It's been six months since retailers were required to upgrade their POS systems so that they'll accept EMV, aka that new credit card with the chip. While there a several benefits of EMV, mainly lessening fraud and hacking, not all retailers have embraced the technology. In fact, according to CardHub, 42% of retailers have yet to upgrade their terminals.
While there are a number of explanations on why this is the case, here are the main reasons why retailers haven't upgraded to EMV.
Current Payment Terminals Work Just Fine
If you own a small business and just purchased a payment terminal two or three years ago, would you be willingly to invest in a brand new terminal? Probably not. And, that's one of the biggest barriers that EMV faces.
If a mom and pop shop has perfectly fine payment terminal that is relatively new, they're not going to purchase a new terminal for $500 - especially when they could get around 7 years of use with their current terminals. As Allen Weinberg, co-founder of management consulting firm Glenbrook Partners, asks, "Why incur the expense and hassle of upgrading when you are highly unlikely to ever see a counterfeit card?"
Weinberg goes on to write that many of his clients are concerned that their customers will be concerned that they don't take security seriously if they don't upgrade to EMV. However, 56% of customers don't care if a retailer's payment terminal is chip-enabled.
In short, if it's not broken, why fix it?
Failure to Communicate
Hardware isn't the only hold-up. There are approximately 5 million EMV-ready terminals at U.S. stores, but only one million accept chips. The reason? These terminals don't have the proper software to accept chips.
Michael Moeser, director of payments at Javelin Strategy and Research, told Bob Sullivan on Credit.com that "Just because you see an EMV slot on a terminal, doesn't mean it works." Moser added, "Getting the terminal to accept EMV cards is a two-part process. First, the merchant either needs to load newly developed software or integrate new software from a third party into its back office systems to allow the terminal to accept EMV. Second, then the new terminals and the merchant need to undergo a certification process with each of the card networks, typically done in combination with its merchant acquiring bank. The certification queue is currently very long as you can imagine that there are a number of merchants seeking to roll out EMV at the same time."
In fact, when the deadline for merchants to have EMV-readers installed last October, software was one of the first issues. "We began readying our stores to accept chip-enabled credit cards a couple of years ago when we replaced PIN pads with EMV-capable terminals at checkout lanes," said Tara Deering-Hansen, a spokesperson for the supermarket chain Hy-Vee, told USA Today. "Despite our significant effort and planning, the state of the industry is such that many software vendors are not ready for the transition" she added. "Many retailers across the country are like us and they're waiting for their vendor partners to provide the software needed to communicate with already installed EMV card readers."
For retailers who have purchased EMV-ready terminals, but can't use them because of a software issue, this has become a costly concern. That's because merchants who haven't upgraded are required to cover fraudulent transactions themselves. That has cost small businesses, such as Milam's Market and Grove Liquors in Florida, thousands of dollars. In the case of Milam's, the business has been charged $9,200 from MasterCard and Visa since the October 1 liability shift for 88 chargebacks for fraudulent transactions. Milam's, and several other retailers, have now taken this issue to court and are suing the banks for not delaying the certification process.
EMV Terminals Aren't Convenient
If you shop at a store that accepts chips you probably have noticed that the process is a little more cumbersome than swiping your card. That's because you either don't know the process, the cashier isn't trained, or inserting your card holds-up lines. In short,
terminals aren't the most convenient.
Weinberg has several reasons on why this has become accepted within the retail community.
- Merchants aren't willing to educate their customers on how to perform an EMV transaction because it may slow down the payment process.
- Besides updating POS systems, merchants have to train employees. This could take months, even years, for a retailer to be 100% EMV-ready.
- For some retailers, such as restaurants, EMV technology isn't compatible with their business. It takes additional work to process a transaction and tip adjustments.
If retailers have these preconceptions regarding EMV, then why would they want to make the transition?
Why Carry Plastic At All?
We now live in a world where you can purchase items through our smartphones thanks to Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay. As technology continues to advance, we'll even be able to use wearable gadgets like smartwatches to complete a purchase. Even more appealing, the increase in beacons and sensors will allow mobile users to order a product and then pick-it up. For example, you could order and pay for dinner at your favorite restaurant while on your commute home from work.
With emerging mobile payment options already here, we could be heading into a future where we no longer carry plastic at all. Because of that, some retailers may have decided to embrace these type of technologies instead of EMV.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
