Restaurants Test Table Card Readers

H

HardOCP News

[H] News
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
0
What do you guys think about restaurants that have card readers at the table allowing you to swipe your own credit card, pay the bill and get a receipt without ever having to hand over your card? Personally, I like the idea.

Pay-at-the-table systems are popular in Europe and other parts of the world, but they haven't yet caught on in the U.S., largely because equipment makers haven't been able to point to a reason why restaurateurs should invest in the gear.
Click to expand...
 
I say do it, i loved it when sonic finally added the capability to "pay at the pump" as i like to call it so i can swipe my debit card right there and not have to wait on the car hop to take it in and come back out.
 
Depends on the restaurant. At cheaper places, sure. At a nice restaurant I would still want that human touch. Adding any do it yourself to a place cheapens it.
 
RoBo said:
Lets hope it doesn't turn into another security breech.
Click to expand...

I second that!

With todays problems with ATMs having secondary readers that store your card info as it passes them to the actual machine, I would be at least somewhat cautious about using the device.
 
It's a good idea, but I would like to see how its implemented first.

I hope they have the card readers set up so you can input a tip, a lot more people are stingy these days.
*sit down restaruants...fast food places usually don't have waiters and waitresses relying on tips to make a living.
 
I am certain that any device worth it's weight in encryption technology would be far better than giving your card to a suspecting waiter/waitress who can take your numbers when they disappear behind the kitchen to process your bill. These devices would essentially prevent that and that's reason enough for me. Security would probably be comparable to other online transactions everyone makes on the Internet. The U.S. is once again notorious for lagging behind everyone else in good ideas in technology.
 
RoBo said:
Lets hope it doesn't turn into another security breech.
Click to expand...

Yea I seem to think about Lowes a few years ago where they were sending credit card numbers over telnet on an unencrypted 802.11 network. How long untill someone breaks this wireless system open? As soon as someone figured it out you know it will take forever for them to update the system to fix it.

MaddBomber83 said:
Depends on the restaurant. At cheaper places, sure. At a nice restaurant I would still want that human touch. Adding any do it yourself to a place cheapens it.
Click to expand...

Even at a normal place it kinda seems a little out of place. Hell even at some place like fridays or o'charley's the manager walks around and asks how everything is. I've had them personaly bring the check over to make sure an issue is fixed before. I think this just takes out some of the personal touch.
 
Emission said:
So you're saying theres an actual job that has to be done when they take your card and pay the bill? I see :)
Click to expand...

Yes. It's an important job. Some waitresses are really good at drawing smiley faces on receipts. If this card-scanner do-hicky can do that, I'm all for it.
 
I would rather swipe the card myself instead of waiting on someone. I don't care to sit around and hang out after eating, so yeah. I also like casual dining places that have the drinks out in the open when I can get it myself instead of having to wait 5, 10, 15 minutes for someone to come back around. To each his own.
 
Perhaps it would be better to create something so the waiter/waitress can swipe the card in front of you without taking it to the till.
 
RoBo said:
Perhaps it would be better to create something so the waiter/waitress can swipe the card in front of you without taking it to the till.
Click to expand...

They already have this, its called the ingenico i7780, Nurit also makes a cellular model, and I believe that Verifone makes a WiFi/Bluetooth enabled credit card terminal, the next time your at a sports arena look at the credit card terminals, most are wireless and allow the server to swipe the card in front of you.

My fear is what is to stop people from tampering with the card reader just like thieves do with ATM’s--IE capture your swiped card via hidden transmitter placed inside the unit and transmit your information to a nearby laptop. Anyways, food for thought.
 
I'm down for it, except when I get one of those hot waitresses. I sit on the inside so she has to reach over the table to put the plate down or she "accidently" caresses your hand when she hands you your ticket.

Or maybe she can does one of those "oops" spill the drink on your lap and then desperately tries to whipe..... Ok. It's getting hot in here:D
 
Freakin brilliant!

I could care less about some waiter stealing my card number (after all, I am not responsible for the charges), but what will be really nice is the time I can save. At places that are busy or just have crappy service, I often have to wait for the server to notice that I am finished eating, bring over the bill, return to get the bill with my card, and then wait for the person to finally return the card and my receipt.

However, they are going to have to find some way to keep little brats from gunking up the machine with their grubby little fingers.
 
yes this would be awesome.

at some places it takes forever to call someone over and it just pisses me off.
 
qkool said:
I'm down for it, except when I get one of those hot waitresses. I sit on the inside so she has to reach over the table to put the plate down or she "accidently" caresses your hand when she hands you your ticket.

Or maybe she can does one of those "oops" spill the drink on your lap and then desperately tries to whipe..... Ok. It's getting hot in here:D
Click to expand...

Wow all that from a card reader at your table to pay your bill with? sheesh someone needs to get himself a woman :p
 
I think this would be a great idea.

I work in POS and this would be a great money maker for us.
 
Sounds great! Yet another way to remove the human element from thinking it did something that warrants paying extra money (aka a tip). Take my order... ok nothing special, bring me my food, ok you had to walk an extra 20 feet with stuff in your hands groovy... take my money, bravo... You've done so much to deserve 15% of what I am already paying.
 
As long as they are not using ingenico wireless card readers!
Something like that should be hard wired. AND encrypted, AND only connect between specified devices via a non standard protocol.
 
Here in the Europe it sort of already works like that (with the chip + pin CCs anyway), you put card in the top of this calculator-on-steroids looking thing and punch in your pin code, then take out your card and hand back the thing, your card is never out of your sight. Then you leave.
 
sfsuphysics said:
Sounds great! Yet another way to remove the human element from thinking it did something that warrants paying extra money (aka a tip). Take my order... ok nothing special, bring me my food, ok you had to walk an extra 20 feet with stuff in your hands groovy... take my money, bravo... You've done so much to deserve 15% of what I am already paying.
Click to expand...

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight espesically since the waiter/watress has been listening to people bitch and moan for 8 straight hours, running around like mad, making 20-30% less than minium wage..

Here is a better idea, stay home, cook the food in your own kitchen, and then you don't have to worry about giving out any tips..

I personally pay out at least a 20%tip, and then I go up from there depending on the service I get. SO I counter balance cheapos like you....
 
RandomNY said:
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight espesically since the waiter/watress has been listening to people bitch and moan for 8 straight hours, running around like mad, making 20-30% less than minium wage..
Click to expand...
Was I bitching for 8 straight hours? Or was I quietly eating my food? I'm supposed to pay for the hard day they had? Yeah right. Oh wait many jobs hear people bitching 8 hours a day and none of them get tips

Did I make them take a job where they're getting paid so low? Am I supposed to support their lifestyle? Well by that logic I should leave a tip for anyone at a fast food resturant, after all they're making so little money...

I personally pay out at least a 20%tip, and then I go up from there depending on the service I get. SO I counter balance cheapos like you....
Click to expand...
Cheapos? Interesting way to put it there, if you get shitty service you are seriously going to pay extra money? If that's what you want to do with your money, I'm not going to complain.

I don't mind paying a tip for good service, but if the service is subpar, I don't want to hear any lip about how some person who takes a zero skill job for less than minimum wage about how I'm supposed to support them.

Maybe you should be more upset with restaurant owners for paying them so low? Have them add that extra 15% onto every item just they can pay them minimum wage. Why is it that in many places in Europe they do a job like they're supposed to and don't expect any other grief? Meh whatever. You're paying for my cheapness so I feel good and I'll make sure to tip even less now that I know someone like you is out there thanks dude! :D
 
RandomNY said:
Here is a better idea, stay home, cook the food in your own kitchen, and then you don't have to worry about giving out any tips.
Click to expand...

Agreed. sfsuphysics clearly speaks as someone who's never served in his life. :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top