Now you can use Google Wallet at OfficeMax

Now you can use Google Wallet at OfficeMax with MaxPerks loyalty program for NFC payments

OfficeMax is the latest retail chain to join the growing list of merchants who are accepting Google Wallet NFC payments. OfficeMax are also utilizing Google Wallet along with their MaxPerks Rewards loyalty program that will enable customers to pay, redeem coupons and reap the benefits of OfficeMax’s MaxPerks. The Google Wallet NFC payments are currently limited to greater New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C. markets.

“OfficeMax is interested in using the very latest technology to deliver a faster, easier and personalized in-store shopping experience for our customers, and mobile payments with Google Wallet lets us do just that,” said Ryan Vero, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer at OfficeMax. “It’s one of many recent mobile programs we’ve rolled out to help provide customers with a truly customized and engaging shopping experience.”

The Google Wallet app securely stores virtual versions of a consumer’s payment and rewards credentials, which can be used in stores with the tap of a mobile phone. This is a great step for Google who can currently only attract Google Wallet users on Sprint if they use the Nexus S 4G NFC phone, and then only if they sign-up for the Citi MasterCard prepaid card that Google calls its GCard.

“OfficeMax has used Google Wallet to make shopping easier by enabling shoppers to pay, redeem coupons, and earn MaxPerks with one simple tap of their phone at the register,” said Osama Bedier, Vice President of Payments at Google. “We’re excited to have OfficeMax join a fast growing ecosystem by demonstrating how easy it is to implement the Google SingleTap experience.”

OfficeMax could be looking beyond Google Wallet for NFC payments

OfficeMax has installed new NFC POS terminals in the stores where it is now accepting Google Wallet NFC payments, the new mobile payment terminals at OfficeMax featuring PayPass Tap & Go will accept payments using Google Wallet, as well as other contactless payment devices that use RFID and NFC. So although OfficeMax has partnered with Google for Google Wallet NFC payments they will still be able to accept other NFC mobile wallet products as and when they come to market.

“For the past decade, MasterCard has led contactless payment innovations, delivering greater payment options to both consumers and merchants,” said Craig Vosburg, Group Executive, U.S. Market Development, MasterCard Worldwide. “OfficeMax’s adoption of this technology reinforces a shared goal of providing consumers a faster, more convenient checkout experience.”
OfficeMax hasn’t announced when they would install the new contactless POS terminals in other stores around the country, but have now extended their mobile marketing platform by signing up for Google Wallet. OfficeMax has launched ImPress, which is its Mobile Print Center app available for iPhone and Android. OfficeMax says it is the first national print retailer to offer full-service mobile printing via cloud printing technology. It will be interesting to see how OfficeMax uses the Google Offers aspect of Google Wallet and its MaxPerks loyalty program in the upcoming months.

Sheetz Gas Stations have also confirmed that they can accept Google Wallet payments, so we think that Google’s approach to Google Wallet NFC payments revolves around the old adage – “slow and steady wins the race”. Whether Google can still compete when Isis and Visa’s NFC mobile wallet offerings hits the market will very much depend on how much of the end consumer market Google can capture for its Google Wallet product.
We reported exclusively the other day that Google Wallet was bound to some kind of exclusivity deal with Citi at the moment and that is no doubt hampering the roll out of Google Wallet as banks and other financial institutions are reluctant to not receive any transactional data. Google desperately needs more NFC phones in the market for Google Wallet and that could happen as quickly as the 11th when Samsung is due to announce the release of the Google Nexus Prime which will no doubt be Google Wallet compatible, if there is a Sprint variant.