> However, there are a great many smaller businesses in the United States that still rely on being able to swipe the customer’s card. Who are these businesses? Seriously, stop issuing cards without chips and send new card readers to theses businesses. End of story. Is it because US businesses use deeply embedded card readers in custom POS machines that aren't modular? Everywhere I go in South America and Europe, busi…
It's because of tiny gas stations in the middle of nowhere.
Here in Alberta, it's the law that you need to pay before you pump[0]. If you're at a modern pump you insert your card, it does a preauth for some amount (you can select common amounts, like $20 of fuel, or "fill up" which is like $125 or $250 depending on the station), then when you're done it does a purchase for the exact amount.
If you're not at a modern pump, or you're paying cash, you have to go into the store, prepay for something that you think will fill your tank, fill your car, then go back into the store and get your change.
[0] https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/station-owners-and-gas-and-dash-v...