With mobile payments on the rise, more and more retailers are adopting technologies like Apple Pay to provide their customers with convenient checkout options. So it’s only natural that hobby lobby shoppers would wonder: does one of the most popular arts and crafts stores accept these new payment methods?
As a Hobby Lobby shopper and Apple Pay user myself, I decided to investigate further to get to the bottom of this question. Does hobby lobby take Apple Pay?
The short answer is: not directly.
While Apple Pay and other similar contactless payment services could attract more tech-savvy shoppers, Hobby Lobby has yet to fully embrace this new technology.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover:
- An overview on Hobby Lobby’s current Apple Pay acceptance status
- Reasons why Hobby Lobby may not directly take Apple Pay
- How to indirectly use Apple Pay at Hobby Lobby with services like Zip
- Using Apple Pay for online orders versus in Hobby Lobby stores
- A breakdown of what payment methods and cards they DO readily accept
- Whether Hobby Lobby may ever add direct Apple Pay support
- Tips on checking your local store’s Apple Pay status
- Alternate payment options like gift cards for easy checkout
So read on to get the full scoop on Apple Pay at hobby lobby!
Overview: Does Hobby Lobby Accept Apple Pay in 2024?
As hobby lobby continues to be a popular one-stop shop for arts, crafts, home decor and more, many customers naturally wonder if they can use Apple Pay at hobby lobby via their iPhone, Apple Watch or other device.
So does hobby lobby take Apple Pay in 2024?
The official stance from Hobby Lobby is still that Apple Pay and similar contactless payment services are not directly offered as payment options in their stores or for online orders.
This means that as of now, you cannot use Apple Pay through your Apple device’s wallet at checkout when shopping at hobby lobby.
Some customers report instances of Apple Pay working at select Hobby Lobby locations which may have NFC terminals. However without official support in place, this behavior is likely inconsistent and unreliable.
Instead, hobby lobby continues relying on more traditional checkout and payment processing – with payment methods like cash, gift cards, and standard Visa or Mastercard credit/debit payments.
Why Doesn’t Hobby Lobby Take Direct Apple Pay?
Given how rapidly contactless payment through services like Apple Pay is growing, why doesn’t Hobby Lobby take the leap?
There are a few possible reasons the popular craft store chain may be holding off for now:
Cost of Systems Upgrades
To directly accept Apple Pay, retailers like hobby lobby would need to upgrade their entire payment processing system with specialized NFC terminals and compatible hardware/software. These upgrades likely require a significant upfront investment.
As a large national chain with hundreds of store locations, equipping all stores to support Apple Pay would be an expansive project. With sufficient budget and planning such a rollout could happen – but the costs may still exceed projected returns in additional sales revenue for now.
Lack of Consumer Demand
Surveys suggest that as many as 9 out of 10 smartphone users would take advantage of mobile payment options like Apple Pay if more widely available.
However, hobby lobby caters primarily to crafters, artists, and hobbyists – a customer base which skews older on average. So even though interest in contactless payments is growing rapidly overall, this core demographic may still rely largely on familiar options like cash and physical credit cards.
Without sufficient grassroots demand from shoppers, hobby lobby lacks incentive to prioritize adding capabilities for new payment tech.
Reliance on Existing Digital Payment Partners
Hobby lobby already provides some digital payment functionality by accepting PayPal online. Allowing web orders to be processed via a widely-used third party platform like PayPal checks the box for modern checkout capabilities.
Given this existing support channel and partnership in place, hobby lobby may not feel an urgency to offer additional emerging options like Apple Pay quite yet.
Challenges in Implementation and Rollout
While the benefits of eventually accepting Apple Pay payments could be substantial in terms of attracting customers and keeping up with retail sector changes, rolling out support chain-wide would also pose complications.
Retraining staff across hundreds of stores, ensuring consistent functionality across regions, getting customer service teams up to speed on troubleshooting new technologies like Apple Pay, and standardizing branding are just some of the challenges involved.
For a large retail business like hobby lobby spanning nearly 1000 stores, the prospect of launching Apple Pay likely requires extensive coordination – another factor potentially contributing to their ‘wait and see’ approach even as adoption accelerates across the industry.
Using Zip to Indirectly Pay with Apple Pay at Hobby Lobby
Just because Hobby Lobby doesn’t directly allow you to tap and pay with your iPhone or Apple Watch doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck as an Apple Pay user.
Instead, by linking your Apple Pay account to a service called Zip, you can still use Apple Pay to make purchases at hobby lobby stores or on their website.
Here’s a step-by-step overview:
Step 1) Download the Zip mobile app and connect your Apple Pay wallet during setup.
Step 2) When checking out either online or in Hobby Lobby stores, choose the Zip “pay in 4” option.
Step 3) Zip will generate a temporary, one-time-use prepaid card tied to your Apple Pay funding source.
Step 4) The cashier processes this virtual Zip debit card like any normal credit/debit card payment!
So while not as seamless as built-in Apple Pay acceptance, the Zip workaround does allow you to tap into your preferred mobile payment method for added convenience when shopping at places like hobby lobby that haven’t yet joined the contactless payment wave.
Just take note that Zip does charge a small transaction fee each time you use their pay-in-4 installment option. But if you already rely on mobile payments day-to-day, it can be worthwhile for the simplicity alone.
Paying In-Store vs. Online Orders with Apple Pay
Given hobby lobby’s lack of direct support for Apple Pay and similar contactless payment functionality for now, there is a discrepancy around where the workaround Zip method does (and doesn’t) work reliably.
If you want to use Zip with Apple Pay to fund purchases at hobby lobby, your experience may vary between online orders versus paying in brick-and-mortar stores.
Paying online
When you shop hobbylobby.com and go to checkout, there will be a Zip pay-in-4 option clearly available.
Choosing Zip as the payment method will prompt you through their interface to securely connect with Apple Pay to fund the transaction from your linked wallet and cards.
So paying on the Hobby Lobby website with your Apple Pay account via Zip generally works well.
Paying in stores
If you use the mobile Zip app’s virtual card capabilities in an attempt to checkout with Apple Pay in Hobby Lobby stores, your mileage is less guaranteed.
Some shoppers report this being possible and successfully “fooling” the in-store systems. But without true NFC terminals in place, it’s not officially designed to work.
You may need to explain to cashiers you wish to use a one-time prepaid card via Zip app on your phone. And inconsistent WiFi/cellular connections could also hamper the process when generating or scanning these temporary card credentials in stores.
So while using Zip with Apple Pay in-store may work, no guarantees. Stick to online orders only if you wish to reliably connect Apple Pay with your hobby lobby purchases for now.
Other Common Payment Methods Accepted at Hobby Lobby
While Hobby Lobby doesn’t offer Apple Pay yet or accept contactless payments, they DO currently allow plenty of other standard payment methods:
- Cash: Cash payments are always accepted at all hobby lobby locations.
- Credit and debit cards: Major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover cards work when paying directly or ordering online. Debit cards also accepted.
- Hobby Lobby gift cards: One popular option is getting hobby lobby-specific gift cards, accepted identically to cash for store credit on future arts, crafts, framing, or home decor purchases.
- PayPal: As mentioned previously, PayPal functionality facilitates online orders for hobby lobby customers with account balances or linked bank accounts and cards.
- Checks: Personal paper checks are another traditional payment form welcomed by hobby lobby stores during in-person checkout. Proper ID required.
So Apple Pay might still be a no-go for now, but with the above familiar payment options like gift cards or swiping your debit card — plus short-term financing choices Zip provides — making purchases at hobby lobby won’t leave you high and dry.
It’s only a matter of time until they too get onboard with mobile wallet apps and contactless payments to stay competitive long-term…
The Benefits of Apple Pay for Craft Stores Like Hobby Lobby
Given the direction retail payments are evolving and the types of shoppers attracted to the arts and crafts space, why would rolled-out Apple Pay acceptance stand to significantly benefit hobby lobby?
Here are some top advantages that typically motivate retailers to invest in contactless payment activation:
- Enhanced convenience – For customers accustomed to breezy tap-to-pay checkout everywhere from grocery stores to fast food chains, the absence of this simplified experience at craft stores feels noticeable and inconvenient. Supporting Apple Pay taps into these expectations for seamless commerce.
- Security – Mobile wallet users appreciate the added security benefits inherent to tokenization platforms like Apple Pay that avoid directly sharing real credit card numbers. As data regulations tighten and shopper vigilance increases, this builds additional trust.
- Customer loyalty – Younger demographics in particular prioritize retailers that reflect their on-the-go digital lifestyles and preference for convenience. where competitors lack mobile payment acceptance and related innovations, forward-thinking brands could gain an edge with shoppers.
- Future-proofing – While hobby lobby’s existing patron base still relies heavily on cash and cards for now, shopping preference trajectories clearly point toward mobile payments becoming a mainstream expectation within 5-10 years. Getting ahead would serve them well.
With customers doing more speedy “run in and out” trips even for specialty hobby items today, the frictionless experience offered by Apple Pay has shopper appeal for time-strapped craft store patrons.
Hobby Lobby catering to this desire with contactless payments stands to draw customers, instill loyalty, and simply better align with consumerism’s tech-enabled direction.
Will Hobby Lobby Ever Accept Direct Apple Pay & Contactless?
Given the market momentum toward adoption of contactless payments like Apple Pay, it seems many shoppers eagerly await the day they can breezily tap-and-pay at beloved arts hub hobby lobby.
So what are the prospects Hobby Lobby will get on board?
Without official announcements hinting one way or another, we can only speculate for now. However looking at both internal considerations AND competitive pressures in the retail craft space, hobby lobby will likely reach an Apple Pay tipping point before long.
Increasing consumer expectation and demand will be a key driver. As even traditionally cash-centric businesses increasingly activate contactless payment acceptance, calls from shoppers interested in the same accelerated simplicity and security at hobby lobby stores will ramp up.
Simultaneously, rival craft retailers could spur action by rolling out Apple Pay first — stealing a march among mobile-savvy shoppers unless hobby lobby follows suit.
And over time, the costs of enabling contactless infrastructure like NFC terminals and backend integrations will continue falling, reducing the investment required for national scale activation.
Between these motivating forces and hobby lobby’s desire to continually enhance the shopping experience, incorporation of Apple Pay feels imminent — even if an exact timeframe remains uncertain for now.
So while hobby lobby won’t yet allow you to tap to pay with your iPhone, expecting contactless payment options in customers’ near future certainly seems reasonable!
How to Check If Your Local Hobby Lobby Store Accepts Apple Pay?
Because Apple Pay acceptance may vary across individual franchise locations – even without an official brand-wide launch – you can take matters into your own hands by directly checking whether your neighborhood hobby lobby supports contactless payment:
Give them a call – Don’t be shy about phoning up the customer service desk or manager at your nearest hobby lobby outpost. A simple call asking “do you take Apple Pay?” will get you a definite yay or nay. They may also offer clarity on upcoming activations.
Visit and look around – When onsite browsing the store aisles, scout for any posted signs, stickers, or terminal hardware confirming Apple Pay or contactless capabilities. Many retailers advertise supported payment types visibly in stores even prior to formal PR announcements.
Ask at checkout – Similarly, when making a purchase you can always inquire with cashiers or self-checkout attendants if mobile payments from Apple devices function for that location. With staff experience handling all transactions, they’ll be able to definitively confirm.
Check payment options online – For the hobby lobby chain or specific store pages, many merchants list accepted payment methods under an online FAQs section or when viewing carts. This spelling out of Apple/Google Pay support can confirm local flexibility.
So whenever the question pops into your mind of “does my hobby lobby take Apple Pay?”, a quick smartphone call or glance around the aisles on your next DIY project run can yield your location-specific answer in seconds! Ad hoc trial and error works too but may risk headaches for all involved.
And be sure to pass along any affirmative findings to friends, family, and fellow hobby lobby loyalists eager to tap-and-pay too!
Tips for Using Gift Cards and Store Credit Cards at Hobby Lobby
With hobby lobby’s delayed Apple Pay activation, you might be wary of credit card security concerns as headlines frequently highlight retail chains falling victim to payment data breaches.
Thankfully there ARE still ways to pay safely beyond cash-only:
Leverage hobby lobby gift cards – Purchasing hobby lobby-specific gift cards lets you conveniently “prepay” for future arts & crafts splurges without directly handing over your credit card each visit. For added peace of mind, consider buying gift cards with cash rather than funding with riskier card numbers.
Open a store charge card – Signing up for a hobby lobby credit account offers perks like discounts for loyal shoppers FINANCING larger purchases over months. With proper management, you can take advantage of card member rewards without spending vulnerability.
Double up at checkout – When buying bigger ticket hobby lobby items on a standard card, ask cashiers to divide the total amount over TWO credit cards, with the remainder on cash/gift card. Distributing charges limits damage potential if any singular payment source becomes compromised.
With a bit of careful planning, hobby fans who want an added safeguard can absolutely enjoy hobby lobby shopping without staying strictly all-cash. A hybrid approach lets you tap into benefits of store credit lines or gift balance convenience while wisely limiting wider data exposure.
So break out those hobby lobby gift cards…or consider applying for their credit card to rack up craft discounts! Just be smart balancing payment sources and any Apple Pay wait won’t feel quite as restricting.
FAQs – Common Questions Around Apple Pay at Hobby Lobby
Here we’ll address some frequently asked questions shoppers have around use of Apple Pay and contactless payments at arts & crafts retail giant hobby lobby:
Does Hobby Lobby offer any mobile apps to use Apple Pay?
Hobby Lobby does have its own official iOS shopping app. However, it does not currently enable Apple Pay support or integration. The Hobby Lobby app allows browsing items, accessing saved projects, and finding store locations only. Fully native Apple Pay functionality within the app itself has not been activated at this time.
Can I use Apple Pay via Tap to Pay contactless terminals at Hobby Lobby stores?
Some customer reports indicate occasional success tapping to pay via Apple Pay when hobby lobby locations have active Tap to Pay points-of-sale onsite. HOWEVER – without explicit Apple Pay enablement in place, reliability and staff support remains highly inconsistent. Unless hobby lobby formally announces native contactless payment rollouts, Tap to Pay effectiveness is not guaranteed chainwide.
Does Hobby Lobby accept any other contactless payment platforms like Google Pay?
No – much like with Apple Pay itself, Hobby Lobby has not yet signed onto Google Pay or any other third-party contactless payment options. Support for mobile wallet apps seems to be in early stages for the retailer. So unfortunately Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and other tap-to-pay platforms do NOT reliably work at hobby lobby checkouts either at this time.
Why does Hobby Lobby take PayPal but not payment via PayPal’s Venmo app?
Hobby Lobby does directly process web orders through PayPal platforms. HOWEVER, their integration stops short of supporting Venmo payment capabilities. So it appears hobby lobby has specifically onboarded desktop-oriented PayPal only, while declining to expand to Venmo contactless in-store payments or modernized commerce capabilities.
Do Hobby Lobby credit cards qualify for mobile Apple Pay integration?
At this point, Hobby Lobby’s private label store credit cards themselves do NOT support Apple Pay wallet upload for contactless payments. If you apply and receive a hobby lobby credit account, it functions as a traditional physical card only. Mobile payment conversion of hobby lobby’s first-party credit lines has not yet occurred.
So while hobby lobby is still working its way toward contactless payment adoption, hopefully the knowledge above provides some clarity around where things currently stand for Apple devotees!
Payment possibilities may still be maturing at your favorite neighborhood crafting hub, but some helpful workarounds DO exist in the meantime. Stay crafty as their services evolve!
Final Thoughts
As we’ve explored throughout this guide, Hobby Lobby finds itself in a period of transition when it comes to adoption of emerging payment technologies.
While Apple Pay and contactless mobile wallet functionality remain conspicuously missing for now in 2024, larger market forces seem inevitably poised to pull them forward.
Between strong consumer demand, competitive pressure from retailers racing ahead with convenience-focused commerce, and the expanding accessibility of mobile point-of-sale systems, activation feels more a matter of “when” than “if” for this crafting giant.
And with good reason…enabling technologies like Apple Pay promises a range of benefits:
- Increased foot traffic and sales from mobile-centric demographics
- Faster checkout times improving staff productivity
- Added customer loyalty driven by frictionless experiences
- Enhanced security via tokenization models
- Future-proofing as cash/cards decline
So while loyal hobby lobby shoppers eagerly await the day when Apple watches and iPhones can be tapped for payment, they continue relying upon gift cards, PayPal, and old-fashioned cash or card swipes for now.
But make no mistake…this beloved arts outlet is simply biding its time before an inevitable leap into retail’s modernization movement.
We’ll leave the glue guns on standby until the Apple Pay rollout makes its way down the shelves!
