Publix Credit Cards: Slow!!!

I've had a fascinating week with credit card readers. I went to Publix several time. I use an Amex card with a chip.  The Publix experience takes about 25 seconds. I mean once the cashier is finished, I put in my Amex card in the slot and have to wait 25 seconds for it to get processed.

This was really annoying at first since that's a long time to stand there when there's a line. But we got use to the new slower technology.

This week however I started shopping at Fresh Market. It's about half a mile from the Publix. Note that this is in Ft Lauderdale on US1 between Oakland Blvd and Commercial Blvd.

the Fresh Market processing of the same Amex card takes less than a second. Less than a second. That feels fast. It's like using Apple Pay.

What possible reason is there for Publix's processing to be that slow? IS it just lousy lousy lousy IT and programming? Probably.

Could it be that they are doing a financial check that the other stores aren't? I doubt it but possible.

Publix? Care to comment?

Speed of Chip Readers for Credit Cards

I am shocked that when I go to Publix, the credit cards with a chip seem to take about 30-40 seconds to process.  This might not seem like a long time but since it holds the line still, it is a long long time. Basically, after the checkout process, the payment leaves the cashier sitting around idle waiting for the credit card to process.

What's weird is that in other super markets like the Whole Earth Store, it seems to be almost instantaneous, definitely less then 3 seconds.  Why can't Publix, with all their scale and resources, manage to accelerate the process.

Could it be that they are doing a credit check and getting approval in a way that other supermarkets skip?

On another note, I'd like to see whether blogger does trackbacks the way the wordpress sites do.  Seen the post on studying stem with bicycles?