As Jerry Seinfeld would say, what is the deal with retail credit-card swipe machines that, when you swipe your debit card, ask whether you want to use it as a credit or debit card — and then, even after you’ve selected “credit,” still ask you for a pin number, thus forcing you to hit “cancel” in order to use it as a credit card?! What the hell is the point of asking the question initially, if it’s just going to assume “debit” no matter what your answer is?!? ARGH!!!
It’s like how, at the Quizno’s in downtown South Bend, the first guy in the sandwich assembly line — the one who puts the sandwich into the toaster thingy — asks if the order is “for here or to go,” even though his job is exactly the same regardless of the answer to that question. The second guy, who receives the sandwich at the other end of the toaster thingy (and adds lettuce and so forth), inevitably asks the same question… which makes sense, considering he’s the one who actually needs to know, since he puts the completed sandwich either on a tray or into a bag, depending. So why does the first guy always ask?!?
Redundancy is maddening.
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Categories: Utter Miscellany
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January 27th, 2007 at 3:18:13 am
Brendan,
I think it has something to do with debit transactions being cheaper for the teller than credit transactions, so those machines are designed (since they get an equal cut either way) to favor the preference of the teller: debit.
January 27th, 2007 at 6:16:11 am
JB is correct–just read about it in either the NYT or WSJ the other day.
Want to be rich, kids? Go into banking. All kinds of legal ways to take other people’s money.
January 27th, 2007 at 8:56:34 am
Yep, in the WSJ: http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/wsj/access/1194976211.html?dids=1194976211:1194976211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+16%2C+2007&author=Robin+Sidel&pub=Wall+Street+Journal&edition=Eastern+edition&startpage=A.1&type=8_90&desc=Cash+Back%3A+As+Card+Fees+Climb%2C+Merchants+Push+PINs
(subscribers only), and available here from the PPG:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07016/754179-68.stm
Also, Quizno’s does that at Washington, DC area locations too. It must be a training thing.
January 27th, 2007 at 10:08:17 am
I agree. Redundancy is maddening.
January 27th, 2007 at 10:17:02 am
You know what’s *really* maddening,though?
Redunancy.
And repetition.
Oh, and redunancy too!
January 27th, 2007 at 10:17:27 am
Cannot believe I misspelled redundancy *twice* . . .
January 27th, 2007 at 11:45:40 am
I asked about the Quiznos thing, and I understand it now (though I think its no less strange):
Basically, they put it on a different looking tray if you tell the first person you want your sub for here as opposed for the one that is to go. Thus, the second person SHOULD know which you ordered if the first guy did his job right (I also find that the second guy distrusts the first guy a lot of the time, so that also plays into this asking again).
I agree that it makes little sense - either trust the first guy got it right, or don’t have the first guy ask. I think its supposed to streamline things when they are busy, and if you go when they aren’t busy, both will ask you.
January 27th, 2007 at 12:04:23 pm
I suggest you don’t go work for the Department of Redundancy Redundant Department.
January 27th, 2007 at 1:17:31 pm
Redundant Department News:
http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2007/01/22/bill-oreilly-i-was-kidnapped-by-fox-but-wanted-to-stay/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsatiricalpolitical.com%2F%3Fp%3D550&frame=true
January 27th, 2007 at 1:40:07 pm
It is maddening that they ask for your personal identification number number.
January 27th, 2007 at 1:44:26 pm
After all, it’s not as if you are at an automatic teller machine machine.
January 27th, 2007 at 1:44:33 pm
LOL Anon! Excellent point. Haha. Apparently I too am guilty of redundancy… not to mention repetitiveness.
January 27th, 2007 at 2:07:58 pm
I have to say that I have never had this experience.
January 27th, 2007 at 2:27:27 pm
The story of the Quiznos tray thing is totally correct. At the Quiznos I went to, the first guy asked, but the second guy never did, but always knew if I was staying or going. It took about 6 trips till I figured it out. They just need more trusting workers.
January 27th, 2007 at 5:34:00 pm
What does it MATTER if you use it as debit/credit? Guess what, even if you choose “credit”, the transaction is exactly the same. It comes out of the checking account. It’s not as if when you press “credit” you get a bill in the mail. So why would you have to start the transaction again? Why would you even care if you have to enter a pin?? The other way you have to sign the receipt?
January 27th, 2007 at 6:51:37 pm
Wow, SBSquare, you seem really passionate about this. Do you work for a bank or something? LOL. To answer your question, the reason is because when I use my debit card as a credit card, I get some sort of reward points type deal.
January 27th, 2007 at 11:08:33 pm
Brendan-
I would suggest you use only your credit cards for store transactions. Even though debit cards are protected like credit cards, if someone gets your debit information, they can drain your checking account. While the funds will eventually be replaced, it will require your changing your checking account information and a whole lot of headache. With a credit card, you just get a new credit card and you aren’t out your rent money, etc, for a length of time.
January 28th, 2007 at 2:58:11 am
SBSquare, if you use it as a debit card its processed by the bank directly, if you use it as a credit card transaction i believe it goes through the credit card company (which would explain the extra charge?)