Accepting Credit Cards

[Iguanadon]

For those of you that sell at events and accept credit cards... great news... Starting in April, customers won't have to sign for purchases.  But, it's for chip cards, so if you don't already have a chip reader, you'll need to get one.  The Square version is only $49, I just ordered mine.  It'll make life so much easier with dozens of transactions not having to ask the customer to scribble crap on my phone screen.

http://www.wral.com/major-credit-cards-will-no-longer-require-signatures-for-purchases/17287227/

[orangeman]

Maybe good news, maybe not.

My experience with chip readers at retail stores is that are very slow in processing.

Slower than swipe.

bb

[Dan]

I believe the chip readers still require the purchaser to input their PIN. 

[Iguanadon]

As to speed, they've gotten much faster lately.  Even a couple of extra seconds is better than having to hand over my phone every time someone makes a purchase.

 

As far as a PIN, there are no pins with credit cards.  If someone uses their debit card, I'm not sure.  I've never had to deal with a PIN using the swipe method.

[WayneMahler]

Never had to deal a PIN number. It treats debit cards the same as credit. I'll agree about handing my phone over to a customer, it is a pain and if they happen to hit one of the buttons on the side it can complicate things. I'll have to order a new reader, mine died at the end of the season and just haven't ordered a new one yet. 

[loftyhermes]

I can't remember the last time I used or saw a swipe card. Over here in the UK we've used chip and pin cards for quite a while. We now have contactless cards in most shops whereby you place the card near the terminal and it's done wirelessly, though this for small amounts upto £30, (approx $42) 

happy scrolling

Steve

[Iguanadon]

42 minutes ago, loftyhermes said:

I can't remember the last time I used or saw a swipe card. Over here in the UK we've used chip and pin cards for quite a while. We now have contactless cards in most shops whereby you place the card near the terminal and it's done wirelessly, though this for small amounts upto £30, (approx $42) 

happy scrolling

Steve

In theory, everyone was supposed to go chip readers almost 2 years ago, but still many merchants haven't.  I look forward to having the chip/contactless reader this coming year.

[rjweb]

Down here in Texas, chip readers only work for credit, if you are doing debit you have to swipe, At least at lowes, RJ 

[redwine]

I will put in my 2 cents worth! The chip reader from Square will do the trans action in 3.6 seconds according to Square. I have not timed it as it seems that the card just goes in and it is read immediately and the customer signs for the transaction and its over! The machines  at Walmart take way longer to do the same thing. The fact that the customer  no longer  will have to sign for the transaction will be good. The one thing that might come up by not signing for the purchase would be that the customer later on may claim that they did not purchase the item and would be returned the amount to their card. There has to be a clause in the contract that would bypass the no longer signing for the purchase and not hold the vendor liable for a false claim. This also brings up the question as to when the credit card company's will be forced to implement a pin # to be used to  cut down on fraud and stolen cards!
Erv

 

 

[trailfndr]

On ‎1‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 10:35 AM, rjweb said:

Down here in Texas, chip readers only work for credit, if you are doing debit you have to swipe, At least at lowes, RJ 

Lowes is the same here in Michigan.  Its  LOWES thing...they have not updated their equipment, and systems.

[orangeman]

I use PayPal at shows because my website uses paypal as well. same account.

I just checked and they have a choice of 3 chip readers from $25 - $80. All connect to your phone/tablet via Bluetooth.

$25 will get you a chip/strip reader.

$60 will get you a chip/strip/tap reader.

$80 will get you everything on the $60 plus a keypad.

I don't have any any info with regard to folks not having to sign.

Signing is a real pain. My tablet is so sensitive that if anyone touches it in the wrong place it goes berserk.

I believe I will order up the $25 model very soon.

bb

[tgiro]

On 1/25/2018 at 8:30 PM, Dan said:

I believe the chip readers still require the purchaser to input their PIN. 

On Debit cards yes - credit cards only needed the signature.

[tgiro]

On 1/26/2018 at 11:31 AM, redwine said:

I will put in my 2 cents worth! The chip reader from Square will do the trans action in 3.6 seconds according to Square. I have not timed it as it seems that the card just goes in and it is read immediately and the customer signs for the transaction and its over! The machines  at Walmart take way longer to do the same thing. The fact that the customer  no longer  will have to sign for the transaction will be good. The one thing that might come up by not signing for the purchase would be that the customer later on may claim that they did not purchase the item and would be returned the amount to their card. There has to be a clause in the contract that would bypass the no longer signing for the purchase and not hold the vendor liable for a false claim. This also brings up the question as to when the credit card company's will be forced to implement a pin # to be used to  cut down on fraud and stolen cards!
Erv

 

 

SquareUp doesn't do all the tracking for marketing that Walmart does, so the processing is much faster.

[orangeman]

58 minutes ago, tgiro said:

SquareUp doesn't do all the tracking for marketing that Walmart does, so the processing is much faster.

Very interesting with regard to tracking! Next time I use the chip at a store and it takes a long time, I'm gonna ask the cashier if they are tracking me and why.

bb

[barb.j.enders]

On 1/25/2018 at 7:38 PM, Iguanadon said:

As to speed, they've gotten much faster lately.  Even a couple of extra seconds is better than having to hand over my phone every time someone makes a purchase.

 

As far as a PIN, there are no pins with credit cards.  If someone uses their debit card, I'm not sure.  I've never had to deal with a PIN using the swipe method.

(Canadian here) Sorry to burst you bubble - there are pins with credit cards.  Have been using the chip & pin technology here for years.  For the last couple of years you can now just tap your card!!!!!  Very fast!!!!

[tgiro]

24 minutes ago, barb.j.enders said:

(Canadian here) Sorry to burst you bubble - there are pins with credit cards.  Have been using the chip & pin technology here for years.  For the last couple of years you can now just tap your card!!!!!  Very fast!!!!

OK - Maybe it's a Canadian thing? I have never had to use a pin number with one of my credit cards. Only the debit cards.

[tgiro]

3 hours ago, orangeman said:

Very interesting with regard to tracking! Next time I use the chip at a store and it takes a long time, I'm gonna ask the cashier if they are tracking me and why.

bb

Probably not tracking you personally, but they do track what they sell for inventory and to see what is popular. All part of the process.

A woman who worked for me, years ago, on inventory systems, left our company and went to work for a company that does the self-check-out machines for stores. We have stayed in touch over the years. She says they get a lot more information from chipped cards on sales, inventory, what's popular, what's not, what needs to go on sale to reduce time sensitive stock, etc etc. . .

Most of that comes from the POS machine. Now, if you start getting store ads & coupons for the last items you bought at that store, with your chipped card, then . . .

[redwine]

The tracking that is used according to computer repair people tracks what you purchase and the amount you spend. I know for a fact that Google tracks your phone, smart or not, with out you putting in your address or information. I found this out while being at the golf course with the correct location and than when we arrived back home. Supposedly this is not stored by Google but I would not bet on it!
As far as pin # , the United States does not have a required pin # for credit cards like most of the rest of the world has or requires. I suppose it will come around eventually.
Erv

 

 

[Jim Finn]

On 1/28/2018 at 11:58 AM, orangeman said:

Very interesting with regard to tracking! Next time I use the chip at a store and it takes a long time, I'm gonna ask the cashier if they are tracking me and why.

bb

Retail stores are updating their inventory at each purchase so it may take a bit longer.

[Iguanadon]

Well, supposedly the new rules about no signature required have gone into effect, however I just tested my Square chip reader and it still requires signature... I had to go thru a firmware update when I turned it on and I had hoped that was to make the change, but alas, still requiring signatures at least for now.  Too bad.  It's up to merchants and apparently Square hasn't jumped on the bandwagon yet.