JCPenney Removes Apple Pay Support

JCPenney

Only a few years after a full rollout of Apple Pay, JCPenney has reportedly dropped the Apple Pay digital payment service in its app and brick-and-mortar stores.

The retailer’s support account on Twitter noted the change during the weekend, 9 to 5 Mac reported.

In the social media reply to a user who asked why the payment method was taken away, the retailer said, “JCPenney made the decision to remove Apple Pay for our stores, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We will definitely forward your feedback regarding this for review.”

The company, which was started in 1902, had a full rollout of the payment method in 2016 after testing it out in 2015. As it stands, the retailer has over 800 locations in 49 states in the U.S. Ron Johnson, who arrived at the retailer to become CEO from Apple, had the role for only two years.

And the outlet reported the chain was “disappointed in the results of his reshaping of the retail stores.”

The news comes after Apple announced in the beginning of the year that Jack In The Box, Speedway Convenience Stores, Hy-Vee supermarkets in the Midwest, Taco Bell and Target all support Apple Pay. The iPhone maker said in a press release that 65 percent of retail locations around the U.S. support Apple Pay and 74 of the leading 100 merchants in the U.S. support Apple Pay with those additions.

Apple Vice President of Internet Services Jennifer Bailey said in the announcement, “Whether customers are buying everyday household items, groceries, snacks for a road trip or grabbing a quick meal, Apple Pay is the easiest way to pay in stores, while also being secure and faster than using a credit or debit card at the register.” Bailey continued, “We’re thrilled even more customers will be able to pay at their favorite stores and restaurants using the Apple devices that are always with them.”