The New York Times just posted an interesting article on a technological phenomenon most of us have recently wondered about: Why the new digital-chip credit cards don’t work.
And the star of the piece is Avi Kaner.
The story begins:
Avi Kaner, a co-owner of the Morton Williams supermarket chain in New York, has spent about $700,000 to update the payment terminals at his stores.
Trouble is, he cannot turn them on.
The new terminals can accept credit and debit cards with embedded digital chips, a security feature meant to reduce the number of fraudulent purchases.
But before the payment systems can work, they must be certified, a process that Mr. Kaner and many retailers around the country are waiting to happen. In the case of Morton Williams, the holdup has lasted several months.
Avi Kaner in a Bronx Morton Williams store. (Photo/Danny Ghitis for the New York Times)
Kaner, of course, is not only an owner of the 15-store, 70-year old grocery retail chain.
He’s also Westport’s 2nd selectman.
When he’s not worrying about produce or credit cards, Kaner helps our town run smoothly.
Much more smoothly, in fact, than that digital-chip credit-card rollout.
(For the full New York Times story, click here.)
