Posted by J. Fontana | Posted in | Posted on 10:03 AM
Since my wife is Canadian, and we live in the Metro Detroit area (next to Windsor, ON) - we frequently make trips to Canada. I have noticed many odd behaviors and conventions in Canada, when compared to the same in America. Of course, they only seem odd to me, because they are different than what we are used to here in the United States.
One of the truly strange phenomena that exists in Canada is how the citizenry pays for goods and services. I noticed several years ago that whenever we were at a restaurant or retail establishment and I was watching people pay their bill, the staff member would produce a little black point of sale key-pad terminal connected to a long umbilical cord, wherein the customer, after swiping their card, would enter his or her secret PIN (personal identification number). Incidentally, some people say 'PIN Number', which I never understood. Similarly, the USA and other countries also have this method of payment as well, but it is rarely used and offered in a different manner. Most US issued debit cards can be used just like a Visa or Mastercard (they have the little logo on them), so there is no need for PIN entering. Typically the only time one uses their PIN (in the United States) is when they are actually withdrawing money from an ATM (automated teller machine). This is another one where people say 'ATM Machine' - strange.
In Canada, there is a widely adapted system, called Interac Direct Payment and it is the nation's most widely used method of payment. This I find to be very interesting, because the transaction itself seems clumsy and needlessly difficult. Apparently, the Canadians are very keen on security, and enjoy the tedium of the transactions. I believe there is also some sort of 'point' system or cash back reward; Also there is an air miles program attached to this? So perhaps it is because of incentives that it has become so widely accepted.
I don't think American's would enjoy such a system here, as most do not tolerate slow transactions - everything must occur rapidly and with little waiting time.
One of the truly strange phenomena that exists in Canada is how the citizenry pays for goods and services. I noticed several years ago that whenever we were at a restaurant or retail establishment and I was watching people pay their bill, the staff member would produce a little black point of sale key-pad terminal connected to a long umbilical cord, wherein the customer, after swiping their card, would enter his or her secret PIN (personal identification number). Incidentally, some people say 'PIN Number', which I never understood. Similarly, the USA and other countries also have this method of payment as well, but it is rarely used and offered in a different manner. Most US issued debit cards can be used just like a Visa or Mastercard (they have the little logo on them), so there is no need for PIN entering. Typically the only time one uses their PIN (in the United States) is when they are actually withdrawing money from an ATM (automated teller machine). This is another one where people say 'ATM Machine' - strange.
In Canada, there is a widely adapted system, called Interac Direct Payment and it is the nation's most widely used method of payment. This I find to be very interesting, because the transaction itself seems clumsy and needlessly difficult. Apparently, the Canadians are very keen on security, and enjoy the tedium of the transactions. I believe there is also some sort of 'point' system or cash back reward; Also there is an air miles program attached to this? So perhaps it is because of incentives that it has become so widely accepted.
I don't think American's would enjoy such a system here, as most do not tolerate slow transactions - everything must occur rapidly and with little waiting time.
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