5 ms·

It's because of tiny gas stations in the middle of nowhere.

Mister_Snuggles 4y ago
Gas stations are interesting here. 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-victims-loved-ones-welcome-alberta-s-mandatory-prepay-legislation-1.3952349 https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/station-owners-and-gas-and-dash-v...
- aidenn0 4y ago
  US is the same, except the pre-auth is set by the gas station owner, so you may need to go inside to pay with a debit card with less than that amount, and large trucks need two transactions to fill up
dymk 4y ago
USPS delivers to them, guaranteed
- derefr 4y ago
  Delivers... new gas pumps? Because often with self-serve pumps, the pump and the card reader are one-and-the-same. Probably modular in some internal sense, but not with an expectation of owner serviceability; more "call the manufacturer" serviceability.
  - dymk 4y ago
    Delivers card readers... Gas pumps aren't a single monolithic unit.
jdeibele 4y ago
I added some gas in Frenchglen, Oregon. Population 11. You went into the store, told the clerk (owner in this case, I'm sure) that you wanted gas, she turned on the pump, then you took a photo with your phone and took it back to her so she could charge you. $6.75/gallon, which was about $2 more than in Burns (population 2766). She didn't have any problem taking a chipped card but I imagine there are self-serve places that can't. It was only in 2018 that Oregon allowed self-serve in counties with less than 40,000 people. 17 of the 36 counties qualify. The advice I've seen with credit cards seems to be "always tap if you can" since that's not subject to skimming or stealing a PIN.
inquirerGeneral 4y ago
There are not many anymore without a CHIP reader, because VISA and Mastercard FINALLY stopped the delay of shifting liability for all fraud to the individual gas station in summer 2021.
- kevin_thibedeau 4y ago
  All my local stations are still on mag stripes.
  - ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
    > All my local stations are still on mag stripes. Then they continue to be part of the problem (and liability for fraud is on them).

Gas stations are interesting here. 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-victims-loved-ones-welcome-alberta-s-mandatory-prepay-legislation-1.3952349 https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/station-owners-and-gas-and-dash-v...

aidenn0 4y ago
US is the same, except the pre-auth is set by the gas station owner, so you may need to go inside to pay with a debit card with less than that amount, and large trucks need two transactions to fill up

dymk 4y ago

USPS delivers to them, guaranteed

derefr 4y ago
Delivers... new gas pumps? Because often with self-serve pumps, the pump and the card reader are one-and-the-same. Probably modular in some internal sense, but not with an expectation of owner serviceability; more "call the manufacturer" serviceability.
- dymk 4y ago
  Delivers card readers... Gas pumps aren't a single monolithic unit.

jdeibele 4y ago

I added some gas in Frenchglen, Oregon. Population 11. You went into the store, told the clerk (owner in this case, I'm sure) that you wanted gas, she turned on the pump, then you took a photo with your phone and took it back to her so she could charge you. $6.75/gallon, which was about $2 more than in Burns (population 2766). She didn't have any problem taking a chipped card but I imagine there are self-serve places that can't. It was only in 2018 that Oregon allowed self-serve in counties with less than 40,000 people. 17 of the 36 counties qualify. The advice I've seen with credit cards seems to be "always tap if you can" since that's not subject to skimming or stealing a PIN.

inquirerGeneral 4y ago

There are not many anymore without a CHIP reader, because VISA and Mastercard FINALLY stopped the delay of shifting liability for all fraud to the individual gas station in summer 2021.

kevin_thibedeau 4y ago
All my local stations are still on mag stripes.
- ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
  > All my local stations are still on mag stripes. Then they continue to be part of the problem (and liability for fraud is on them).