# So am I the only guy on the planet that uses the wave function on his credit card? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2016, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473 "2016-05-10T10:11:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/1 "2016-05-10T10:11:14Z")
I know my particular style of card is slowly becoming obsolete in favor for the chip cards. But still. I have a card where all you have to do is wave it over the reader as opposed to swiping the magnetic strip. Every time I do this, and I mean EVERY TIME, the cashier will say something to the effect of: " you have to swipe it in that thing there." (Like I’m a dumbass) Or “What are you doing?” :dubious: And then when it works, their eyes get glazed over in amazement: “Wow! How did you do that?!” I just don’t get it. It’s not like these types of cards are new. They’ve been around for a long time now. How do cashiers not know this?! The mind boggles. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/2 "2016-05-10T11:48:26Z")
I used mine that way a couple times at EV charging stations. Then it was replaced with a chip card. ---
**Author:** ![GunnarFranz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@GunnarFranz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GunnarFranz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/3 "2016-05-10T11:51:23Z")
I worked a retail store last year and still do on weekends, I’ve seen this used maybe twice in 5,000+ transactions… you aren’t the only one, but you’re close to it. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/4 "2016-05-10T12:24:41Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I just don’t get it. It’s not like these types of cards are new. They’ve been around for a long time now. How do cashiers not know this?! I believe the cards are becoming obsolete because of very low usage. Maybe it really is new to them, because everyone else with that kind of card swiped like they did with their old cards. People mostly do things the way they’re used to, and don’t change unless they’re required to. They’ll swipe until they can’t swipe any more, and then when that happens they’ll stamp their feet and swear at the cashier. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/5 "2016-05-10T12:49:00Z")
As a Canadian I’ve been using this feature on my debit card and credit cards for a few years now. I know I started when Tim Horton’s began accepting M/C PayPass at the drive through window. The internet tells me this was sometime in 2007. Interac Flash came a few years later (2011) on the debit cards and I’ve been using it for everything since then. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/6 "2016-05-10T12:52:44Z")
OK, so I’m missing something here. How do I know if my card will work that way, and how do I know if I am near a thingy that will recognize the wave? Do some people have a “special” card? Do some stores have a “speecal” reader? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/7 "2016-05-10T13:00:18Z")
Here they’ve got either of [these symbols](http://s3lab.deusto.es/explorando-la-tarjeta-contactless/) with the arcs. The readers also have those symbols, but the symbol only means the hardware can read the cards: it may not have been programmed to do it. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/8 "2016-05-10T14:38:56Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > OK, so I’m missing something here. How do I know if my card will work that way, and how do I know if I am near a thingy that will recognize the wave? Do some people have a “special” card? Do some stores have a “speecal” reader? what **Nava** said. My previous card (and enabled terminals) had that logo on them. it’s basically just RFID/NFC. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/9 "2016-05-10T15:10:40Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > what **Nava** said. My previous card (and enabled terminals) had that logo on them. it’s basically just RFID/NFC. And for what it’s worth, usually the readers with that logo will take Apple Pay from my watch or phone, which it appears I’m also the only person who ever uses. I usually have to tell the cashier that I’ve completed the transaction, because all I did was wave my wrist at it. ---
**Author:** ![GunnarFranz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@GunnarFranz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GunnarFranz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/10 "2016-05-10T15:13:52Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > And for what it’s worth, usually the readers with that logo will take Apple Pay from my watch or phone, which it appears I’m also the only person who ever uses. I usually have to tell the cashier that I’ve completed the transaction, because all I did was wave my wrist at it. My gf used to try to take my card away so she could pay for things, after a few times of pulling my phone out of my pocket and paying that way, no more protesting. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/11 "2016-05-10T15:22:48Z")
I think I’d be nervous about using that kind of card, since I’d always wonder if it might get picked up by the reader just by being in my pocket. It’s probably designed so that wouldn’t happen, but I’d still be more comfortable using a card that I need to do something positive with (like swiping or inserting) to make it work. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/12 "2016-05-10T15:30:36Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > I think I’d be nervous about using that kind of card, since I’d always wonder if it might get picked up by the reader just by being in my pocket. It’s probably designed so that wouldn’t happen, but I’d still be more comfortable using a card that I need to do something positive with (like swiping or inserting) to make it work. In Canada you need to pass the card within a few millimeters of the scanner for it to work. I have a wallet where I can pull cards out about half way. I routinely pull my debit card out and tap with my other enabled cards about an inch or so back and the machine consistently picks up the tap from the correct card. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/13 "2016-05-10T15:32:48Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > And for what it’s worth, usually the readers with that logo will take Apple Pay from my watch or phone, which it appears I’m also the only person who ever uses. I usually have to tell the cashier that I’ve completed the transaction, because all I did was wave my wrist at it. There are several places that I frequent that accept Apple Pay (Sprouts and Panera, for example), and they are very used to people paying that way. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/14 "2016-05-10T16:40:46Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > There are several places that I frequent that accept Apple Pay (Sprouts and Panera, for example), and they are very used to people paying that way. I’m guessing you live someplace a little more technologically savvy than I do. We’re scheduled to get running water next year, here. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/15 "2016-05-10T16:53:29Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > As a Canadian I’ve been using this feature on my debit card and credit cards for a few years now. I know I started when Tim Horton’s began accepting M/C PayPass at the drive through window. The internet tells me this was sometime in 2007. Interac Flash came a few years later (2011) on the debit cards and I’ve been using it for everything since then. I gather that things are different here in Canada (I’ve also heard that debit card usage is much more popular here). I had thought that the wave function had been introduced after chip cards. Regardless, my latest cards have it, and I use it when I can. It seems like the majority of card readers around here have the function. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/16 "2016-05-10T16:58:07Z")
Yes, a couple of years ago in Canada, we found that cc technology was way ahead of what we see around here. Waitstaff bringing the machine to “tap” and assign a to percentage right there, etc., and being surprised I didn’t have a wave or chip card. A couple of family chains here have just recently gotten little terminals on the tables to be able to pay and tip right there. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/17 "2016-05-10T17:06:59Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > I’m guessing you live someplace a little more technologically savvy than I do. We’re scheduled to get running water next year, here. Cool! Indoor plumbing! (Apple Pay has been rolled out to a number of the stores around here. In addition to the to I mentioned, Whole Foods, Walgreens, and Home Depot also take it). ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/18 "2016-05-10T18:11:09Z")
W = xR + yB or any number of functions listed here: [Wave function - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_function) ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/19 "2016-05-10T18:13:25Z")
The part that I am not getting here is why I would want to wave in preference to swiping. It is a nifty technological trick, but I’m not seeing why one is better than another. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473/20 "2016-05-10T18:59:58Z")
I only used “wave to pay” once that I can recall. It was at my mechanic when I had some car work done. Neither I nor the guy who ran the place knew it would work until we tried it. My card had the magic logo on it. But the pin-pad, even though it was wave-enabled, _didn’t_ have the logo on it. :rolleyes: As far as I could tell, they never did get very popular. Not many merchants had that kind of reader (that I ever knew of), and there was a lot of public paranoia about people with scanners swiping your data just passing by on the sidewalk. Lots of people were buying Faraday wallets. Like CFL lamps, they came, never really got much public traction, and they were gone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-only-guy-on-the-planet-that-uses-the-wave-function-on-his-credit-card/754473.md?page=2)