From: "Tumbleweed" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: Sliding cards before total is known
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 22:56:26 +0100


"Michael Hoffman"  wrote in message 
news:e141sr$6k0$1@gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk...
> Alex wrote:
>> At 10:10:03 on 06/04/2006, Michael Hoffman delighted uk.finance by 
>> announcing:
>>
>>>At some supermarkets in the U.S. you can swipe loyalty cards and credit 
>>>cards
>>>yourself before the cashier is done scanning all the items. Then you just 
>>>hit
>>>the OK button on the terminal when presented with the total. This saves 
>>>time
>>>over having to present two cards in order after the cashier is done.
>>>
>>>Is there a reason this isn't done here?
>>
>> Yes.  They check(ed) the signature in the UK.  Signature capture (and 
>> hence the
>> customer-facing machines) hasn't really been used either.
>
> These machines would also be used with PIN debit cards. Now that Chip and 
> PIN is in use, why not let people start the process before the items are 
> scanned and save time?

IME 50% of the population, which is about 80% of people at checkouts (aka 
'women') seem completely surprised that any type of payment is required at 
the checkout, or at least, I presume thats why they take SO DAMN LONG to 
take their card or cash out. So unfortunately I dont think your proposal 
will work.

-- 
Tumbleweed

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