For the self-conscious: Cashiers generally don’t give a fuck about your declined card and probably see declined cards many times a day. It’s not worth their time to judge you, is what I am saying. If anything, they are just as broke as you and are quietly sympathizing.
Also, I’ve had various cards decline 10-20 times over that last decade and not once was it due to not having funds on that account. The majority of the time it’s using Amex where not supported. Or entering the wrong pin. Or me not seeing the sign that said debit only. Or me forgetting I had cancelled that card already.
Chip cards are the worst! 1000 questions and then I still need to use the pin anyways, and then it takes 60 seconds to process. I miss swiping and being done with it.
Most systems will specify if it’s insufficient funds so they will at least know it was declined for some other reason. As for insufficient funds, I don’t judge (especially in this economy) but most often it’s because they have the money but just need to transfer it between accounts or whatever.
There’s also the fact that chip readers are shit and might error out a good card anyway.
I love the array of hacks that pros use on order to get that good scan. Cleaning, using a tissue sidecar, many-swipes, etc.
