USPS taking Apple Pay for online payments - but still not in post offices

The U.S. Postal Service is now accepting Apple Pay, however Apple's payment platform is only currently accepted online, and probably won't be usable for in-person transactions for quite a while.

The USPS hasn't been a supporter of Apple Pay, but recently, it has adopted Apple's mobile payments system for some transactions. An update to its website allows users to use Apple Pay to purchase various services, including through its assorted apps.

This means Apple Pay can be used in transactions for The Postal Store, PO Box Online, Every Door Direct Mail, Click-N-Ship, and USPS Tracking Plus among others, as spotted by Appleosophy. To make the Apple Pay purchase, users must be using Safari version 10.0 or later on a supported iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

The new payment method is progress for the USPS, and a change that will help people with their holiday packages. It's still not a total acceptance of Apple Pay yet. It only applies to the website, and not any over-the-counter transactions at a physical Post Office.

Such a change to enable in-person Apple Pay transactions would require a major upgrade in infrastructure and terminals, affecting some 34,000 locations across the United States.

However, USPS' willingness to use Apple Pay on the website could be a sign that you may be able to buy postage using Apple Pay at Post Offices in the not too distant future.

8 Comments

mr lizard 354 comments · 15 Years

About 2 years ago

Amazes me to hear that there’s countries out there where mobile wallet payments still aren’t accepted everywhere. Especially the US which is Apple’s home country.

dhawkins541 107 comments · 11 Years

My local usps office had an internet issue they aren't even taking debit card payments right now. Also, signed up for secret Santa couldn't mail it out because they couldn't scan the barcode to do the address label either. I had to drive about 40 mins to another little town to make the magic happen for some little girls.

slow n easy 400 comments · 9 Years

mr lizard said:

Amazes me to hear that there’s countries out there where mobile wallet payments still aren’t accepted everywhere. Especially the US which is Apple’s home country.

I feel that It's especially frustrating that there is one particular U.S. company that allows mobile payments but only if you use their specific mobile payment app and they don't allow you to use any other mobile payment solution. Why doesn't congress investigate Walmart.

I don't understand why congress is concentrating on Apple so much when Apple is not even a monopoly at all. I don't think Apple is dominate in most categories, including phones. Samsung sells more phones than any other company. Apple is not dominate in maps, web browsers, streaming services, or personal computers and Apple is not trying to block other companies from selling tablets or smart watches. They shouldn't be punished for making products that people want to buy.

Samsung makes a hell of a lot more products than Apple does. For example; computers, tablets, smart watches, phones, TVs, displays, VR headsets, speakers, printers, SSDs, semiconductors, security systems, washers/dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, etc. Plus Samsung has subsidiaries that make things like ships, wind turbines, apartment complexes, clothing, solar panels, bio-healthcare products, medical equipment, etc. I'm sure that I'm missing a lot of stuff but you get my point.

macxpress 5910 comments · 16 Years

The USPS in general just needs a major overhaul. IMO, it has got to be the worst delivery courier service out there. 9/10 times I have to go get my packages because they're too big and bulky according to them so they can't delivery them. Like WTF! FedEx, UPS, Amazon, etc never has any issues. Things are hardly ever delivered on time either. I cringe every time I see something I ordered was shipped USPS.

slow n easy said:

mr lizard said:

Amazes me to hear that there’s countries out there where mobile wallet payments still aren’t accepted everywhere. Especially the US which is Apple’s home country.

I feel that It's especially frustrating that there is one particular U.S. company that allows mobile payments but only if you use their specific mobile payment app and they don't allow you to use any other mobile payment solution. Why doesn't congress investigate Walmart.

I don't understand why congress is concentrating on Apple so much when Apple is not even a monopoly at all. I don't think Apple is dominate in most categories, including phones. Samsung sells more phones than any other company. Apple is not dominate in maps, web browsers, streaming services, or personal computers and Apple is not trying to block other companies from selling tablets or smart watches. They shouldn't be punished for making products that people want to buy.

Samsung makes a hell of a lot more products than Apple does. For example; computers, tablets, smart watches, phones, TVs, displays, VR headsets, speakers, printers, SSDs, semiconductors, security systems, washers/dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, etc. Plus Samsung has subsidiaries that make things like ships, wind turbines, apartment complexes, clothing, solar panels, bio-healthcare products, medical equipment, etc. I'm sure that I'm missing a lot of stuff but you get my point.

I think its because Apple gets more publicity and Apple is the most valuable company in the world so in some people's eyes, it's a monopoly and needs to be broken up. I think you're absolutely right though. Apple really isn't on top of anything except cash in the bank and the companies value. To me, that shows great leadership and a company with good direction if it can do that without selling the most phones, computers, etc. A company shouldn't be punished for its success. People at Apple are working their asses off to keep Apple ahead of the market and they're doing just that. I think they just did it again with the release of Apple Silicon. I think this is at least 5yrs ahead of anyone. They did the same thing with other Apple releases such as iPod, and iPhone. But they should be considered a monopoly because they work their ass off creating products and services people want to buy and are successful? I don't think some people really understand what a monopoly is and even if they were, it's not illegal to be a monopoly. It's illegal to use its monopolistic powers to maintain its monopoly, but being a monopoly itself isn't illegal. There's a difference there some just can't comprehend.