Giant Eagle, GetGo now accepting PayPal, Venmo for payment

People shopping at Giant Eagle or GetGo can now pay using the digital wallets they have on their smartphones.

The O’Hara-based chain now allows customers to pay using PayPal or Venmo mobile applications on their smartphones. Giant Eagle worked with Blackhawk Network, a Pleasonton, Calif.-based company to offer the option, which is available at all of the company’s grocery stores and GetGo locations.

The companies announced the option Thursday and it is available now.

“We are thrilled to be the first supermarket and convenience chain in the country to accept PayPal and Venmo in our stores,” said Graham Watkins, Giant Eagle Executive Vice President of Retail Innovation and Business Development.

About 60% of consumers are using mobile applications like PayPal and Venmo since 2020, in part because of the coronavirus pandemic, a survey done by Blackhawk found.

Of those, nearly half are using QR and bar codes that are generated by these applications as a payment option and 75% of those surveyed would like to use the same payment method whether they’re shopping online or in-person, according to Blackhawk, which works with companies like Giant Eagle to provide these new payment options.

“With mobile payments on the rise, it’s not just about consumers finding easy payment options, it’s also about ensuring that retailers and consumers are confident in using new payment tools and technologies,” said Brett Narlinger, head of global commerce at Blackhawk Network.

Giant Eagle or Market District customers can pay using QR codes at either a regular or self-checkout, spokesman Dick Roberts said. GetGo customers will need to use the regular checkout, he said.

To pay, a customer opens the app they’re using, click the “scan” button and select the “show to pay” option.

PayPal users can pay using their stored bank or credit cards, PayPal balance or their stored credit.

People using Venmo QR codes can used their stored bank or credit cars, Venmo balance or credit card.