3 ms·

There are a large number of “smart” tab systems in use in US bars where the system retains your magnetic stripe data for the duration of your visit. You pass of

by bri3d 4y ago

There are a large number of “smart” tab systems in use in US bars where the system retains your magnetic stripe data for the duration of your visit. You pass off your card, it is swiped and immediately returned. If you don’t settle your tab, it’s automatically settled with a pre-set tip using the stored track data. It’s convenient for bar owners and patrons as the bar doesn’t have leftover cards to deal with and the patron doesn’t have to retrace their steps to recover their forgotten card the next day.

justsomehnguy 4y ago
>> It’s convenient for bar owners and patrons LOL. It's convenient for bar owners. Patrons doesn't give a shit about that.
- bri3d 4y ago
  When the alternative is “hold onto the card” and you have to track it down or order a new one, sure it’s more convenient for the customer too…
- pdntspa 4y ago
  Speak for yourself, I can't tell you how many times I've left my card at the bar because of an open tab. Nowadays I'll favor places that give me my card back when I open a tab.
Reason077 4y ago
Interesting, I haven't encountered such a system at UK bars/pubs. Either it's entirely pay-as-you-go (easy when everyone has contactless), or, at fancier places, they'll trust you to run a tab without taking a card up front.
ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
> There are a large number of “smart” tab systems in use in US bars where the system retains your magnetic stripe data for the duration of your visit. What a security nightmare.
- bri3d 4y ago
  More or less a security nightmare than a drawer or tray full of physical credit cards behind a busy bar at night, which is the alternative at US bars? I'd argue that time-shifting card data is actually safer, even if it is often against the merchant agreement. I really haven't heard of much trouble caused by these systems - of course, they require magnetic stripes in general, which are a massive attack vector, but the bar use case specifically doesn't seem to cause additional issues that I'm aware of. There are so many lower-tech and easy ways to steal magnetic track data, like skimmers, that I don't think compromising bar-back point of sale systems is a particularly high priority for most criminals. Anyway, this is probably just a small snapshot in time regardless, since once swiped-card transactions finally go away US bars will have to switch to the mobile terminal pay-as-you-go method anyway.
  - ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
    >Once swiped-card transactions finally go away US bars will have to switch to the mobile terminal pay-as-you-go method anyway. Now you get it.

by bri3d 4y ago

justsomehnguy 4y ago

>> It’s convenient for bar owners and patrons LOL. It's convenient for bar owners. Patrons doesn't give a shit about that.

bri3d 4y ago
When the alternative is “hold onto the card” and you have to track it down or order a new one, sure it’s more convenient for the customer too…
pdntspa 4y ago
Speak for yourself, I can't tell you how many times I've left my card at the bar because of an open tab. Nowadays I'll favor places that give me my card back when I open a tab.

Reason077 4y ago

Interesting, I haven't encountered such a system at UK bars/pubs. Either it's entirely pay-as-you-go (easy when everyone has contactless), or, at fancier places, they'll trust you to run a tab without taking a card up front.

ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago

> There are a large number of “smart” tab systems in use in US bars where the system retains your magnetic stripe data for the duration of your visit. What a security nightmare.

bri3d 4y ago
More or less a security nightmare than a drawer or tray full of physical credit cards behind a busy bar at night, which is the alternative at US bars? I'd argue that time-shifting card data is actually safer, even if it is often against the merchant agreement. I really haven't heard of much trouble caused by these systems - of course, they require magnetic stripes in general, which are a massive attack vector, but the bar use case specifically doesn't seem to cause additional issues that I'm aware of. There are so many lower-tech and easy ways to steal magnetic track data, like skimmers, that I don't think compromising bar-back point of sale systems is a particularly high priority for most criminals. Anyway, this is probably just a small snapshot in time regardless, since once swiped-card transactions finally go away US bars will have to switch to the mobile terminal pay-as-you-go method anyway.
- ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
  >Once swiped-card transactions finally go away US bars will have to switch to the mobile terminal pay-as-you-go method anyway. Now you get it.