Post edited 2:55 pm – February 21, 2012 by redstang423
CW said:
Too pricey for widespread use? They're used almost exclusively in a lot of other first-world countries.
This is what I've seen in Canada, etc.: http://www.ecrater.com/p/59110…..redit-card
About $700.
How many would even a big restaurant need? How many checks are being settled at exactly the same time?
I can''t really see them needing many more portable ones than non-portable swipers. Maybe one or two more on hand just because they're more likely to be lost, stolen, or dropped and broken – plus to combat the whole "who has the swiper now" issue. I don't know what the cost difference is between portable and non-portable readers. Even though the readers seem inexpensive in the grand scheme of things, I''d imagine the main issue that more don't restaurants don't use them is the capital cost. Why spend money you don't have to?
If the technology is more expensive: there's nearly no advantage from a restaurant operator's perspective. Would patrons feel more comfortable? Likely. How many customers – or would-be customers – wouldn't go to the restaurant simply because they don't use a portable credit card reader? In my non-scientifically calculated estimate, probably not enough to impact business to a discernible degree. I think paying cash (again, completely non-scientific) would be the more likely alternative than not patronizing the business.
If the technology is cheaper (or about the same): existing restaurants still wouldn't have any reason to purchase them since they have functional readers in place. When the existing readers run their useful life, then sure – replace with the cheaper technology. Same with startups.
Login 
Register 
Search 
Forums
