Great Clips is a popular hair salon chain with over 4,400 locations across the United States and Canada. With convenience and affordability as their guiding principles, Great Clips aims to provide customers with an accessible and budget-friendly haircut experience.
One of the most common questions Great Clips customers have is whether they can use Apple Pay to pay for haircuts and other salon services. So does Great Clips take Apple Pay?
Great Clips accepts most major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. They also take cash, checks, and gift cards as payment. However, at this time, Great Clips does not directly accept Apple Pay as a payment method.
That said, while Apple Pay isn’t directly integrated into the Great Clips payment process, there are still ways to use Apple Pay at Great Clips by linking your credit or debit card that’s set up on your Apple Pay wallet.
Below is an overview of how to use Apple Pay at Great Clips if your credit/debit card is enabled:
- When checking out, let the stylist know you would like to pay with a credit or debit card
- Provide the stylist your physical credit/debit card that is already linked to Apple Pay
- The stylist will dip your card using the chip reader or swipe if no chip
- This will charge your credit/debit card on file through the standard merchant process
- Behind the scenes, this simultaneously pulls funds via your Apple Pay linked card
So in short, while Great Clips does not directly accept Apple Pay, you can still use Apple Pay to pay as long as your physical credit/debit card that’s linked to Apple Pay is provided at checkout.
Why Doesn’t Great Clips Take Apple Pay Directly?
Given Apple Pay’s increasing popularity and acceptance, why doesn’t Great Clips take it directly yet? There are a few possible reasons driving this:
- Cost oftechnology upgrades: Directly supporting Apple Pay requires compatible point-of-sale (POS) systems with near-field communication (NFC) technology. Upgrading POS systems across 4,400+ locations requires major investment.
- Limited iOS customer base: Android still dominates mobile OS market share making Apple Pay support less critical for customer base.
- Promotion of Great Clips App: Great Clips seems focused on driving adoption of its own app over expanding payment options. Adding Apple Pay doesn’t align with this priority.
- Industry trends: Major competitors like Supercuts and Sport Clips don’t directly offer Apple Pay either suggesting industry-wide adoption isn’t there yet.
Ultimately for convenience-focused chains. the cost and effort of system upgrades likely doesn’t justify Apple Pay benefit based on customer demand. But with mobile payment growth expected in coming years, more universal support may eventually come.
Using Apple Pay at Great Clips with Your Bank or Card App
While not supported directly, there are a few additional options for using Apple Pay at Great Clips for iOS users:
- Pay through banking apps: Many major banks now have iPhone apps that support Apple Pay transactions from your bank account or through a debit card. You can pay with these apps just as you would a physical credit/debit card. An example bank app is Chase which fully supports Apple Pay.
- Pay through dedicated card apps: There are dedicated card apps like Apple Card, Greenlight, Venus, and others that let you pay through “virtual” credit card numbers generated specifically for Apple Pay. Just select the app that issued the virtual card number at checkout to pay via Apple Pay this way.
So if you prefer paying from a bank account or specific card through Apple Pay, explore what mobile banking or card options allow this before checking out at Great Clips.
Tips for Using Apple Pay at Great Clips
If you want the ease and convenience of paying with your iPhone at Great Clips, keep these tips in mind:
- Confirm card is linked: Make sure the credit/debit card you’re providing is already associated with your Apple Pay wallet for contactless payments.
- Have a backup card: Carry a physical credit/debit card or cash as backup in case the store’s card reader isn’t working properly that day with dip or swipe payments.
- Add card discounts: Input any member or promo cards into your Apple Wallet too so applicable discounts apply automatically when your linked payment card is used.
- Monitor transaction history: Check your Apple Pay payments history and credit/debit account activity to confirm your purchases went through given the indirect processing.
While Apple Pay isn’t offered directly by Great Clips, hopefully this outline of workarounds, related apps to leverage, and tips provides some guidance on still paying conveniently. Reach out with any other questions!
Key Takeaways
- Great Clips does not currently support Apple Pay directly as a payment method.
- Customers can still pay with Apple Pay indirectly by providing a physical credit/debit card linked to their Apple Pay wallet.
- Limitations around technology costs, limited iOS users, app priorities, and industry adoption appear to be slowing direct Apple Pay integration.
- Alternate options exist like using banking apps or dedicated payment card apps with Apple Pay funded transactions.
- With some preparation and understanding of limitations, Apple Pay can still provide contactless, convenient payments at Great Clips.
Conclusion
In summary, Great Clips does not directly take Apple Pay at this time but options exist to use Apple Pay linked credit/debit cards or bank/card apps as workarounds. As mobile wallet usage grows among consumers, Great Clips may reach a tipping point where investing in Apple Pay compatible POS systems makes sense for improved customer convenience.
For now, iOS users have some helpful options detailed above for contactless payments. And if Apple Pay expansion directly or through third-party apps doesn’t progress, customers can always fall back on tried and true physical credit cards or cash.
But the increasing shift towards mobile payments cannot be ignored. With smart strategic decisions and adoption, Great Clips has the iconic brand and immense store footprint to become an Apple Pay frontrunner in the affordable haircare industry if that aligns with their long-term vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does Great Clips plan to add Apple Pay support directly?
There are no official announcements indicating if or when direct Apple Pay support may be added. Unless iOS user numbers and payment trends demand it, major POS upgrades may not occur in the foreseeable future. -
Can I use Google Pay or Samsung Pay instead of Apple Pay?
No, currently Great Clips does not directly accept Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or any other mobile wallet besides providing a physical credit/debit card linked behind-the-scenes. -
Will my local Great Clips location accept Apple Pay?
All corporate-owned Great Clips locations have the same payment systems and policies. However, some locally owned and operated franchise locations may handle payments differently or integrate other options based on ownership. -
Can I store or use Great Clips gift cards in my Apple Wallet?
At this time, Apple Wallet only supports major credit/debit card, loyalty cards, and boarding passes. It does not offer digital gift card storage and redemption for merchants like Great Clips. Physical or eGift cards must be presented. -
Why don’t more hair salons take contactless payments?
Industry experts suggest salons face tight margins, making a complete overhaul of payment terminals costly. Also the frequent customer interaction limits some benefits contactless payments provide over legacy options. -
Is Apple Pay safer to use than providing my physical credit card?
Yes, Apple Pay transactions generate unique security tokens so your card details are never shared. This enhanced encryption and dynamic security makes mobile contactless payments very secure. -
If my card details change, do I need to update Apple Pay linked cards?
Yes, if your credit/debit card number, expiration date, or security code changes, you should delete the outdated card from Apple Wallet and re-add the updated card so all details match. -
How do I add a discount or loyalty card to Apple Wallet?
Open the Wallet app, tap the “+” icon, and follow prompts to add a merchant loyalty card by scanning barcode or entering details manually if no barcode exists. -
Can I add my Great Clips rewards card to Apple Wallet?
Unfortunately Great Clips loyalty accounts and offers are currently only available on the Great Clips apps and physical reward cards. Apple Wallet integration is not supported. -
Why do I need to provide my physical card if already in Apple Pay?
Some POS systems are limited to dip/swipe processing only. So while funds pull via Apple Pay, validating physical card ownership is likely still part of merchant policy. -
Can I store multiple cards on Apple Pay to use at Great Clips?
Yes, you can have multiple credit, debit, gift, loyalty, ID, and transit cards stored in your Apple Pay wallet. At checkout, double-click the side button on your iPhone and select the card you want to provide the stylist. -
Is my card number visible on my device when I pay with Apple Pay?
No, Apple Pay keeps your actual card numbers private. Instead, a unique digital Device Account Number represents your device so your real card number is never shared for improved security. -
Do I need to open the Apple Pay app to complete transactions?
No. Simply double-click the side button when payment is due, then hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID and approval occurs right from the lock screen for ease and speed. -
Can the Great Clips stylist see my name or identity when charging my Apple Pay card?
No, all the stylist sees on their payment terminal is confirmation the transaction went through successfully. They do not see personal account details which are encrypted for security and privacy. -
Does using Apple Pay at Great Clips earn me reward points or discounts?
There are no special rewards or discounts specifically for Apple Pay transactions currently. You still earn Great Clips rewards for in-salon purchases when using a linked reward member card. -
Is there a transaction limit if I use Apple Pay at Great Clips?
Standard card issuer limits apply based on your bank. But Great Clips itself does not impose any dollar amount restrictions and will accept Apple Pay for any in-store service purchase amount allowed by your card provider. -
Are my Apple Pay receipts different than traditional receipts?
No, the credit/debit card receipt generated will look the same as if you swiped your physical card. However, an additional Apple Pay receipt will also save to your Apple Wallet app for easy access. -
Can I use Apple Pay at Great Clips if my phone battery dies?
No. Apple Pay requires both power and internet connectivity on your device to securely validate transactions via biometrics like Touch or Face ID. Keep your iPhone sufficiently charged or have a backup payment card available if needed.