Can I bitch about something for a moment that doesn’t involve unreturned phone calls? I can’t stand having to swipe my own credit card at the store. Does anyone know how this trend began? I don’t remember there being an enormous outcry by consumers who couldn’t stand to let go of their card for the 2 seconds it takes a cashier to swipe it. But slowly, stores started adding those little “do it yourself” swipe machines, which hold to no standard. Sometimes you swipe up and down. Sometimes right to left. Sometimes the card is up, sometimes it’s down.
Now they even have ones that you “tap,” and in the 3 months that I had a “tap” card, it never, ever worked.
Sometimes, when you’re done, a harried cashier checks your signature. Most times not, but does it even matter? Has anyone ever worked in a retail job where they were trained in handwriting analysis? I change my signature all the time.
But even worse is when you have to sign with the “stylus” on some broken screen with pen on it from the jerk who used a real pen. Even if the screen is working well, I can’t get my signature to look right. Does anyone even check those, anyway? (This guy did a fun project to find out!) For me, the low point of stylus signing was at a 7-11 in Cape May, NJ where I got in a fight with a cashier who demanded ID when she didn’t like my signature match. I must have gotten pretty testy, because Birmingham likes to use it as a benchmark for my angriest moment. Case in point:
“What happened to your saucepan?”
“I threw it into the sink and dented it while I was upset with a friend on the phone.” (Maybe I’m starting to understand why this friendship is disintegrating.)
“Wow, you must have been as angry as the time you threatened to beat up that 7-11 girl.”
For the record, I don’t think I threatened to beat her up, although I wouldn’t be surprised if in Birmingham’s head the incident has become a full-out catfight.
But the point here is that DIY swiping makes me so annoyed, because I don’t understand the point. It saves me no time at all, especially when I have to then find the button for credit or debit, say “yes” to approve the transaction, and still sign something. It’s demeaning to the cashiers, who must feel like we don’t trust them to swipe our cards properly after they just scanned all the food we’re going to eat next week. I can’t see how it saves any time, since I always swipe wrong on the first try.
I think there is a solution, but it’s unpleasant. There’s also a little thing called “cash” that I’m thinking about trying. I’ll let you know how it goes.
25 responses so far ↓
nancypearlwannabe // April 30, 2008 at 7:25 am
I have less of a problem with card swiping than I do with grocery self-checkout. Never once have I made it through the self-checkout line without an associate having to come help me with some ridiculous problem. Usually I spend at least 10 minutes getting red and nervous because I am too big an idiot to scan and bag my own items.
Why do they have to make things so HARD?
Yeah, since I almost never don’t purchase vegetables at the grocery store, shelf-checkout’s a bitch. I really don’t get why that caught on.
Dutchess of Kickball // April 30, 2008 at 7:48 am
As for the handwriting analysis, they specifically tell clerks not to question in for their own safety. If someone has stolen the card they might become beligerant. They tell you to call the number after the person has left, so why effing bother.
And agreed, they are getting paid, they might as well do their job and swipe the card.
And for goodness sakes, make them all work the same way!! Trust me, this has been a huge pet peeve of mine as well. Stupid machines.
Yeah, when I’ve worked retail, I’ve never wanted to question someone. It could get ugly.
Kate // April 30, 2008 at 8:00 am
Sometimes I just hand it over. And they swipe it. Cash is so much easier, but that is even harder on the cashiers who often can’t make change without checking the register a few times….
That’s the same reason I just press “0″ when I get an automated menu!
courtney // April 30, 2008 at 8:18 am
I don’t mind swiping the card myself, but I HATE those screens where you have to sign with the stylus. My signature always ends up looking like it was written by a first-grader.
Also, I LOVE Cape May! Mickey’s grandmother lives there and I adore going to visit her.
I haven’t been in a few years. Maybe again someday.
mickey // April 30, 2008 at 9:04 am
That’s why you should go to the Wawa instead. Oh, I’m sure they make you swipe it yourself, but the name is more fun to say.
I agree, it takes longer than the old way. Progress.
I wish we had WaWa up here. It reminds me of when I worked at 6 Flags and we’d go before work each day.
3carnations // April 30, 2008 at 9:16 am
I don’t mind swiping the card, but if I’m going to swipe it myself, I should then be able to put it in my wallet. There is one store in particular where they ask to see the card after you scan it. I know this, and yet I forget. The cashier always tells me as soon as I zip my wallet back up.
The same thing happens to me! Grrrr.
-R- // April 30, 2008 at 9:47 am
I don’t mind the self-swiping. Or the electronic signatures that look totally awful. Except that in Texas (like 10 years ago) I had to do the electronic signature for my frickin drivers license and it looked like I had a two-year-old who didn’t know how to hold a pen sign it.
I have the same problem with my NY license!
The Modern Gal // April 30, 2008 at 9:50 am
I was going to complain about how it seems self-swipeage allows for greater opportunity of stolen cards to go by unchecked until I saw the Dutchess’ response. There’s no hope for the consumer.
So I’ll bitch about this instead: Instead of signing the back of my cards, I write ‘check ID’ in hopes that if I do absentmindedly leave my card somewhere and someone decides to use it, someone will notice. Except that clerks who do swipe rarely do ask to see my ID.
I used to check IDs of people who asked, because they would glow and be so happy. But really, I didn’t even check the IDs that carefully.
Aaron // April 30, 2008 at 10:57 am
You actually touched on something that drives me nuts, and every time I use one of those damn things, I wonder, “Who was the asshole who signed this electronic screen with an actual pen? And why?”
Of course, the one time I said something to this effect out loud, Mara informed me that her mother had done it before.
NPW: Self checkout = not that hard.
It is that hard! And, oops!
Laurel // April 30, 2008 at 11:15 am
I hate the electronic signature pad. It looks NOTHING like my signature. I don’t understand why we don’t just get PIN numbers for our credit cards and use those–saves all the signature-comparing trouble, in my opinion. That’s what they do in France!
Yeah, or just put in our zip codes like at some gas stations.
stefanie // April 30, 2008 at 11:37 am
I have to say, this is something that it has never occurred to me to get worked up over. But now that you mention it, I’ll probably be just as annoyed as you.
Actually, the signature thing is the only part of the card swipe process that particularly bothers me. They SHOULD check my signature. Yet even when it’s not a self-swipe situation, they almost never do.
And Aaron, I’ve thought the same thing: what idiot used pen here??
Please don’t start getting mad at pointless things on my account!
andrea // April 30, 2008 at 11:38 am
Oh man, I have a frustrating story about those swipey machines! I took my friend to the grocery store pharmacy after she had surgery on her leg and was on crutches. My friend, WHO STILL HAD HER HOSPITAL BRACELET ON HER WRIST, handed this young ditsy pharm tech her debit card. Miss Blank Stare pointed to the swipey machine about 4 feet away and before I had the chance to swipe it for her, my friend crutched over and swiped it. Then after my friend forgot to put her debit number in the machine, the woman again pointed to the swipey machine where at this point I glared at the woman and put the number or swiped it again or whatever for her. Oh and the tech DID KNOW my friend had just been discharged from the hospital because she had told her five times when they didn’t have her prescription ready. Apparently it was too hard to help a woman on crutches.
Sorry, long rant but this still pisses me off and the whole swipy machines irritate me too.
Oh, I was on crutches for two months back then, and I can totally relate to that story. Everything is harder.
Hope // April 30, 2008 at 11:42 am
OH OH OH!!! And does anyone wonder where the people behind that debit card commercial got the idea that paying with cash is MORE time consuming than paying with a card???? You know, the commercials where everything is bustling happily along until someone pulls out cash and then everything grinds to a halt.
WTF?! I can understand the one where someone writes a check I gues, but the one with cash makes no sense. Cash is ALWAYS faster whenever I’ve used it. You take the cash, hand it to the cashier, they make (hopefully the correct) change, hand it to you with your reciept and then you leave. There is no swiping, waiting for authorization, signing, typing in a pin #, varifying the amount, declining cash back etc.
It doesn’t make sense and it makes me angry.
*Crosses arms and scowls*
It’s so true! That commercial is so deceptive. Paying with cash is really not that hard. Check on the other hand…
elizabeth // April 30, 2008 at 11:48 am
On a similiar note - why is gas cheaper in New Jersey than in all the neighboring states, but we DO NOT have any self serve stations. So, we pay someone to pump the gas, yet it is cheaper. (I got a bargain of $3.41 this morning)
On the down side, I have NEVER pumped my own gas. If I am out of state and low on gas, I just give rides to strangers on the condition that they pump the gas for me. I’m sure I could figure out how to do it myself, but it makes life more interesting this way.
Mom, you’re such a saucy minx! Sometimes it’s like you didn’t even grow up in New York. I’m actually at the point where I can’t stand getting gas in NJ. It’s SO SLOW….
sadieandleo // April 30, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Don’t even get me started on this one… all I can say is I agree.
Cool, join the camp of pissed off consumers.
Anika // April 30, 2008 at 12:44 pm
So well said! And I completely agree with you - it is so time consuming, and the cashiers always have to instruct people as to when to press the green Yes button, and if they press the wrong button they have to swipe again, etc etc etc. . .It’s ridiculous!
Yeah. Either get the cashiers involved or not. Both is ridiculous.
Flibberty // April 30, 2008 at 1:24 pm
According to my aunt, who does security for a major check company (you know the one, they print all of your checks) the only way to avoid having your identity stollen, is to always use cash and ONLY use cash. I’ve tried to do this, and actually, it’s helped me save money because it’s more of a pain in the ass to have to go get cash, than it is to just not buy whatever it was I was going to buy.
I tried that for a month once. It was great. Maybe I can try it in May again?
Allie // April 30, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I wouldn’t mind as much if there were a universal system so I don’t look like an idiot trying to figure out what to do next.
It’s always when there’s a line…
lizgwiz // April 30, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I am irritated by many things, but self-swiping is not one of them, for whatever reason. And I do think it speeds things up a bit, ’cause most of the machines will let you go ahead and swipe before the cashier is done scanning, and then you’re all set to hit that “yes” button and scribble your illegible signature.
What I like best of all are the places that don’t even make you sign if it’s under a certain amount. Just swipe and go.
That is a true point, I take advantage of the swipe ahead. And no signing features are good, too.
Kelli // April 30, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Oh I can SO relate to this post! I HATE the do it yourself swipe! At the very least, they could have at least designed one machine so we all knew which way to swipe…but NO. Like you said, it’s all different everytime. Even that tiny diagram that’s supposed to show us which way to swipe never helps.
It annoys me to no end.
I also am always amused when the machine asks: “Amount okay?
No! It’s not okay that you’re taking $47 from my account! How about we negotiate? Take $27 instead.
Ha! That made me LOL.
Kristabella // April 30, 2008 at 4:38 pm
It’s so dumb since they have to push a button on their little screen anyway that said we swiped our card. So even if I’m all swiped and PIN entered, I still have to stand there and wait for the stupid grocery cashier to hit the payment button, staring at me like I’ve never paid at a grocery store before. And have we saved any time? Oh hell to the no!
Seriously. Get them out of the transaction already.
mike golch // April 30, 2008 at 5:55 pm
mo matter what you get the run around.they always win,we don’t.
Well, sometimes we get to win. Like the time I forgot about the kitty litter under my grocery cart and made it all the way home before I realized I didn’t pay for it. That was a good day.
alexa // April 30, 2008 at 8:55 pm
amen noelle. the only way those swipe it yourself things would be practical is if they are universally made to all be the same.
i hate, hate, hate when i have to push yes 22 times.
Arr // April 30, 2008 at 10:44 pm
What I dislike worse than the ‘DIY’ swipers are the ‘DIY’ checkout lines at stores. Some supermarkets I’ve been in and a quite a few Home Depots have them.
On principle, even if the line is long, I avoid the self-checkout lines because the way I see it? A computer (and a computer programmer in some far away town, although it’s inadvertent on hisher part - they just want to keep their own job) are taking yet another job away from a local person, which irks me beyond belief.
I would MUCH prefer to be checked out by a real person than a computer any day. Um. If you take that out of context it sounds…wrong.
Mermu // April 30, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I actually like this. The card stays in your control the whole time. There have been cases of people working a register “swiping” your card and when the transaction doesn’t take swiping it again.
They are actually swiping the card in a hidden separate machine that intercepts the card number.
I actually had fraud occur on a bank account in this manner. When I notified the bank they had told me there was a “ring” that had committed similar fraud on other bank customers. The link was a walgreen’s where I had made a purchase the week earlier.
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