Paying with plastic used to be convenient! You didn\u2019t have to carry cash; you didn\u2019t have to fumble through your wallet for bills or your pockets for change; you simply handed your card to the clerk and they did the work. That\u2019s how it started anyway. Now, \u201cFor your convenience,\u201d you have to swipe the card yourself. It sounded good, at first; I bought into it. I should have known better. Whenever a corporation claims they are changing things for YOUR CONVENIENCE; it\u2019s usually not the case. It\u2019s for THEIR convenience. Card readers were installed across the land and the process was turned over to us, the customer. No longer could you hand your Visa card to a clerk and let them do the work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t too bad, initially; you simply swiped your card and signed the receipt. But, then came the CHIP, \u201cFor our security.\u201d Some of the units had an insert slot for chip cards, others didn\u2019t. It caused a lot of confusion. Now, most all the card readers have the slot. I know, because most of the time I stick it in the wrong way. The clerk gives me a dirty look, rips the card out and sticks it in the proper way. Mumbling, \u201cStupid old foggy,\u201d under her breathe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More steps have been added to the process. A questionnaire, so to speak. \u201cIs the amount OK,\u201d is the one I love the best. You are expected to tap \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo.\u201d Unless you\u2019re an old coot, then you use the prompt to try for a better deal. The prompt shows $18.56, so I ask if they\u2019ll take $15. That really gets the clerk mumbling to herself. She then gives me one of those \u201cSir\u201d responses, as in, \u201cSir! You need to tap yes, to complete the transaction.\u201d I don\u2019t let it go that easy; I smile and say, \u201cThen why was I asked if the amount was okay?\u201d She tells me it\u2019s a courtesy, so customers will know what will be charged to their account. I always give the dumb same response, \u201cOh, I didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s even worse at a pharmacy. You have to respond to a slew of questions when paying for a prescription. The clerk used to handle this, now you do the work, using the \u201csmart\u201d card reader. It\u2019s yet another step in the process that\u2019s getting us trained to do business with a robot. Some charities have jumped on the bandwagon and inserted their fund raising efforts into the checkout process. The clerk is required to ask, \u201cWould you like to add a dollar to your purchase and donate that amount to the \u201cSave the Sand Fleas Foundation\u201d? If you don\u2019t, you get a dirty look, and if you listen carefully you might hear the clerk say, \u201cCheapskate,\u201d under her breath. If you do add a dollar, you don\u2019t get credit for your generosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neither does the clerk. A fat cat corporate CEO takes credit for his company\u2019s fund raising effort, not mentioning that a card reader did all the work. It\u2019s gotten so bad, this constant tapping at a check out counter, that I\u2019ve had to make an appointment with a rheumatologist for the arthritis that\u2019s invading my index finger. I\u2019ll probably have to cough up a co-pay via yet another card reader. FOR MY CONVENIENCE!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n