At a time in history when we're wearing masks in department stores and scolded if we don't stand on a piece of tape on the floor, self payment continues, with pinpads that are touched by 100s of people every day.
The other day I was in Publix and there was a frail, elderly man with a big mask punching in his password on a pinpad, and I thought to myself "How many people have punched in their codes on that pinpad today?
I use a credit card with a chip, so I generally don't have to touch a pinpad when I go to Publix. if you have use a debit card or something else that requires a password, you have to touch the keypad, which has been touched by lots of other people.
How often do you think they disinfect the keypads?
Finger Signing Must Be Banned
The Covid19 situation should be a good opportunity to ban finger signing. If you're a regular reader, you know my disdain for signing filthy screens goes back well before anyone ever heard of a coronavirus. Self checkout seemed like such a good idea, but the truth is that the only ones protected by self checkout are the Credit Card companies. Chips, photo cards and self checkout have NEVER BEEN ABOUT PROTECTING THE CONSUMER; it's about protecting big banks from fraud.
The Only ones protected by self credit card checkout are the Credit Card companies.
Get Yourself a Personal Stylus
For just a few dollars, you can get a stylus and carry it with your to use when you have to touch a keypad. I have one for my iPad; I think I'm going to start to carry one in my car. How many people do you think have pressed the "No Tip" button before you on that screen?
Restaurants and Businesses Need Styluses or Wipes
During the Covid19 pandemonium there's no excuse for asking customers to sign with their finger on a computer screen that hasn't been disinfected. Businesses MUST be required to provide a sylus and/or proper disinfecting wipes so customers can disinfect the stylus or screen before they touch it.