Payment Choice Sways Nearly Two-Thirds of US Shoppers

Payment acceptance is becoming a competitive factor for retailers rather than merely a checkout convenience. As smartphones play a larger role in product discovery, comparison and payment, shoppers increasingly expect merchants to support a range of digital options. A missing preferred method can introduce enough friction to push a customer toward another seller, making payments part of the broader contest for traffic, conversion and loyalty.

A joint PYMNTS and Visa survey found that 65% of US consumers say merchants’ acceptance of payment methods directly affects where they shop, equivalent to nearly two in three respondents. The finding underscores how payment choice can shape purchasing decisions as mobile devices become more central to commerce, increasing pressure on retailers to offer flexible digital payment options or risk losing customers at the point of sale.