Does Petco Take Apple Pay in 2024? Everything You Need to Know

Contactless payments like Apple Pay have become one of the most preferred ways consumers pay in stores. Allowing shoppers to tap and checkout using just their mobile device, adoption of mobile wallets like Apple Pay has grown rapidly in recent years.

But does this trend extend to pet stores? With over 1,500 locations across the country, Petco is one of the largest pet retailers. So should you expect to be able to use Apple Pay there?

This detailed guide will cover everything you need to know about using Apple Pay at Petco stores and online in 2024.

The Rise of Contactless Payments

According to an Accenture study, over half of consumers prefer contactless payments like Apple Pay over cash or physical cards. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adoption, but mobile wallets were already on the rise before 2020.

Reasons consumers love contactless payments:

• Convenience: No need to carry cash or cards. Payments take seconds.
• Security: Card details are encrypted and not shared directly.
• Rewards: Link credit cards to earn points or cashback.
• Accessibility: Tap with a phone rather than inserting a chip.

As more stores have adopted contactless terminals, usage has surged. Apple Pay alone saw over 6 billion transactions in 2022, a 400% increase in under 3 years.

But pet stores have been slower on the uptake…

Does Petco Accept Apple Pay In-Store?

Yes, Petco does accept Apple Pay in all physical store locations as of 2023.

In fact, Petco was one of the first major retailers to adopt Apple Pay all the way back in 2014 when it first launched.

To use it in-store:

• Hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless terminal during checkout
• Wait for a gentle vibration/beep confirmation
• Transaction completed!

Petco built on existing NFC and contactless infrastructure they had in stores before Apple Pay. This made rolling out support relatively simple compared to stores with older systems.

Customers have been able to pay using their mobile phones in Petco stores since 2012 – Apple Pay just streamlined this even further.

Does Petco Accept Apple Pay Online?

Unfortunately, Petco‘s website does not directly support Apple Pay as of early 2023.

When checking out on Petco.com, Apple Pay is not given as an online payment option.

Based on responses from their support team on Twitter, this seems to still be the case:

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However, just because you can‘t directly use Apple Pay doesn‘t mean there aren‘t workarounds!

Third party apps like Zip (formerly QuadPay) allow you to generate virtual credit card numbers tied to your Apple Pay account.

Follow these steps to use Apple Pay on Petco‘s website indirectly:

1. Download the Zip app
2. Add your Apple Pay card
3. When checking out, select "Pay with Zip"
4. Choose your Apple Pay card
5. Confirm with Face/Touch ID

Zip will then mask your real card details from Petco with a virtual one-time Visa number.

This lets you still get the security and convenience of Apple Pay for online orders!

Why Doesn‘t Petco Take Apple Pay Online?

There are a few potential reasons why Petco does not accept Apple Pay directly for online transactions:

• Privacy concerns – Apple Pay masks your real card details, which can make it harder for retailers to analyze purchase data and shopping habits. Petco may prefer to collect this info.

• Costs – There are fees associated with enabling Apple Pay, from transaction costs to hardware upgrades. These may outweigh the benefits for Petco right now.

• Slow adoption – Pet retailers as a segment may be slower to adopt new payment tech until consumer demand forces it.

• Low priority – With Apple Pay accepted in-store, adding it online may not be an urgent priority for Petco currently.

Hopefully Petco will eventually add direct Apple Pay integration to match competitors like Chewy. But for now third-party apps provide a handy workaround.

Does Petco Accept Apple Pay for Curbside Pickup?

No. Since Petco does not accept Apple Pay for online orders, you also cannot use it for curbside pickup purchases.

Curbside pickup requires placing an order through the Petco website first. This means you‘ll need to use a physical credit or debit card, then present that same card when picking up your order.

Unfortunately Apple Pay is not an option for curbside pickup at this time.

What Payment Methods Does Petco Accept?

Petco accepts a variety of different payment methods:

Adding Your Petco Card to Apple Wallet

Since the Petco credit card is not directly compatible with Apple Pay, you cannot add it directly to your Apple Wallet.

However, using apps like Pass2U you can add any barcode-based card to your Apple Wallet with a few extra steps:

1. Download Pass2U
2. Use your phone‘s camera to scan your Petco card‘s barcode
3. Confirm the number when prompted
4. Pass2U will convert the barcode into a digital card
5. Add your Petco card details like logo and label
6. Your card will now appear in Apple Wallet!

While not as seamless as official Apple Pay support, this lets you store your Petco credit card virtually for easy access.

Benefits of Using Apple Pay for Pet Purchases

Beyond just convenience, there are some useful benefits to paying with Apple Pay for pet owners specifically:

• Keep your hands free while wrangling your pet! Pay quickly without fumbling for cards.
• Store loyalty cards and pet pharmacy cards in one place.
• Payment goes through even through messy dirty/wet hands from playing with pets.
• No need to share your full credit card number in public.
• Payments come right out of your linked bank account. No need to track reimbursements.
• Easy to use Apple Pay with accessories like AirPods when your hands are occupied.

As more pet owners adopt mobile payments, expect to see retailers like Petco expand support.

Will Petco Ever Take Apple Pay Online?

Based on Petco‘s early support for Apple Pay in-store, there is a good chance they will enable it directly for online transactions eventually as well.

Competitors like Chewy and PetSmart do currently accept Apple Pay online, so Petco is lagging in that regard.

Customer requests on social media indicate there is demand for Apple Pay. As more pet owners adopt mobile wallets, Petco will likely expand support rather than miss out on potential sales.

But for now third-party apps provide a handy way to use Apple Pay when shopping online.

Conclusion

While Petco does not directly accept Apple Pay online yet, you can use it in all physical Petco and Unleashed store locations.

And apps like Zip give you a workaround for online orders. So Apple Pay is still an option for seamless secure payments when shopping at Petco – just not fully direct across all channels yet.

Check back for any updates on Petco expanding Apple Pay support online!