If it's the case that Walgreens has "the specific scanning hardware" (note that the parent to my comment had that hardware on a bus), then that's exactly my poi

If it's the case that Walgreens has "the specific scanning hardware" (note that the parent to my comment had that hardware on a bus), then that's exactly my point. I don't ride the buses; I take CalTrain. There's three pieces of hardware of concern here: the scanner that checks your pass, the Clipper website, and whatever Walgreens uses. The scanners take a week to pick up payments through Clipper (first party), and instantly from Walgreens (third party). I find it exceptionally odd (and mightily inconvenient) that a third-party is able to add value into the system faster than the owners of the system themselves. (edit: and see the sibling response to yours from jcrawfordor for more info!)