New credit card readers at Target?

[pete6032]

So Target stores have new CC readers in them and there is something on the bottom of the reader where it looks like you should be able to insert a credit card with a smart chip into it instead of having to swipe the magnetic strip. There is a little illustration of it on the bottom of the reader with a chip card pointing into the machine. I tried putting my chip card in there but there was nowhere for it to be inserted. Has anyone else seen this and been confused whether there is an actual slot on the bottom?

 

[NesuD]

Our new card readers are a different make and model from those but they also have a place for a chip card like those. Ours have removable blanks in the slots currently. They are fully functional chip readers but cannot be used until our card processor provides the code needed for them. I expect those will be functional before the end of 2015 as the card companies start transitioning to chip and pin cards.

 

[zerocool84]

Most don't have them activated.

 

[Ichinisan]

I think there was a functional slot in the ones at my local Target. I'll have to look more closely next time.

 

[nickbits]

There is a slot at the bottom, just not as obvious as some of the other readers

 

[Red Squirrel]

I don't remember the last time I had to actually swipe a credit card. Don't most if all places only accept chip now? It only falls back to swipe if it fails 3 times or something like that.

 

[NutBucket]

US doesn't have chip readers, generally speaking.

 

[Jeff7]

I don't remember the last time I had to actually swipe a credit card. Don't most if all places only accept chip now? It only falls back to swipe if it fails 3 times or something like that.

The US sometimes rejects improved technologies and methods that are used successfully elsewhere in the world. We prefer to keep banging our heads on problems in the hopes that they'll magically go away on their own.


I've never used a credit card with a chip in it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow that's odd, figured that was pretty much standard everywhere now days. Usually we're the ones that are behind.

 

[QueBert]

I don't remember the last time I had to actually swipe a credit card. Don't most if all places only accept chip now? It only falls back to swipe if it fails 3 times or something like that.

Not at all, my credit union still doesn't give out cards with chips in them. They won't do it until it's mandated by the government.

 

[blinblue]

Every Target I've been to lately has the new terminals. Lots of other stores are upgrading too. Even the Subway store's new cheapy terminal has a slot for it.

 

[Anonemous]

Chip and Pin vs. ApplePay vs. Googlewallet vs. CurrentC vs. Softcard

 

[destrekor]

Wow that's odd, figured that was pretty much standard everywhere now days. Usually we're the ones that are behind.

Did you miss all the stories about major stores having credit card information stolen?

That doesn't happen with chip & pin systems.


Also: I'm pissed that places like Target are going this route, but neglecting to go all the way. They have chip & pin, but no PayPass/NFC (which I think about half of the chip cards have wireless pay as well). They have upgraded, sure... but they won't be upgrading to support using cell phones or nfc-style cards for at least another decade or three.

 

[destrekor]

Chip and Pin vs. ApplePay vs. Googlewallet vs. CurrentC vs. Softcard

Well really, chip&pin is complementary, and sort of the requisite. Some chip&pin cards have wireless pay systems built in to the card.

All the cellphone-based systems are essentially the same, though different banks may or may not support a few of the individual systems. As ApplePay becomes more prevalent, I think more banks will support Softcard and perhaps Google Wallet.

I played with Google Wallet a few times, but ultimately, there aren't enough capable pay terminals in my region to make a habit of it. That, and I'm not sure if I want Google, or even Softcard, to really pay attention to my spending.
Then again, it's sort of too late, I think. Spending data is going to be easily linked to consumer identity in most facets of our life as time goes on. A section of my employer actually works in that area of data, collecting consumer viewing habits and spending habits and other demographics to provide ISPs/media providers with the necessary data to influence personalized advertisements.
Google will certainly be doing that, and I feel confident betting the telcos behind Softbank will be supporting this sort of collection as well.

I'm not really sure about Apple. They don't really care about user data for advertising and control - they want ecosystem control, so they'll provide hardware and services that make it easier for people to simply buy in and stay in to their ecosystem. Spending data wouldn't influence advertisements, as Apple doesn't have an ad-based service or income.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Did you miss all the stories about major stores having credit card information stolen?

That doesn't happen with chip & pin systems.

Hmm really? So I'm safe if I went to one of those stores and used chip and pin? I figured the breaches had to do with the store storing the CC # and their DB getting hacked or their system getting hacked in a way so it just sends the info live as it gets it. Should not matter how it gets it. How they got the numbers should not matter. But that raises another question... why are they storing the numbers in first place. Of course if the till is hacked in a way where it just immediately sends the info to a 3rd party that could work too, and don't think it would matter how it was inputted.

 

[nickbits]

Fyi almost none of the chip cards in the US are chip and pin, they are chip and signature. There were only a few options for chip and pin when I got mine a few months ago.
And even my chip and pin card makes me sign instead of using a pin.

 

[QueBert]

Fyi almost none of the chip cards in the US are chip and pin, they are chip and signature. There were only a few options for chip and pin when I got mine a few months ago.
And even my chip and pin card makes me sign instead of using a pin.

This is fucking stupid, most people I know will give their debit card card to a family member or friend from time to time when they don't want to go to the store. This will essentially kill that. I don't understand removing the pin option, I run a chip card where I work as debit and they have to sign. Hopefully banks will release a firmware update to correct this. I understand it was intentional, but I think a lot of people will complain. So maybe they'll listen

 

[who?]

This is fucking stupid, most people I know will give their debit card card to a family member or friend from time to time when they don't want to go to the store. This will essentially kill that. I don't understand removing the pin option, I run a chip card where I work as debit and they have to sign. Hopefully banks will release a firmware update to correct this. I understand it was intentional, but I think a lot of people will complain. So maybe they'll listen

Letting somebody else use your card is probably a violation of the terms of service agreement your bank had you sign when they issued your first card.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Letting somebody else use your card is probably a violation of the terms of service agreement your bank had you sign when they issued your first card.

What about, having a friend (who is physically present at the time) purchase an item for you using their CC, and then you take the product back, and get a different product, that doesn't cost as much, and the store wants you to "sign" to put the credit back on the card, but you don't have the card with you, because you're not that person. (This has happened to me at MC.)

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I find it amusing, but predictable, that Target would move forward with a plan to issue new cards that are Chip+PIN and then just not have their functionality ready for another year. Great marketing of their intent.

 

[John Connor]

The local store here in town that is going through a renovation and expansion has upgraded to those POS terminals from the pic. I don't have a card with a chip in it though.

 

[jaedaliu]

US doesn't have chip readers, generally speaking.

Walmart does. Isn't that crazy? Walmart is the US leader in consumer security. I think. I don't really know, in the rest of the world it's chip and pin, at Walmart it's just chip.

 

[boomerang]

Everything is changing by the end of 2015. Actually, the end of the third quarter in 2015. Mastercard and Visa holders will be issued new cards with chips if they haven't already received them. MC and Visa have changed their agreements with retailers that will put the burden of fraudulent charges on the retailers if they don't have CC terminals that will read chipped cards. This is just an abridged version of the changes coming.

It's a great time to be a CC terminal manufacturer.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

My new BoA debit card has a chip in it, I think it has to do with the fact that my card number has been compromised three times this year. No fraud but at some point they have to get tired of mailing them out.
It sucks when you need money and its restricted, I've been thinking about getting a second card to only use when the first one gets shut off.

 

[stargazr]

I have two new cards with chips. One is a MC that's also my Sam's Club membership card. They have the new readers at self-checkout. At first, the card didn't work swiped; had to use the slot. But it is SLOW. Not a whole lot, but in the context of waiting in line, definitely slower than swiping. I hope this will improve if everyone is changing over.

The last time I used the card, I got away with just swiping it. Maybe there was just a problem with the new readers.