As humans, in a bid to have a more efficient way of carrying out transactions, we have moved from the trade-by-barter system to cash, and from cash, we have moved on to credit and debit cards. E-wallets and digital wallets are on track to take center stage in respect to making payments; research has revealed that digital wallets are projected to account for 52.5% of transaction value in 2025.
It is very true that people are looking for ways to avoid embarrassment as well as giving excuses; by that, I mean ways of saving from avoidable embarrassment; for instance, it won’t be a palatable experience for you to spend time putting lots of items in your cart at a grocery store just to discover that you are not with your card at the point of making payment. In such a situation, having a digital wallet on your smartphone can be a saviour.
The use of smartphones, ranging from navigation maps and directions to browsing the internet, listening to music and podcasts, watching videos, etc., is gradually transforming humans into cyborgs. Some people use smartphones to pay bills, shop online, order food, and make payments at brick-and-mortar stores; some people can’t even imagine going a full day without their smartphones. Recent studies on cellphone addiction have revealed that 53% of Americans claim that they have never gone without their phone for over 24 hours.
In a nutshell, people are more likely to go about with their mobile phones than with their wallets, which underscores the beauty of having a mobile wallet in addition to other means of payment such as cash, checks, cryptocurrencies, credit and debit cards, gift cards or store credit, peer-to-peer payment apps, etc.
You will learn about stores that accept Google Pay, how to accept Google Pay at your own store, how to find stores that accept Google Pay, and how to set up a digital wallet, among other things.
Digital wallet and How it Works, Briefly Explained
Since Google Pay is a subset of digital wallets just as Apple Pay, I would like us to briefly look at the meaning of digital wallets. Digital wallets, also called e-wallets, are basically saved digital versions of your credit or debit cards in an app on your smartphone. Having a digital version of your cards on these mobile apps enables you to make transactions without physically needing your credit or debit card. It simply involves using your smartphones that you’ve already set up a digital card on to shop in stores that accept Google Pay.
By mainly adding your credit or debit card information to the Google Pay app on your smartphone, your digital wallet is ready for transactions. To use the wallet, you simply hold your smartphone close to the card reader at checkout. Digital wallets can equally be used for online shopping as well as for ATM withdrawals (that is, if you have a debit card on the app).
How to set up Google Pay
Follow the simple steps below to set up Google Pay on your smartphone:
- Open the Google Play Store on your phone and download the Google Pay app (if you don’t already have it).
- Open the app and click on “Get Started.”
- Then select the “Connect to Gmail” option.
- Allow the app to access your location when a pop up appears.
- Go to the “Payment” tab at the bottom of the app and click “Add Payment Method.”
- Add your debit or credit card.
- Verify your card when prompted.
How to find stores that accept Google Pay
Digital wallet has earned its place as one of the convenient methods of payment; as such more and more businesses are offering it and many other businesses have to adopt this means of payment in order to avoid being left behind. Stores that accept Google Pay are favoured by people who prefer using digital wallets.
If you want to know how to find stores or businesses that accept Google Pay; look no further, it is usually featured on their websites or you will see at least one of the contactless payment symbols displayed on their website or card reader.
You can follow these 3 steps to find stores that accept Google pay:
- Open Google Pay app on your smartphone
- Scroll to the bottom of the main screen and find the “Use Google Pay Nearby” section
- Tap on “See More” to see a longer list of nearby businesses.
List of Stores and brands and that Accept Google Pay
Businesses, irrespective of shape and size have identified Google pay as a legitimate means of payment. Several brands and stores are accepting Google Pay and I present lists of some of these stores. These brands and/or stores cut across several industries or businesses such as Amusement Parks, Retail stores, Saloons, Gas Stations, websites and apps, Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Bars, Banks, etc.
Though, this list is not exhaustive, but some of the stores and/or brands that accepts Google Pay are categorised are as follows:
Gas Stations
- 76
- Conoco
- Exxon
- Mobil
- Phillips 66
- Shell
Grocery Stores
- ALDI
- Costco
- Meijer
- Schnucks
- Sprouts
- Stop & Shop
- Trader Joe’s
- Wegmans
- Whole Foods
Lifestyle Brands and Fashion
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Barneys New York
- Bloomingdale’s
- Crate & Barrel
- Foot Locker
- Lululemon
- Macy’s
- Nike
List of stores and/or brands that accepts Google Pay
| 1. GAS STATION | 2. GROCERY STORES | 3. LIFESTYLE BRAND AND FASHION | 4. RETAIL | 5. RESTAURANT | 6. WEBSITES AND APPS |
| 76 | ALDI | American Eagle outfitters | Best Buy | Auntie Anne’s | Airbnb |
| Conoco | Costco | Barneys New York | Disney store | Burger King | DoorDash |
| Exxon | Meijer | Crate and barrel | Game stop | Dunkin Donuts | Etsy |
| Mobil | Schnucks | Footlocker | Office Max | Jamba Juice | Groupon |
| Philips 66 | Sprouts | Lululemon | Staples | KFC | Instacart |
| Shell | Stop and Shop | Macys | Target | McDonalds | Postmates |
| Traders Joe’s | Nike | Walgreens | Panera Bread | Starbucks | |
| Legman’s | Papa John’s | Redbox | |||
| Whole Foods | Chick-fil-A | Wish | |||
| Firehouse sub | |||||
| Subway | |||||
| White castle |
Retail
- Best Buy
- Disney Store
- GameStop
- Office Max
- Staples
- Target
- Walgreens
Restaurant
- Auntie Anne’s
- Burger King
- Dunkin Donuts
- Jamba Juice
- KFC
- McDonald’s
- Panera Bread
- Papa John’s
- Chick-fil-A
- Firehouse Subs
- Subway
- White Castle
Websites and Apps
- Airbnb
- DoorDash
- Etsy
- Groupon
- Instacart
- Postmates
- Starbucks
- Redbox
- Wish
How to accept Google Pay at your own store
Are you a business manager or owner currently looking for a more convenient way of receiving payments from your customers? You can easily benefit from digital wallet payment platforms like Google Pay. Your business should join the list of businesses that accept Google Pay as you should know that there is a tremendous change in search trend with regards to stores that accept Google Pay as shown below.
It’s easy to set up! You just have to work with a payment processor that accepts mobile wallet payments, and have POS software and card readers that accept those payments as well. Acumen Connections can help you get set up to accept mobile wallet payments. In fact, all of their POS systems and credit card readers can accept mobile wallet payments.
CONCLUSION
As a species humans have advanced in several fronts including our means of payment from the barter era to what it is today. As technology is advancing, digital wallets including Google Pay and other means of payments are currently being ingrown in our daily transactions chiefly owing to the convenience they usually offer. So, if you are yet to set up a Google Pay for transactions do so by following the simple steps outlined above. Broaden your payment options by adding Google Pay to your existing list today.
If you are looking for stores that accept Google Pay, the list above though not exhaustive can be a useful guide.