Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
#1
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Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
This was kind of new to me. I don't shop at Fry's often as it is but I was close to one today and needed an auxiliary cable for my car, so I stopped in. Besides the fact that there are 4 separate spots for the cables (WTF? ), I wanted to pay with my debit card. When I told the cashier I wanted to use debit, she said the manager had to override the transaction since all purchases under $75 now must be approved. It was a one item purchase but I had to wait around for a solid 2 or 3 minutes waiting for the manager who was overriding other cash registers. I was kind of shocked.
What kind of practice is this? Are there other stores now that make you have a minimum transaction amount? I'm aware some restaurants or gas stations require you to make something like a $3 or $4 purchase without charging for the debit function but this is semi-major retailer so I was surprised.
What kind of practice is this? Are there other stores now that make you have a minimum transaction amount? I'm aware some restaurants or gas stations require you to make something like a $3 or $4 purchase without charging for the debit function but this is semi-major retailer so I was surprised.
#3
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#4
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Re: Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
I wonder if this has to do with the prevention of identity theft. I've seen a pretty big wave of that over these past few months.
#5
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Re: Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
What is the purpose of having you stand around and wait for a manager who will barely glance at you to over ride the system? It is not like they did anything special to make sure you were the person on the card.
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#7
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#9
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Re: Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
It takes my bank close to 5 days to process charges like that so if debit is there, it's what I use.
I'm not understanding Fry's rationale of requiring a minimum purchase to have an override. It just doesn't make any sense. Especially if it's debit -- there has to be more fraud with credit card purchases than someone using a pin so it seems like it's moot.
Just seems like it's more trouble than it's worth for them. The manager was running around register to register overriding transactions. Maybe they were just looking for something for her to do.
I'm not understanding Fry's rationale of requiring a minimum purchase to have an override. It just doesn't make any sense. Especially if it's debit -- there has to be more fraud with credit card purchases than someone using a pin so it seems like it's moot.
Just seems like it's more trouble than it's worth for them. The manager was running around register to register overriding transactions. Maybe they were just looking for something for her to do.
#10
Moderator
Re: Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
Probably a corporate decision. "Debit transaction fees are costing us $______________!" and then they came up with a "solution" that's a huge PITA for the managers in the trenches.
#11
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
I think that Fry's is a target for people to screw with. And they operate on small margins. And they don't get the best managers in and cannot trust them. The people in charge of such things get frustrated and start demanding these stupid security measures.
They started doing this at a local KFC. I go through the drive thru. And they hand me a clipboard and receipt to sign. I do drive thrus a lot. And I understand how credit cards work, head-to-toes (I manage my company's merchant account). This helps NOTHING. What it KFC going to do if I call in a chargeback? Do they think they're going to file a counter-claim? Over $7?
In Fry's specific case, it reminds me of car alarms. Remember when people used to pay attention to them? And then there were five-or-so years where everyone's fucking alarm went off? So people started caring. A manager who has to walk over and override every transaction isn't really going to pay attention, even if the customer/cashier is breaking the rules.
Anyways, it all comes down to out-of-touch management and executive control.
They started doing this at a local KFC. I go through the drive thru. And they hand me a clipboard and receipt to sign. I do drive thrus a lot. And I understand how credit cards work, head-to-toes (I manage my company's merchant account). This helps NOTHING. What it KFC going to do if I call in a chargeback? Do they think they're going to file a counter-claim? Over $7?
In Fry's specific case, it reminds me of car alarms. Remember when people used to pay attention to them? And then there were five-or-so years where everyone's fucking alarm went off? So people started caring. A manager who has to walk over and override every transaction isn't really going to pay attention, even if the customer/cashier is breaking the rules.
Anyways, it all comes down to out-of-touch management and executive control.
#12
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Fry's Requring Manager Override for Debit Card Purchases under $75
They started doing this at a local KFC. I go through the drive thru. And they hand me a clipboard and receipt to sign. I do drive thrus a lot. And I understand how credit cards work, head-to-toes (I manage my company's merchant account). This helps NOTHING. What it KFC going to do if I call in a chargeback? Do they think they're going to file a counter-claim? Over $7?