Why is the credit card reader so difficult for some people?

[Anonymous]

Never had this problem with cash.
Cash is king.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am awful at tapping. I get embarrassed and usually don't do it because it never works for me.

I’m the worst swiper. I rumble it through, not at all smoothly, and it never takes. Thankfully, swiping is about the 3rd choice nowadays, but at some places they require swiping. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never had this problem with cash.
Cash is king.

This. All businesses should be required to accept cash since it’s the legal tender of the United States.

[Anonymous]

This is probably me. I never do the tap method because sometimes it doesn’t work for me and I feel silly…

I usually insert my card but then after that every reader seems different- sometimes I don’t have to push anything, sometimes I have to push the yellow button or whatever for credit (and it is not labeled), or other times hit a certain button for “yes” or whatever.

Also sometimes (often) the cashier has not done his or her part at at all, and then says “oh- oops- sorry- it should work now”

And I’m only in my mid-40s. Obviously I need to use Apple Pay more regularly (I do sometimes…but not everywhere) or ask one of my teenagers what I am doing wrong with the whole “tap to pay” thing.

In other words, guilty as charged….sorry

[Anonymous]

Because each of those stupid machines is different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid-40s. I’ve evolved right along with the credit card reader. I’ve paid for groceries with a check before. I remember when you used to have your credit card ran through a reader. I remember when magnetic strips became a thing. I remember when tap-to-pay became a thing. The newest credit card readers aren’t new.

So why is so is it so confusing for certain people? It’s like they’ve never used their credit card before, ever. It’s so streamlined and simple, yet it takes them f-o-r-e-v-e-r. What does wrong?

You are so intelligent and tech savvy and beautiful and they aren't. Big deal? There could be a dozen reasons. Get your groceries delivered at home to save time and avoid this anguish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid-40s. I’ve evolved right along with the credit card reader. I’ve paid for groceries with a check before. I remember when you used to have your credit card ran through a reader. I remember when magnetic strips became a thing. I remember when tap-to-pay became a thing. The newest credit card readers aren’t new.

So why is so is it so confusing for certain people? It’s like they’ve never used their credit card before, ever. It’s so streamlined and simple, yet it takes them f-o-r-e-v-e-r. What does wrong?

Every single card reader is different. Every one.

I had this thought today. I was in a market where there were different vendors, and even in the same building there were two different readers.

I want to use tap-to-pay, but it's always a hunt to figure out where to tap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid-40s. I’ve evolved right along with the credit card reader. I’ve paid for groceries with a check before. I remember when you used to have your credit card ran through a reader. I remember when magnetic strips became a thing. I remember when tap-to-pay became a thing. The newest credit card readers aren’t new.

So why is so is it so confusing for certain people? It’s like they’ve never used their credit card before, ever. It’s so streamlined and simple, yet it takes them f-o-r-e-v-e-r. What does wrong?

Every single card reader is different. Every one.

I had this thought today. I was in a market where there were different vendors, and even in the same building there were two different readers.

I want to use tap-to-pay, but it's always a hunt to figure out where to tap.

I’ll take the whack a mole tap hunt over slow as molasses chip readers (and their beep to remove which im sure tortures the cashiers) and finicky magnetic swipes that work on the 3rd try.

Tapping is such a revolutionary change — I was into it when Apple Pay came out in 2016, and remember hunting for a credit card that offered NFC on the card itself. I don’t carry anything but phone, ID, and one credit card. Who wants to pass around filthy cash?

[Anonymous]

This thread is making me feel so much better. I thought I was the only one who had trouble tapping and I felt like an utter nincompoop every time I struggled to find the right way to tap it. I’m so relieved to know that I can blame the card readers.

[Anonymous]

What's a credit card reader?

[Anonymous]

Half of the US has less than a sixth grade education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because each of those stupid machines is different?

This. The readers haven’t all evolved.

[Anonymous]

Amex doesn’t tap on most of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my mid-40s. I’ve evolved right along with the credit card reader. I’ve paid for groceries with a check before. I remember when you used to have your credit card ran through a reader. I remember when magnetic strips became a thing. I remember when tap-to-pay became a thing. The newest credit card readers aren’t new.

So why is so is it so confusing for certain people? It’s like they’ve never used their credit card before, ever. It’s so streamlined and simple, yet it takes them f-o-r-e-v-e-r. What does wrong?

Every single card reader is different. Every one.

First answer FTW

[Anonymous]

I started using Apple Pay for this reason. The card readers are all different.