I had a similar experience recently at one of my favorite restaurants. They do still have physical menus, but payment by default now works via scanning a QR code. This is especially frustrating, given that they only recently switched to a pretty cool POS handheld system that accepts contactless and allows tipping right at the touchscreen.
But it seems pretty clear why they are doing that: Besides saving some time for the waitstaff, I only now realized that by using Apple Pay, they get at least my name and email address… I wonder if I‘ll end up getting spam by either the restaurant or the POS vendor.
It also creates a completely new and entirely avoidable problem: I don‘t have strong signal in that restaurant, and they don‘t offer a wi-fi either. All in all, while the waiter probably saved 20-30 seconds (waiting for me to unlock my phone or get my card from my wallet, tap it, and select my tipping option), it took me almost 5 minutes to complete payment on my side.
Not sure about the name actually, but they do get the email address - that‘s how they were able to email me an invoice without me entering anything.
That said, my my email address does contain my name, and while I could configure an alias in my Apple Pay settings, I doubt that too many people would do so. Would be a nice way for Apple to use their email privacy relay feature.
You can of course pay via card or cash too, but the default experience is the waiter leaving the check with a QR code on your table, expecting you to pay by scanning it.
I‘ve seen a variation of this (in the UK) where they really only bring a QR code, and you can‘t even read the amount without a phone. Presumably you have to ask for a printed check if you want to pay by cash or card, introducing another unnecessary step into the process. (Coincidentally they also initially brought me the wrong QR code since they are only labeled very discreetly, momentarily shocking me with a large group‘s check.)
Well, that's just silly. The bill could have the full receipt, and a QR code easily enough.
The only reason to make it an either/or, is to try to force it.
I'd tip less, as a result too. Most places I worked at, has pooled tipping, meaning even the bus boy got some of the take.
But regardless, if my food is cold, or tasteless, I tip less too. My tip is some for the waiter's service, some for everything else.
And having to wait for a real receipt, and I presume eyerolling is part of it, would mean a lesser tip.
If someone thinks that unfair, then I say the same to them, as to the waiter. Find a different job, where the employer cares about customer satisfaction.
> When you begin a payment within an app, on the web, or within Apple Messages for Business using Apple Pay, to enable tax and shipping cost calculation your zip code, postal code, or other equivalent information is provided to the app, website, or merchant. After you authorize the payment, other information requested by the merchant, such as a device- or merchant-specific account number, your shipping address, or email address, is also provided.
This is for websites - “card not present” transactions. You have always had to share that information when using credit cards when your card isn’t present.
No one is arguing that web merchants should accept cash. The commenter I replied to was referring to in person transactions
I don't know where you are carving out an exception. The entire page is about what happens with Apple Pay. It doesn't say anything about "card not present"
Further, the response is about a restaurant that has a website you have to use. The website offers Apple Pay as an option. If you pick it your email will be shared. It says so on the page itself.
The parent comment was talking about in a restaurant
> But it seems pretty clear why they are doing that: Besides saving some time for the waitstaff, I only now realized that by using Apple Pay, they get at least my name and email address…
In the case of a card not present transaction, the merchant always asks for your address when using credit cards. Also the original submission is about “cashless societies” and the disadvantage of it. No one is complaining about merchants refusing to take cash for web transactions.
Yes, and I was adding to that comment, mentioning restaurants using QR codes not just for menus, but also for payments. This effectively makes restaurants using this system card-not-present merchants.
> No one is complaining about merchants refusing to take cash for web transactions.
Agreed, but why does a restaurant have to be a web merchant when there is a much more convenient alternative available?
But it seems pretty clear why they are doing that: Besides saving some time for the waitstaff, I only now realized that by using Apple Pay, they get at least my name and email address… I wonder if I‘ll end up getting spam by either the restaurant or the POS vendor.
It also creates a completely new and entirely avoidable problem: I don‘t have strong signal in that restaurant, and they don‘t offer a wi-fi either. All in all, while the waiter probably saved 20-30 seconds (waiting for me to unlock my phone or get my card from my wallet, tap it, and select my tipping option), it took me almost 5 minutes to complete payment on my side.