What does Covid-19, Contactless and FlairTRADE have in common?

In this new age of social distancing, face covering and disinfecting we thought it appropriate to share some information about contactless payment.

What is contactless payment you ask? Well...contactless payment systems are credit cards and debit cards, key fobs, smart cards, or other devices, including smartphones and other mobile devices, that use radio-frequency identification or near field communication for making secure payments. Wikipedia

You may already have it and not even know it! Have a Apple Phone, Android or Samsung Phone well you probably have the ability to setup contactless payment. Not into all that technology? Well check your current credit and debit cards to see if it contains the contactless payment logo.

If you have that magic symbol you already have the ability to pay without touching. Just to confuse things even more, some banks and credit cards call this "tap-and-go". It's the same thing just companies trying to put their own marketing spin on it. Here is a cool video from MasterCard that explains how contactless works and how secure it is. All card brands (Visa, MasterCard, AM EX, etc.) work the same way using a defined standard call EMV.

EMV is a payment method based upon a technical standard for smart payment cards and for payment terminals and automated teller machines which can accept them. EMV originally stood for "Europay, Mastercard, and Visa", the three companies which created the standard.

Have one of those nice new shiny iPhone's or Android devices? Well you can use that along with your existing credit cards to set those devices up to be contactless payment devices.

You can learn how to setup your Apple device for Apple Pay here.

You can learn how to setup your Android/Google device for Google Pay here.

If you have a Samsung device, they have their own version here.

So what does this have to do with FlairTRADE?? Well...we accept them! All of them! This means you can shop and even spend more safely in our store. FlairTRADE uses Ingenico iCT250 terminals just like the one in the picture above, we've had these for years but many people are just learning about the technology because of Covid-19. Also, more and more card issuers are renewing your cards with the capability built in but aren't doing a good job of telling people. We thought this blog may help you learn with us how to use this technology to keep us all safer during these crazy times where each contact may seem a bit scary. Just one more way we are making returning to FlairTRADE easier.