i think it’s faster than the swiping…or at leas in the places that I can now use them. Everytime I’ve used mine that are Mastercard they have required a pin and those are debit/credit cards issued by our banks but I have not used my Visa credit card since receiving the chip enabled version this past fall so not sure if that one would require a pin.
It seems your Target card is a real Chip and Pin card. Does it have a magnetic strip?
I remember when the banks marketed “tapping” your credit card because swiping it was too slow. LOL
As a Walmart cashier I didn’t notice much difference in processing time. What really lengthens the transaction is instructing people to use one or the other (“We have a chip reader now, so you can go ahead and insert your card.” swipes again “No, you have to insert–” swipes again, angrily) or teaching them how to do so. That’ll probably get better as everyone switches over.
Sure wish that more stores would adopt ApplePay and the Google equivalent… much faster and more secure…
I think one difference is the number of people leaving their CC’s in the machine. Both my father and brother have recently left cards at businesses and then had to go and retrieve them. When swiping, my card never left my hand. With the chip, you put in the card, let go to sign, and then aren’t supposed to take the card until the clerk tells you to. There is more confusion and the card gets left.
The machines in Canada beep when it’s time to take your card. So, if you’re careless enough to not be paying attention, the beep will alert you.
Some beep here too, but there is a lot going on at the counters. My father is old so he wouldn’t hear the beeping. My brother talks a lot and just got distracted.
ATMs used to keep the card in the machine until the transaction was over, and a ton of people left them in the machines, so most switched to either a swipe or an insert-and-remove method.
We have a mixture of stores that have the ability to ise the chip and those that don’t. They have the correct machine, but tell you to swipe still. It will be easier once there is some consistency.
They have had the chip and PIN for years in England. It seems to work well. In restaurants they bring a hand held machine to the table a lot of the time (I have never used it - I keep a small account ther for when I go home and just pull cash out of it and use that)…
I did not realize the system here was not going to require a PIN. I assumed it was just a timing thing and they would introduce the PIN later. The signature is an utter waste of time. It does not compare to your actual signature. We just put an X or a squiggle (too lazy to write out my long signature when they aren’t really checking it anyway!)
Almost all of the restaurants here use those, too. It’s good because your card is never out of your sight.
@twoinanddone, I’m sorry if it sounded like I was referencing your dad and brother with my comment. That was not my intent. 
It may be because traditionally “debit” transactions use PINs, but “credit” transactions do not. Of course, both credit cards and debit cards can be used for both kinds of transactions. The banks may think that users will get confused by PIN-“credit” versus PIN-“debit” transactions when using a chip+PIN credit card (or debit card).
I’m definitely seeing longer transaction times with my chip card. This morning, the cashier at a local coffee shop inserted my card, then forgot about it. I didn’t hear a beep. I waited a minute to see if she remembered to give it to me, but she didn’t. It was just lucky I noticed! And the typical beep I’m hearing is very annoying. I feel sorry for the cashiers who have to listen to that all day.
Ooh, the insertion point is on the cashier’s side? I remember because my hand is still on my card until it’s time to take it out of the reader. remind me to pay cash at Starbucks.
Yes, that is unusual that the reader is facing the cashier. I’ve never seen anywhere where that is the case.
I’ve seen it a couple of places. Not a good idea!
Oh I’ve never had to give my card to a cashier yet so no worries there. I would be the person who would leave the card with the cashier on accident. I couldn’t imagine leaving it in the machine because I keep my wallet open until I put my card back in it. (I am the person who has left my card in an ATM machine many times… I’m so glad I don’t use ATMs anymore! Now I just have to get better about not leaving my card at restaurants…)
I like the idea of leaving your hand on the card until you put it back in your purse. Several machines I use beep loudly at you to remove the card and won’t complete the transaction until the card is removed. I don’t zip my purse until I get the card back, so thus far have been ok at remembering to get it back.
The card insert I’ve used is always next to the customer, NOT the cashier when I’ve used the machines.
I find the cards easier than the ApplePay. Among places I go, only one supermarket and McDonald’s accept ApplePay!
I heard a radio bit on this on my way to work this morning (WTOP, news radio in Washington DC), and the story said it was taking 7 seconds longer than swiping.
“ATMs used to keep the card in the machine until the transaction was over, and a ton of people left them in the machines, so most switched to either a swipe or an insert-and-remove method.”
My ATM card (with a chip) works this way (Citibank). You get to the ATM and swipe it. Then it tells you to reinsert and leave it there for the duration of the transaction. When you sign off it beeps very loudly and lights flash until you retrieve it. This is new, maybe in the past year or so; prior to that, I just swiped, put the card away and did the transaction.
I’ve gotten to the point where I ask “Chip or Swipe?” Many times the cashier will clearly state the situation. Sometimes there is something in the chip slot to prevent it. But a fair amount of the time there is nothing and nothing is said until I do it wrong or I ask.
That beep sound that prompts inserting (and removing) the card sounds like I’ve done something wrong.