On 2/22/2013 4:41 PM, sf wrote:
> > wrote:
>> On 2/22/2013 2:57 PM, sf wrote:
>>> You've had a lot of things for years. The thing I liked best that I
>>> saw on my very first trip to Europe was that waiters had a handheld
>>> credit card machine, took care of the transaction on the spot and your
>>> credit card never left your sight. We've never seen waiters here use
>>> them and have no idea why it hasn't caught on.
>>>
>> About 15 years ago, I took my daughter on the train from London to
>> Inverness. She really enjoyed the trip (the weather was good, so the
>> scenery was visible), but what really impressed her was the dining car
>> with its white tablecloths and attentive waiters who treated her like a
>> grown-up - and when the bill came, the waiter whipped out one of those
>> card readers. "But it's a _train_! How can they authorise your card on a
>> _train_?"
>>
>> I really hate having my card disappear from sight, as happens in US
>> restaurants.
>
> You never know what happens. Fortunately for us, most service workers
> are honest... but that portable card reader is so much better for
> customer goodwill, conservation of staff energy - well, you know.
>
Yup. It would make good business sense.