JCPenney begins offering full support for Apple Pay across US

JCPenney is now accepting Apple Pay across all of its U.S. locations, the department store chain announced on Monday, including support for store-branded credit cards and associated rewards points.

Compatibility within the JCPenney app for iPhones and iPads is "coming soon," the company added. In-store transactions require an iPhone 6 or later, or else an Apple Watch.

JCPenney is believed to have been running a pilot program for Apple Pay as far back as Nov. 2015, and preparing to launch chain-wide support by spring 2016. If so, it's not clear what might have caused the year-plus delay.

The issue may simply have been the sheer size of the retailer, which has over 1,000 locations nationwide. On top of backend work, companies wanting Apple Pay must ensure that all their payment terminals support the NFC chips used in the iPhone and Watch — potentially a very expensive upgrade.

Indeed U.S. retailer support has been a continual thorn for Apple Pay. While many national and regional chains are now compatible, there are still conspicuous gaps. Even some companies that have long promised support, like Anthropologie, remain without it. Smaller vendors can take advantage of Apple Pay readers like Square's.

8 Comments

zroger73 787 comments · 13 Years

About 7 years ago

Oh, good. Now, it will be more convenient for me to pay for my clearance items when their store-closing sales begin.

linkman 1040 comments · 11 Years

I just bought something at JCP on Saturday. I tried to use AP but there wasn't even a sign of an NFC reader.

eightzero 3145 comments · 14 Years

AppleInsider said:

The issue may simply have been the sheer size of the retailer, which has over 1,000 locations nationwide.

I was shocked to see this. I rather assumed they were like Sears and K-Mart as a dying concern.

Any retailer adopting ApplePay is good news.

gatorguy 24609 comments · 13 Years

eightzero said:

AppleInsider said:

The issue may simply have been the sheer size of the retailer, which has over 1,000 locations nationwide.

I was shocked to see this. I rather assumed they were like Sears and K-Mart as a dying concern.

Any retailer adopting ApplePay is good news.

Agree. I guess I thought they had already gone out of business. I don't recall seeing one of their stores around for a couple of years and can't think of the last time I was actually in one.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

gatorguy said:

eightzero said:

AppleInsider said:

The issue may simply have been the sheer size of the retailer, which has over 1,000 locations nationwide.

I was shocked to see this. I rather assumed they were like Sears and K-Mart as a dying concern.

Any retailer adopting ApplePay is good news.

Agree. I guess I thought they had already gone out of business. I don't recall seeing one of their stores around for a couple of years and can't think of the last time I was actually in one.

That happens when you wear horse blinders and live in your own RDF. Just bought clothing in my local JCP this morning. Local mall has four anchor stores, JCP, Macy's, Sears, and Dillard's. Customers in them all. Go figure.