meijer is the first MCX/CurrentC member to go rogue, as it is accepting NFC payments – including Apple Pay – at its grocery and gas locations.
As seen in the graphic above, Meijer is currently shown on both Apple Pay and MCX websites.
Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi told Michigan Live (via 9to5Mac) that the chain’s 213 grocery and gas outlets have no plans to block Apple Pay:
We have had the technology in our stores to accept mobile wallets for several years now. If a customer has Apple Pay capability, our hardware works with it […] We don’t plan to remove or disable these systems.
MCX COO Scot Rankin commented to Re/code: “I think if they want to go forward and continue to accept Apple Pay, down the road at some point if they want to be a customer of MCX and roll out CurrentC and offer it to customers that’s great.” (Mr. Rankin is obviously quite skilled in the art of doublespeak. – Ed.)
MCX yesterday said it was possible that members would be allowed to accept both CurrentC and Apple Pay at some unspecified point in the future. Apparently the future is now at Meijer stores and gas outlets.
CVS and Rite Aid were the first MCX members to disable Apple Pay and other NFC payments at their point of sale terminals. iOS and Android users have joined in a boycott of MCX retailers, and iPhone users have been joining in on the fun by giving 1-star reviews to the MCX CurrentC app on the App Store.
